Broadstone Mill, Reddish

Last updated

Broadstone Mill
Broadstone Mill - geograph.org.uk - 707883.jpg
Twin mill built 1903–7
Greater Manchester UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Greater Manchester
cotton
Current statusClosed (1959)
OwnerBroadstone Spinning Company
Coordinates SJ 892 930
Construction
Built1903
Completed1907
DemolishedSouth building (1965)
North building extant
Other EquipmentSpindles – 260,000
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameBroadstone House
Designated10 March 1975
Reference no. 1356825
References
[1]

Broadstone Mill was a double cotton spinning mill on the eastern bank of the Stockport Branch Canal in Reddish, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. Construction of the twin mills commenced in 1903 and was completed in 1907. They closed in 1957, and the southern mill and engine houses were demolished in 1965. The northern block went into multiple usage. It is now part of the Houldsworth Village development and used as a centre for small businesses, and a shopping outlet. [1]

Contents

Location

The double mills were built next to Houldsworth's Reddish Mills, fronting on the Stockport Branch Canal. It is close to Reddish South railway station on the Stockport to Stalybridge Line.

History

The Broadstone Spinning Co., Ltd., Reddish, was incorporated in 1903, with the intention of erecting a large double mill. No. 1 mill covered 7,658 square yards, and No. 2 mill 8,457 square yards. Each mill was six storeys tall, 270 feet (82 m) long by 143 feet (44 m). Work commenced on No. 1 mill at the end of 1906, and No. 2 mill a year later. The mills contained 260,000 mule spindles, and cost £480,000 when fully equipped. They were entitled to draw water for the condensers directly from the canal at no cost. In 1919 the mills were sold to the Broadstone Mills Limited. [2]

The decline of cotton spinning was accompanied by high farce. In November 1958, the company sold a number of spinning mules as scrap for just over £3,000. By agreement, the machines remained in the mill over the winter. A small number had been broken and removed by April 1959, when the government announced a compensation package for firms that agreed to scrap spinning capacity. As the title in the mules had passed to the scrapman, it was decided that the company was not entitled to compensation amounting to over £60,000, despite the fact that the machinery was still on its premises. Actions in the High Court and the Court of Appeal in 1965 were fruitless. [3] [4]

Broadstone Mill c.1907, including the now demolished southern mill Broadstone Mill, Reddish c.1907.jpg
Broadstone Mill c.1907, including the now demolished southern mill

Architecture

This was a large six-storey double mill with 260,000 spindles. It was built by Stott and Sons, and its features were described as Byzantine in style. [5] Each mill was 12 bays wide and nine bays deep, the rope race forming a 13th bay. The basic bay dimensions were 22 feet (6.7 m) by 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m), thus, the internal dimensions at the second floor were 266 feet (81 m) by 137 feet (42 m). The rope race is 12 feet (3.7 m) wide internally. At ground floor level a single storey card shed extends the width of the mill; this is five bays, 68 feet (21 m) deep. [6]

The floors were designed for the machines they accommodated. The basement was designed for the waste place, conditioning cellar, warehouse & packing, cotton room, mixing room, and dust cellar; it was 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) in height. The ground floor (known as the first storey) was 16 feet (4.9 m), the attached card shed and blowing room was 12 feet (3.7 m) in height. The first spinning room on the second storey was 14 feet 3 inches (4.34 m) high. The second and third spinning rooms on the third and fourth storeys were 13 feet 9 inches (4.19 m) high, while the fourth spinning room on the fifth storey was 14 feet 1.75 inches (4.3117 m) high. The tower contained the staircase, hoist and toilets. [6]

Power

Each mill was powered by a George Saxon & Co 1,500 hp triple expansion inverted vertical steam engines, with Corliss valves. They were powered by steam at 200 psi and ran at 75 rpm. The cylinders have 22in, 35in and 54in bores, and 4 ft stroke. [7] [8]

Each mill had its own boiler house with four, 30 feet (9.1 m) x 8 feet (2.4 m) Lancashire boilers, and its own 75 yards (69 m) high chimney. The chimney had a square base to 33 feet (10 m) then was circular tapering from 18 feet (5.5 m) to 10 feet 10 inches (3.30 m) diameter. The flue was 8 feet (2.4 m) in diameter; there was an inner casing wall to approximately 88 feet (27 m). [8]

Equipment

All machinery in both mills were supplied by John Hetherington & Co. Ltd. The first mill had mules with 125,000 spindles and the second mill held 140,000 spindles, giving a total of 265,000 for the two mills. [8]

Usage

Originally they spun best Egyptian cottons, in what was technically termed "combed" and "super carded yarns." The range of counts was 160s to 30s for the home and export trade, and they employed 700 people.

Owners

Current Usage

The mill is currently part of the Houldsworth Village Development, and since closing in 1957 has been redeveloped and transformed into a large shopping outlet and business centre, containing offices, conferencing centres, and a creative gallery. Redevelopments were made on the first floor, in order to expand the retail outlet onto two levels.

Notable events/media

When completed, Broadstone Mill was the largest cotton spinning mill in the world. The previous largest,[ citation needed ] Houldsworth Mill, stands 200 metres (660 ft) to the north.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reddish</span> Suburb of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England

Reddish is an area in Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. 4.6 miles (7.4 km) south-east of Manchester city centre. At the 2011 census, the population was 28,052. Historically part of Lancashire, Reddish grew rapidly in the Industrial Revolution and still retains landmarks from that period, such as Houldsworth Mill, a former textile mill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton mill</span> Building producing yarn or cloth from cotton

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Houldsworth</span> British politician (1834–1917)

Sir William Henry Houldsworth, 1st Baronet was a British mill-owner in Reddish, Lancashire. He was Conservative MP for Manchester North West from 1883 to 1906, and sometime chairman of the Fine Cotton Spinners' Association. He was made a baronet in 1887.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hat Works</span> Museum and former cotton mill Greater Manchester, England

The Hat Works is a museum in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, which opened in 2000. Before that, smaller displays of hatting equipment were exhibited in Stockport Museum and in the former Battersby hat factory.

There is evidence of activity around Reddish – a settlement in Greater Manchester, England – before the Norman conquest in the presence of Nico Ditch and some Saxon coins. The recorded history of Reddish begins at the turn of the 13th century when it was documented as "Redich". Reddish remained a predominantly rural settlement throughout the medieval period, but expanded to become a mixed industrial and residential area during the 19th century. It developed rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, and still retains landmarks from that period, such as Houldsworth Mill.

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

Houldsworth Mill, also known as Reddish Mill, is a former mill in Reddish, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. Designed by Abraham Stott, it was constructed in 1865 for Henry Houldsworth, a prominent mill owner at the time. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<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">Minerva Mill, Ashton-under-Lyne</span> Cotton mill in Greater Manchester, England

Minerva Mill was a cotton spinning mill in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England. It was built between 1891 and 1892 for the Minerva Spinning Company which was later known as the Ashton Syndicate. Minerva Mill was next to the later Texas mill, at Whitelands. It ceased spinning cotton in the 1920s and was demolished in 1937.

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

Rock Mill was cotton spinning mill in the Waterloo district of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, in England. It was built between 1891 and 1893 for the Ashton Syndicate by Sydney Stott of Oldham. Rock Mill was built on the site of Wilshaw Mill retaining and using the octagonal chimney. It ceased spinning cotton in the 1960s and was demolished in 1971; the site became the location for the town's first Asda supermarket, which opened in 1972, until Asda relocated to a much larger new store site in Cavendish Street in 1989.

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

Cavendish Mill is a Grade II* listed former cotton spinning mill in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, in the United Kingdom. It was built between 1884 and 1885 for the Cavendish Spinning Company by Potts, Pickup & Dixon of Oldham. Cavendish Mill was next to the Ashton Canal Warehouse at Portland Basin. It ceased spinning cotton in 1934 and was then used for a variety of purposes before it was converted into housing in 1994.

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

Kingston Mill, Stockport is a mid nineteenth century cotton spinning mill in Edgeley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. Production finished, it was made over to multiple uses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stott and Sons</span>

Stott and Sons was an architectural practice in Lancashire between 1847 and 1931. It specialised in cotton mills, designing 191 buildings of which 130 were mills or buildings related to the cotton industry. Abraham Henthorn Stott was born on 25 April 1822 in the parish of Crompton. He served a seven-year apprenticeship with Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament and Manchester Art Gallery. Abraham returned to Oldham in 1847 and founded the architectural practice of A H Stott. It was known for his innovative structural engineering. His brother Joseph Stott in 1866 started his career here before leaving to start his own practice. Three of his nine children worked in the practice. Jesse Ainsworth Stott became the senior partner. Philip Sydney Stott spent three years in the practice before starting his own. After Abraham's retirement his practice was renamed Stott and Sons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McConnel & Kennedy Mills</span> Historic textile mills in Manchester

McConnel & Kennedy Mills are a group of cotton mills on Redhill Street in Ancoats, Manchester, England. With the adjoining Murrays' Mills, they form a nationally important group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellenroad Mill</span> Cotton mill in Newhey, Milnrow, Rochdale, England

Ellenroad Mill was a cotton spinning mill in Newhey, a village in the Milnrow area of Rochdale, England. It was built as a mule spinning mill in 1890 by Stott and Sons and extended in 1899. It was destroyed by fire on 19 January 1916. When it was rebuilt, it was designed and equipped as a ring spinning mill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pear New Mill</span> Mill in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England

Pear New Mill is a former Edwardian cotton spinning mill on the northern bank of the River Goyt in Bredbury, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Mill</span> Cotton spinning mill in Bollington, Cheshire, England

Clarence Mill is a five-storey former cotton spinning mill in Bollington, Cheshire, in England. It was built between 1834 and 1877 for the Swindells family of Bollington. It was built alongside the Macclesfield Canal, which opened in 1831.

Barnfield Mills was a complex of cotton mills that operated in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, England from the middle of the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swan Lane Mills</span>

Swan Lane Mills is a former cotton mill complex in Bolton, Greater Manchester. All three mills are Grade II* listed buildings. The mills were designed by Stott and Sons of Oldham. When completed, the double mill was the largest spinning mill in the world. It was granted Grade II* listed status on 26 April 1974. Number 3 Mill was separately listed as Grade II* on the same day.

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

Wear Mill was an integrated cotton works on the Cheadle Heath bank of the River Mersey in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in England. It was started around 1790 and added to, particularly in 1831 and 1884. In 1840, the Stockport Viaduct was built over the river and over Wear Mill.

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

Tower Mill is a cotton mill in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, England. It is a grade II listed building. It was designed by Potts, Pickup & Dixon in 1885 and spun cotton, using mules and spinning frames until 1955 when it was no longer used as a cotton mill and was subsequently used by various industries and divided into small units, at one point plans were even passed for the mill to be converted into luxury apartments but with the recession in 2007/8 this plan was abandoned. After several years of lying empty it was eventually bought in 2013, restored and re-equipped to ring spin superfine cotton yarns in 2016 and is now after the absence for many years the only cotton mill in production in the United Kingdom.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Houldsworth Village History Archived 9 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Kiernan, Mike. "Mike Kiernan's Local and General History Site". Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  3. "Source of rueful reflection". The Times . 24 April 1965. p. 5.
  4. "Eliminated too soon". The Times . 19 October 1965. p. 5.
  5. Williams & Farnie 1992 , p. 126
  6. 1 2 Broadstone Mill, Houldsworth Village, History 1904. Retrieved 13 November 2001
  7. Roberts 1921
  8. 1 2 3 Broadstone Mill, Houldsworth Village, History 1906 Archived 2 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 13 November 2001
Bibliography