Imperial Mill, Blackburn

Last updated

Imperial Mill, Blackburn 0014.png
Location map United Kingdom Blackburn.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Blackburn
Cotton
Spinning (ring mill)
Location Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Serving canal Leeds and Liverpool Canal
OwnerImperial Ring Mill (Blackburn) Ltd. (1902-30)
Further ownership
Coordinates 53°45′09″N2°27′25″W / 53.7524°N 2.4570°W / 53.7524; -2.4570 Coordinates: 53°45′09″N2°27′25″W / 53.7524°N 2.4570°W / 53.7524; -2.4570
Construction
Completed1902
Design team
ArchitectSydney Stott
Power
Engine makerYates and Thom
Engine typetriple expansion compound
Transmission typerope
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated1974
References
[1]

Imperial Mill, Blackburn is a cotton spinning mill at Wallace and Gorse Street in Greenbank, Blackburn, Lancashire, England. It was designed by P.S. Stott, built in 1901, on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1929's and production finished in 1980.

Contents

Location

At 184 miles (296 km) north-northwest of London, Blackburn stands 401 feet (122 m) above sea level, 8.9 miles (14.3 km) east of Preston and 21 miles (34 km) north-northeast of Manchester. The Ribble Valley and West Pennine Moors lie to the north and south respectively. Blackburn experiences a temperate maritime climate, like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. There is regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year.

Although the city of Preston, the administrative centre for Lancashire, is located about 9.2 miles (14.8 km) to the west, Blackburn is the largest municipality in what is known as East Lancashire. The town is bounded on other sides by smaller towns, including Accrington to the east and Darwen to the south. Blackburn and Darwen together make up Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority. The village of Wilpshire, is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of Blackburn, and forms part of the Blackburn urban area, although it is in the Ribble Valley local government district. Other nearby villages are Langho, approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km) further to the north-east, and Mellor to the north west of Blackburn. b11 miles (18 km) further to the east[ clarification needed ] lies the town of Burnley. [2] The geology of the Blackburn area yields numerous resources which underpinned its development as a centre of manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. Mineable coal seams have been used since the mid-late 16th century. [3] The Coal Measures in the area overlie the Millstone Grit which has been quarried in the past for millstones and, along with local limestone deposits, used as a construction material for roads and buildings. Blackburn was bisected by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal which provided a transport facility for the earlier mills, but by the time that Imperial Mill was built this was less important.

History

In 1797 the first purpose-built spinning mill was constructed in Blackburn, and by 1824 there were 24 such mills. By 1870 there were 2.5 million  spindles in Blackburn, with 24 spinning mills having been constructed since 1850. Spinning declined in the town between 1870 and 1900, as this sector of the cotton industry moved to South Lancashire. [4]

Blackburn was principally a weaving town, and in the 1890s had suffered hard times. In 1890, Blackburn's Chamber of Commerce recognised that the town was over-dependent on the cotton industry, warning of the dangers of "only having one string to their bow in Blackburn". [5] The Imperial Mill, was opened in 1901. It was designed as a large spinning mill using the cheaper to operate ring frame. As it was far closer that the traditional mule mills in Oldham, the local weaving sheds could save on the rail freight charges on their raw material. Again, unusual for Blackburn it was financed by a share issue in the manner of the Oldham Limiteds; previously in Blackburn, new mills had been built only when profit from existing mills had accumulated so the mill could be paid for out right. [6]

The industry produced 8 billion yards of cloth at its peak in 1912. The Great War of 1914- 1918 halted the supply of raw cotton, and the British government encouraged its colonies to build mills to spin and weave cotton. Certain towns were harder hit, as they had specialised in forms of cotton that were only required in markets where the link had been severed. After the war was over Lancashire never regained its markets and the independent mills were struggling. The Bank of England set up the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1929 to attempt to rationalise and save the industry. [7] Imperial Mill, Blackburn was one of 104 mills bought by the LCC, and one of the 53 mills that survived through to 1950. It was taken over be Courtaulds and spinning stopped in 1980. [8] The chimney was demolished in 1958, but the mill was left mostly intact. The Mill has been the base for the Lancashire Saw Company up to the present day.

Architecture

Imperial Mill is a red brick ring mill of dignified proportions from the early 20th century, it opened in 1901. It stands three and four storeys tall, with stringcourses and pilasters. It was designed by Sydney Stott for Imperial Ring Mill (Blackburn) Ltd. (1902-30). It has a long rectangular plan, 17 bays long and 5 bays wide, with rows of large close-set 8-paned windows. It was surmounted by two copper covered domed towers. The centrally located engine-house projects at a right angle towards the canal, with 6 round-arched windows on the long sides, and 2 Gothic-traceried round-arched windows on the canal end. There is a staircase tower on the north angle, with round-arched grouped windows on top floor. The chimney, demolished in 1958, was free standing. [9] [10] [11]

Power

The centrally located engine house originally housed a triple-expansion engine manufactured in the town by Yates and Thom. [10] [12]

Equipment

It originally it housed some 70,000 ring spindles, the number was increased in 1906–07. The centrally located engine house originally housed a triple expansion engine manufactured in the town by Yates and Thom. A weaving shed was added in 1907. Spinning ceased in 1980. [10]

Usage

Owners

Currently owned by Lancashire Saw Company Ltd

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regent Mill, Failsworth</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Regent Mill, Failsworth is a Grade II listed former cotton spinning mill in Failsworth, Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It was built by the Regent Mill Co Ltd. in 1905, and purchased by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1930. It was taken over by the Courtaulds Group in 1964. On ceasing textile production it was occupied by Pifco Ltd, and then by Salton Europe Ltd who now occupy this site. It was driven by an 1800 hp twin tandem compound engine by Buckley & Taylor. It became a ring mill with 60,000 spindles in 1915, all provided by Platt Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkwright Mill, Rochdale</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Arkwright Mill, Rochdale is a cotton spinning mill in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. It was built in 1885 by the Arkwright Cotton Spinning Co. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. It was located next to Dale Mill on Roch Street. The ring and doubling frames were made by Howard & Bullough, Accrington. The mill closed in 1980, was demolished in 2007 and the land redeveloped for housing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterside Mill, Ashton-under-Lyne</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Waterside Mill, Ashton-under-Lyne was a combined cotton spinning weaving mill in Whitelands, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England. It was built as two independent factories. The weaving sheds date from 1857; the four-storey spinning mill dates from 1863. The spinning was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s. Production finished in 1959. Waterside Mill was converted to electricity around 1911.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackridings Mill, Oldham</span> Cotton waste mill in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England

Blackridings Mill, Oldham was a cotton waste mill lying off Block Lane in the Werneth area of Oldham, Greater Manchester. It was built before 1861 and ceased spinning between 1875 and 1880. It was then used for flock manufacture and processing cotton waste. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production ended in 1973 and the building was demolished in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coppull Mill</span> Cotton mill in Chorley, Lancashire, England

Coppull Mill is a former cotton spinning mill in Coppull, Chorley, Lancashire. It was opened in 1906 by the Coppull Ring Spinning Co, followed by its sister mill, Mavis Mill in 1908. Together they employed 700 workers. The mill was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1941 and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. The building is a Grade II listed building and is now used as an enterprise centre. This was a ring mill. It was driven by a 1600 hp triple-expansion four-cylinder engine by J & E Wood built in 1906. Its 26-foot (7.9 m) flywheel operated at 68 rpm and ran 36 ropes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mavis Mill</span> Cotton mill in Lancashire, England

Mavis Mill was a cotton spinning mill in Coppull, Chorley, Lancashire

Palmer Mills, Stockport were cotton spinning mills in Portwood, Stockport, Greater Manchester. Built in the late 19th century, It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and sold on. Renamed the Stockport Paper Mill they survived into the 21st century when they were demolished to be replaced by modern businesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welkin Mill, Lower Bredbury</span> Cotton spinning mill in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England

Welkin Mill, Lower Bredbury is a cotton spinning mill in Lower Bredbury/Portwood, Stockport, Greater Manchester. It was built in the early years of the 20th century for ring spinning. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production ended in 1967. The 162,000 sq ft (15,100 m2), four-storey mill occupies a 5.15 acres (2.08 ha) site on Welkin Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilton Mill, Radcliffe</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Wilton Mill, Radcliffe was a cotton spinning mill in Radcliffe, Bury, Greater Manchester. It was built in 1907 and was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production finished, it was used by the East Lancashire Paper Company but has now been demolished leaving an empty site next to the railways and the River Irwell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royton Ring Mill, Royton</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Royton Ring Mill was a cotton mill in Royton, Greater Manchester, England. It was built in 1908 and extended in 1912. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1935 and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production finished in 1966. It was extended again in 1969 and used for other purposes. It has now been demolished, the street has been renamed and houses replace it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saxon Mill, Droylsden</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Saxon Mill, Droylsden was a cotton spinning mill in Droylsden, Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. It was built in the 1907, taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production finished in 1967, and the mill was demolished in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stalybridge Mill, Stalybridge</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Stalybridge Mill, Stalybridge is a cotton spinning mill in Stalybridge, Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. It was built in 1868, and the engine reconfigured in around 1925. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">May Mill, Pemberton</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

May Mill, Pemberton is a cotton spinning mill in Pemberton, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Historically in Lancashire, it was built in 1889. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1962–63 to produce carpet fibre, which it continued to do until its closure on 17 October 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent Mill, Chadderton</span>

Kent Mill, Chadderton was a cotton spinning mill in Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester. It was built in 1908 for the Kent Mill Co. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1938 and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production finished in 1991 and it was demolished in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manor Mill, Chadderton</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Manor Mill, Chadderton is an early twentieth century, five storey cotton spinning mill in Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester. It was built in 1906. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production finished in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monton Mill, Eccles</span> Cotton spinning mill in Eccles, Greater Manchester, UK

Monton Mill was a cotton spinning mill in Eccles, Greater Manchester, England, built in 1906. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. After production ended, it was demolished and replaced with housing; its name is preserved in the street name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royd Mill, Oldham</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Royd Mill, Oldham was a cotton spinning mill in Hollinwood, Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It was built in 1907, and extended in 1912 and 1924. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production finished in 1981. The mill was demolished in 2015 to make way for a "DifRent" housing scheme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurel Mill, Middleton Junction</span> Former cotton mill in Manchester, England

Laurel Mill was a cotton spinning mill in the Mills Hill/Middleton Junction area of Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harp Mill, Castleton</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Harp Mill was a former cotton spinning mill in the Castleton, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Queensway, Castleton was a hub of cotton mills including the three 't', Th'Arrow, Th'Harp, and Th'Ensor. The 1908 Castleton map includes: Marland Cotton Mill, Castleton Cotton Mill, Globe Works, Arrow Cotton Mill, Harp Cotton Mill, Globe Leather Works, Castleton Size Works and Castleton Iron Works. Th'Harp was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. The site now houses industrial units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empress Mill, Ince</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Empress Mill, Ince was a single storey shed mill alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, spinning cotton in Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. It was acquired by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1930, and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production ceased in 1975. It was the last mill in Ince to close, despite the intervention of Member of Parliament Michael McGuire, and a debate in the House of Commons on 20 March 1975.

References

  1. ↑ LCC 1951
  2. ↑ Map of Blackburn and surrounding region, Google Maps ; RecPath Archived 2006-08-20 at the Wayback Machine used for distances.
  3. ↑ "Coal mining in Blackburn with Darwen". Cotton Town. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Archived from the original on 17 June 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2006.
  4. ↑ Beattie (1992), pp. 15–16.
  5. ↑ Taylor (2000), p. 11.
  6. ↑ Andy Kirman (13 December 1904). "A new mill for Blackburn". Cottontown.org. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Dunkerley 2009
  8. ↑ The Times, August 30, 1980, p. 21
  9. ↑ Andy Kirman (19 April 1974). "Imperial Mill". Cottontown.org. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ↑ "Imperial Mill, Blackburn". Princes-regeneration.org. 1 May 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  12. ↑ Roberts 1921

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.