Shown within Burnley town centre | |
Established | 26 August 1980 |
---|---|
Location | 85 Manchester Rd, Burnley, Lancashire, England |
Coordinates | 53°47′11″N2°14′46″W / 53.7864°N 2.2461°W |
Type | Historic textile-producing area with a cotton museum |
Website | Official website |
The Weavers' Triangle is an area of Burnley in Lancashire, England consisting mostly of 19th-century industrial buildings at the western side of town centre clustered around the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The area has significant historic interest as the cotton mills and associated buildings encapsulate the social and economic development of the town and its weaving industry. From the 1980s, the area has been the focus of major redevelopment efforts.
In the 1700s, Burnley, like Marsden and Colne, was a centre of the wool industry. It switched to cotton in the first half of the 1800s. [1] Hargreaves' hand-operated spinning jenny was introduced in Blackburn in 1767; the model patented had 16 sixteen spindles and was treated with suspicion. The spinning jenny produced thread suitable for weft. Arkwright's power-driven water frame, which produced the greater twist suitable for warp, was even more unpopular. In 1777, Arkwright built a mill at Birkacre in Chorley. By 1779, the momentum against power-driven spinning machinery was such that rioters destroyed it. Spinners and investors were driven from Blackburn and Burnley towards Manchester, and it was many years before a spinning mill was built in Burnley. [2]
In the early 1790s, construction of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal resumed after a decade-long suspension caused by the American War of Independence. During this time, the increasing economic importance of coal led to a change in the agreed. but disputed, route of the canal. It was moved south, away from Clitheroe's agricultural lime, to a more expensive route via the Burnley Coalfield. [3] At Burnley, the route almost encircled the town, passing through fields outside of it. Although weaving existed in the area, it was a woollen industry for local markets. The canal's opening coincided with the rise of cotton weaving and the use of steam power in textile mills, allowing greater freedom in their placement.
The 1840s proved pivotal to the development of the area. The canal company began allowing mills to take the water they needed for steam engines directly from the canal. [4] In 1848, the East Lancashire Railway opened to the barracks near the western end of Trafalgar Street. And in 1849, the Manchester and Leeds Railway opened a branch from Todmorden to Burnley (extended soon after). A goods shed was sited at Thorneybank at the eastern end of Trafalgar Street, where the town's cinema stands today. Of the many new cotton mills subsequently constructed along the canal, this meant that the greatest concentration formed in what was then part of the township of Habergham Eaves.
The second half of the 19th century saw Burnley develop into the most important cotton-weaving town in the world. [5] The area later to be known as the weavers' triangle, officially became part of the town in 1894. By 1911, the town's textile industry was at the height of its prosperity, and there were approximately 99,000 power looms in operation. [5] The town's population had grown from 4,000 (1801) to over 100,000.
The almost terminal decline of the English cotton industry in the decades that followed World War II, brought great difficulties to the local economy. During successive attempts to regenerate the town, many of the mills were demolished, however most in the triangle area were protected and today stand as monuments to the past.
The Weavers triangle is notable for the juxtaposition of so many 19th-century buildings rather than specific building. However, Ashmore, in his work on industrial archaeology, does point out certain specific buildings of interest. [1]
At Manchester Road Wharf on the southern side of the canal, there is a group of three warehouses each of a different age and style. On wharf I (SD8387 3228) there is an 1801 two-storey, stone warehouse of seven by three bays. It was built parallel to the canal allowing direct unloading from the barges using catshead cranes. On wharf II (SD 8385 3235) there is a single-storey, open-fronted stone warehouse. This was built in the 1890s. The roof is supported by four rows of full-height cast-iron columns. This type of warehouse remained a feature of dock architecture well into the 20th century. On wharf III at SD8383 3232 is a four-storey 1841 stone-built warehouse, that is parallel to the canal. The floors and the queen post truss roof are supported by cast-iron columns. On the road side there is a projecting three-storey loading bay. [6]
A traditional weaving mill would have a two- or three-storey preparation area for pirning the yarn, beaming and sizing attached to an engine house with a 500 hp mill engine, boiler house and chimney. The line shafts from the engine would pass into a large single-storey weaving shed with its characteristic sawtooth roof with north lights. Weaving was the principal activity here, the larger spinning mills of the Oldham Limited of the late 19th century ware built in towns further south. The Burnley loom was a narrow loom that produced grey cloth suitable for printing. Here we find many such stone-built mills such as the Waterloo Shed north of Trafalgar Street and the Wiseman Street Shed, the Sandygate Shed (c1860), and the brick-built Woodfield Mill (1886). [1]
Victoria Mill SD833326 53°47′20″N2°15′18″W / 53.789°N 2.255°W early four-storey spinning mill from the 1850 built on Trafalgar Street for throstle spinning, There was however a small attached weaving shed. [1]
Trafalgar mill to the west of Waterloo shed is an example of a combined mill- one that did the spinning and then passed the yarn to its own weaving sheds. This was a four-storey stone built in 1840 as mule spinning mill and later extended with attached weaving sheds. Sprinkler systems became essential in the 1880s and a water tank was added. Clock Tower mill, on the north side of the canal east of Sandygate was another. It was built c. 1840 by George Slater; there were four- and five-storey spinning mills by the canal and a six-storey 5-by-9-bay with a clock tower, the weaving shed was to the east. John Watts (Burnley) Ltd ran the mill from 1890 to the 1980s. [1]
Burnley was the home to the Burnley Iron Works SD 836326 53°47′20″N2°15′00″W / 53.789°N 2.250°W a large engineering firm, which made mill engines including the Harle Syke engine displayed in the London Science Museum. Butterworth & Dickinson, Harling and Todd and Pemberton had foundries and built looms here. Globe Iron Works was firstly used by but was taken over in 1870 by Butterfield and Dickinson. The Waterloo Iron works was owned by Onias Pickles, who acquired the business of Thomas Sagar manufacturing plain Burnley looms. In 1887 it was bought by the Pemberton Brothers who continued in manufacturing until 1963.
Building | Built | Demol | Description | Notes | Coordinates |
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Albert Mill | 1870(c) | - | Cotton Mill | Built as a Spinning mill for Thomas Pomfret | 53°47′18″N2°15′05″W / 53.78833°N 2.25129°W |
Belle Vue Mill | 1863 | - | Cotton Mill | Built as a weaving mill | 53°47′25″N2°15′16″W / 53.79022°N 2.25453°W |
Burnley Wharf | 1796 | - | Wharf and stables on Leeds and Liverpool Canal | Site of the Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre | 53°47′13″N2°14′47″W / 53.78681°N 2.24646°W |
Caledonia Mill | 1835 | pre 1998 | Cotton Mill | Built as a Cotton mill and Boiler works. Cotton mill only after 1860. Only small part survives | 53°47′19″N2°15′06″W / 53.78870°N 2.25176°W |
Canal Street Shed | 1880 | 2008 | Cotton Mill | Built as a weaving mill. Occupies part of the former Burnley Iron Works site. Only small part survives | 53°47′20″N2°14′59″W / 53.78891°N 2.24980°W |
Celtique Mill (Waterloo Shed) | 1860s | - | Cotton Mill | Weaving Shed | 53°47′14″N2°14′59″W / 53.78714°N 2.24966°W |
Charlotte Street Mill | 1848 | - | Cotton Mill | Built as a Weaving mill called Queen Street Mill. Renamed in 1916 | 53°47′19″N2°14′56″W / 53.78850°N 2.24886°W |
Clock Tower Mill | 1840 | 2004 | Cotton Mill | Built as a spinning mill. Extended in 1857, Clock tower added in 1867 | 53°47′21″N2°15′04″W / 53.78921°N 2.25105°W |
George Street Mill | 1878(c) | 2008 | Cotton Mill | Built as a weaving mill. Occupies part of the former Burnley Iron Works site. Only a small part survives | 53°47′18″N2°15′00″W / 53.78841°N 2.25002°W |
Globe Iron Works | 1830–1848 | 2004 | Iron Works | One of the sites of Butterworth & Dickinson loom maker | 53°47′11″N2°14′59″W / 53.78641°N 2.24969°W |
Habergham Eaves Parochial School | 1840 | - | Former School | Built by Holy Trinity Church as a day School | 53°47′19″N2°15′08″W / 53.78852°N 2.25216°W |
Hope Works | 1874 | - | Cotton Mill | Weaving Shed built for Thomas Carr | 53°47′13″N2°14′57″W / 53.78694°N 2.24927°W |
Lord Nelson Inn | ??? | - | Public House | Still in use as a pub, now called the Ministry of Ale | 53°47′10″N2°14′52″W / 53.78601°N 2.24788°W |
Meadow Mill | 1910 | - | Cotton Mill | Stands on the site of the earlier Walker Hey Mill. Rebuilt in 1950 following a fire. | 53°47′17″N2°14′57″W / 53.78797°N 2.24919°W |
Mount Pleasant Baptist Chapel | 1835 | - | Church | Originally constructed by the Protestant Wesleyan Methodist Society, bought by Baptists in 1868. | 53°47′14″N2°14′46″W / 53.78730°N 2.24621°W |
Nelson House | 1805 | - | Georgian Villa | Built by the Holgate family; Currently used as a Masonic Hall | 53°47′11″N2°14′50″W / 53.78648°N 2.24726°W |
Neptune Inn | 1825(c) | - | Public House | 53°47′22″N2°15′04″W / 53.78958°N 2.25116°W | |
Oak Mount Mill | 1840 | - | Cotton Mill | Cotton spinning mill built by William Hopwood to replace woollen mill. Converted to weaving. Extended in 1849 and 1887. | 53°47′13″N2°14′57″W / 53.78694°N 2.24927°W |
Old Malthouse | 1850–1890 | - | Warehouse | Malt Warehouse probably connected to Massey's Bridge End Brewery nearby | 53°47′23″N2°15′02″W / 53.78975°N 2.25055°W |
Plane Tree Inn | ??? | - | Public House | Built by William Hopwood as a private home, converted to an inn in 1897 | 53°47′24″N2°14′59″W / 53.79004°N 2.24963°W |
Sandygate Mill | 1859 | - | Cotton Mill | Built for George Slater | 53°47′20″N2°15′10″W / 53.78900°N 2.25271°W |
Sandygate Shed | ??? | pre 1998 | Cotton Mill | Built for George Slater | 53°47′23″N2°15′06″W / 53.78964°N 2.25164°W |
Slater Terrace | 1850 | - | Cotton Mill | Built for George Slater as 11 workers houses over a canalside warehouse. Ceased use as housing in 1900 and converted for use by Sandygate Mill | 53°47′21″N2°15′08″W / 53.78920°N 2.25227°W |
Thorneybank Mill | c1860 | - | Cotton Mill | Built for Graham and Shepherd as a spinning Mill, converted to weaving in 1884 | 53°47′11″N2°14′54″W / 53.78648°N 2.24846°W |
Trafalgar Mill | 1846 | - | Cotton Mill | Built as a Mule spinning Mill. Owned for many years by the Thompson family | 53°47′15″N2°15′00″W / 53.78748°N 2.24994°W |
Trafalgar Shed | 1860(c) | 1980(c?) | Cotton Mill | Weaving Shed. Now the site of a garage. Some original walls survive | 53°47′16″N2°15′02″W / 53.78784°N 2.25057°W |
Victoria Mill | 1855 | - | Cotton Mill | Built as a Throstle spinning Mill. Tower and 2-storey shed added in 1889 | 53°47′22″N2°15′15″W / 53.78954°N 2.25415°W |
Waterloo Hotel | 1865(c) | - | Public House | 53°47′19″N2°15′09″W / 53.78872°N 2.25254°W | |
Waterloo Foundry | 1885 | - | Iron Works | Built for O. Pickles & Co. Taken over by Pemberton & Sons loom makers in 1890. 4-storey Trafalgar Street extension in 1907, only part survives. | 53°47′21″N2°15′12″W / 53.78917°N 2.25324°W |
Westgate Shed | 1886 | - | Cotton Mill | Weaving shed | 53°47′24″N2°15′00″W / 53.79005°N 2.25012°W |
Woodfield Mill | 1888 | - | Cotton Mill | Weaving shed | 53°47′22″N2°15′19″W / 53.78936°N 2.25535°W |
Source: Lowe, John (1985). Burnley. Phillimore. ISBN 978-0-85033-595-8. |
In 1977, the Burnley Industrial Museum Action Committee was formed to work for the preservation of the town's heritage. The Weavers' Triangle Toll House museum was established on 26 July 1980, and opened by Brian Redhead. [7] and is staffed by volunteers the Weavers' Triangle Trust. It was initially housed in 2 rooms of the former canal offices on Manchester Road, but expanded into the adjacent wharfmaster's house in 1987 and was renamed to the Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre. It has also received accreditation from Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. [8] In 1993 they took over the engine house and chimney at Oak Mount Mill. In 1996, a project began to restore the steam engine at Oak Mount Mill with funding from the National Lottery, Burnley council and the Museums and Galleries Commission. [9] The restoration project was completed in 2001, with an electric motor powering the engine as replacing the boiler was deemed too expensive. [10] Both the engine and the building are now listed as scheduled monuments.
The Weavers Triangle's 19th-century industrial landscape forms the south western edge of the town centre in Burnley, it adjoins the civic, cultural and commercial centres of the town. It is bounded on the south-west by established housing. The River Calder passes through the town, and is joined by the River Brun. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is the spine around which the Weavers Triangle developed when it was built in 1796 giving Burnley access to Liverpool and a supply of cotton from the Mississippi Basin and Egypt, and coal to power steam engines. The level of the canal is more than 10 metres (33 ft) above that of the rivers. The canal passes southwest of the Calder, before turning north by northeast and crossing the two river valleys on the straight 1,350 yards (1,234 m) long 60 feet (18 m) high Burnley Embankment. [11] It passes over the Calder at 53°47′11″N2°14′16″W / 53.7865°N 2.2378°W and the Brun at 53°47′50″N2°14′05″W / 53.7972°N 2.2347°W .
The heritage area of the Weavers' Triangle is defined by an area bounded by Manchester Road, Trafalgar Street, Westgate and Queen's Lancashire Way. In planning terms the Weavers' Triangle development area expands further south-west, and along the canal to Finsley Gate bridge.
Burnley Way passes through the area and along the towpath of the canal starting and finishing at the Visitor Centre. The Caldervale railway passes to the south, and Manchester Road station is approximately 200 metres from the visitor centre, 53°47′11″N2°14′47″W / 53.7865°N 2.2464°W . The East Lancashire Line passes to the north, and Barracks station is north of the site.
In April 1987, Clock Tower Mill was damaged by a fire that rendered the building unusable. [12]
Between 1990 and 1996 extensive refurbishment took place at Trafalgar Mill funded by the ERDF, English Heritage and Burnley Council. The work included re-roofing, repointing, sand blasting the walls and replacing windows. [13] Parts of the building have been let to local businesses.
In the mid-1990s Burnley wharf (of which the visitor centre is a part) was restored in a joint project involving British Waterways. The £1 million project included a bar and restaurant in one of the former warehouses. [14]
In March 1996, Mile Wharf Ltd and British Waterways started work to turn Finsley Wharf into a marina and leisure complex. [15] In 1996 a bid was submitted to the Millennium Fund for a £2.5 million scheme to provide a visual arts centre and public square and to widen the canal to provide extra moorings, it included reconstruction of the clock at Clock Tower Mill. [16]
In 1998 Liverpool-based Millview Developments purchased Sandygate Mill as part of a plan to turn Slater Terrace weavers' cottages into a luxury canalside hotel. [17] The scheme collapsed in 1999, when Millview could not find an interested buyer. [18] In June 1999 a fire gutted the upper floors of Sandygate Mill. [19]
In 1999, after three years in the planning stages, work started to restore the former Proctors' Iron Works in Hammerton Street, between the town centre and the triangle area. [20] It was hoped that a nightclub and hotel complex and street improvements would encourage future investment on the canal side. The project received funding from the ERDF and English Heritage, and the nightclub component proved successful.
In May 2001, a deal was announced between British Waterways and Nelson-based NEL Construction to redevelop Finsley Wharf. The £1.2 million project would include office space and a canal side pub and restaurant. [21] In early 2002 Millview offered its property in the area for sale, alongside Victoria Mill which was already on the market. [22] A structural survey showed Clock Tower Mill to be in a dangerous condition. Demolition was the only viable option and was completed in January 2004. [23] In February Globe Works was demolished.
In April 2004, Birmingham-based St. Modwen Properties purchased Healey Royd and Finsley Gate Mills. [24] In May, Rossendale-based Hurstwood Developments purchased the Millview properties and began work on a new plan for the area and acquired Victoria Mill. [25] In April 2005, Amberfell Estates received outline planning permission to demolish part of Thorneybank Mill in Nelson Square, with a view to building 24 homes. In March 2006 it was announced that a £260 million master plan for redevelopment of the whole area, had been drawn up to attract developers to the project. [26]
At the end of the month, St. Modwen released a plan for a £10m redevelopment of their site. Under this plan Healey Royd Mill and the surrounding land would be used for housing and Finsley Gate would be converted into a business space complex. [27] On a related visit to the town, English Heritage Chief Executive Dr Simon Thurley announced the appointment of two new specialist advisors to the project. [28] Towards the end of the year Hurstwood submitted £50 million plans for properties on the site, including an 800 capacity music venue, restaurants, offices and homes. [29] In April 2007, a fire (believed to be arson) destroyed a section of the roof of George Street Mill. [30] In September, plans were released by the Elevate to redevelop the Victoria Mill complex. Based on the "Fashion Tower" concept suggested by Tony Wilson and his partner, 'Weave' was envisaged as a mixture of textile museum and designer fashion centre. [31] A month later Hurstwood placed all its properties on the market. [32] At the start of 2008, Hurstwood were persuaded to return and submitted revised plans. They stressed the urgent need to begin construction. [33] Approximately £5 million of National Lottery and NWDA funding was secured for complementary heritage projects in the triangle. [34] In February, on a visit to Burnley, Prince Charles travelled along the canal to inspect the state of the mills. [35] In April Accrington-based Valegate submitted plans to redevelop the George Street Mill site including the demolition and rebuilding of much of the mill, with additional buildings to create a 167 unit apartment and shopping complex. [36]
By now the world financial crisis was felt. Over the summer, three of Hurstwood's property arms collapsed into administration. [37] In October it was announced that due to the financial climate the project was to be suspended for at least 2 years. [38]
In November, a large part of Woodfield Mill (next to Victoria Mill) was demolished after a fire that destroyed the three-storey warehouse. [39] In January 2009, former chairman of English Heritage, Sir Neil Cossons was appointed to chair the steering group responsible for reinvigorating the site. [40] At the start of April a £4.9m NWDA grant enabled Burnley Council to purchase Hurstwood's sites and the neighbouring premises of Dexter paints. [41] Later that month, £65,000 was requested to save the former Neptune Pub. The 200-year-old, three-storey building is believed to be the oldest remaining structure in the area. [42] Despite failing to secure planning permission the previous year, Valegate opted to proceed with the demolition of George Street Mill and submitted updated plans in May, which were again rejected. [43] In June, St. Modwen decided to demolish Finsley Gate and Healey Royd mills. [23] In September, repair work, funded by Burnley Council and NWDA, began on Victoria Mill and the Neptune Building. [44]
In July 2014, a new canal footbridge was lowered into place at the heart of the Weavers' Triangle 'On the Banks' development. The 50 ton Sandygate canal footbridge spans the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, off Trafalgar Street. [45] The canal footbridge opened to the public in December 2014. [46]
Burnley is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2021 population of 78,266. It is 21 miles (34 km) north of Manchester and 20 miles (32 km) east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun.
A cotton mill is a building that houses spinning or weaving machinery for the production of yarn or cloth from cotton, an important product during the Industrial Revolution in the development of the factory system.
Nelson is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, it had a population of 29,135 in the 2011 Census. Nelson is 3 miles (5 km) north of Burnley and 2 miles (3 km) south-west of Colne. Nelson developed as a mill town during the Industrial Revolution.
Barrowford is a village and civil parish in the Pendle district of Lancashire, England, north of Nelson, near the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Burnley Way is a 40-mile (64 km) long distance footpath in Lancashire, England. As a circular walk it can be walked from any point, but it is common to start and finish at the Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre in Burnley. It covers a range of terrain from canal towpaths to open moorland.
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.
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.
Pilot Mill, Bury is a four-storey cotton spinning mill in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. It was built in 1905 for the Pilot Spinning Co. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1939. The mill closed in 1962 and was later sold to Antler Luggage. The Mill is currently occupied by Baum Trading Ltd and Metzuyan Ltd they have opened a retail outlet with an on site cafe.
Mons Mill, Todmorden, is a former cotton spinning mill in Todmorden, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England built for the Hare Spinning Company Limited. It was built in 1907, but ran into financial difficulties. It passed over to the Mons Mill (1919) Co Ltd and then was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1930 and passed to Courtaulds in 1964 and production stopped in 1968. It was used into the 1990s by Ward & Goldstone Ltd. The site was cleared in 2000.
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 built in 1908 for the Harp Doubling Company and was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1938. The mill closed in 1958, and was sold to the hosiery manufacturer N. Corah Ltd.
Mars Mill was a former cotton spinning mill in Castleton, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Castleton joined the Borough of Rochdale in 1899. Queensway, Castleton was a hub of cotton mills; Mars, Marland, and Castleton Mill were a group of three. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1935 and passed to Courtaulds in 1964 and demolished in the 1990s; Marland survived until 2004.
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.
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.
Queen Street Mill is a former weaving mill in Harle Syke, a suburb to the north-east of Burnley, Lancashire, that is a Grade I listed building. It now operates as a museum and cafe. Currently open for public tours between April and November. Over winter the café is opened on Wednesdays. It is also viewable with private bookings.
Harle Syke is a small village within the parish of Briercliffe, situated three miles north of Burnley, Lancashire, England. It was the home to eleven weaving firms, working out of seven mills. Queen Street Mill closed in 1982, and was converted to a textile museum, preserving it as a working mill. It is the world's last 19th-century steam powered weaving mill.
Bancroft Shed was a weaving shed in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, England, situated on the road to Skipton. Construction was started in 1914 and the shed was commissioned in 1920 for James Nutter & Sons Limited. The mill closed on 22 December 1978 and was demolished. The engine house, chimneys and boilers have been preserved and maintained as a working steam museum. The mill was the last steam-driven weaving shed to be constructed and the last to close.
The more looms system was a productivity strategy introduced in the Lancashire cotton industry, whereby each weaver would manage a greater number of looms. It was an alternative to investing in the more productive Northrop automatic looms in the 1930s. It caused resentment, resulted in industrial action, and failed to achieve any significant cost savings.
Piece-rate lists were the ways of assessing a cotton operatives pay in Lancashire in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They started as informal agreements made by one cotton master and their operatives then each cotton town developed their own list. Spinners merged all of these into two main lists which were used by all, while weavers used one 'unified' list.
Harle Syke mill is a weaving shed in Briercliffe on the outskirts of Burnley, Lancashire, England. It was built on a green field site in 1856, together with terraced houses for the workers. These formed the nucleus of the community of Harle Syke. The village expanded and six other mills were built, including Queen Street Mill.
The Burnley Embankment is an embankment carrying the Leeds and Liverpool Canal across the Calder and Brun valleys in Burnley, Lancashire. Also known as the Straight Mile, the embankment is 1,256 yards long and the canal runs up to 60 feet (18 m) above the valley floor. The structure was chosen as one of the original Seven Wonders of the Waterways, and has been awarded a Red Wheel by the Transport Trust.