Lancashire

The original Scaitcliffe Colliery was sunk by George Hargreaves & Co in 1859 and abandoned in 1883. In 1890-91 two 540 ft deep shafts were sunk to the Lower Mountain Mine which averaged 26 inches thick. Most of the output went to Altham Coke Works. The workings were towards Accrington town centre and pillars of coal had to be left to support buildings such as the Town Hall. At closure in 1962 the pit employed 62 men underground and 14 on the surface. Broad Oak Mill was built in 1834 by John Hargreaves. In 1891 it was owned by John Hargreaves & Co with 38,200 spindles and 778 looms

The original Scaitcliffe Colliery was sunk by George Hargreaves & Co in 1859 and abandoned in 1883. In 1890-91 two 540 ft deep shafts were sunk to the Lower Mountain Mine which averaged 26 inches thick. Most of the output went to Altham Coke Works. The workings were towards Accrington town centre and pillars of coal had to be left to support buildings such as the Town Hall. At closure in 1962 the pit employed 62 men underground and 14 on the surface.

The Swan Lane No.3 Mill was built in 1914 to the design of Stott & Sons of Oldham. The Swan Lane Spinning Co Ltd. finally closed the mill in 1963 and it is now partly occupied by a range of businesses. It is listed Grade II* but is on the register of buildings at risk. This is one of many decorative features reflecting the name of this fine mill.

The Falcon Mill on Handel Street, Bolton, was built for Falcon Spinninmg Co Ltd in 1907 on the site of the former Brookfield Mill. In 1925 there were 96,000 spindles in use. It was still spinning cotton for Vantona-Viyella Yarns in 1985. It is grade II listed. The tower incorporates the mill name in white glazed brick against green glazed brick. The decorative buff terracotta columns have been removed where the lighter brickwork now shows.

The Essence Factory in Old Trafford was completed in 1896 for Duckworth and Co to the design of architects Briggs and Wostenholme of Blackburn. The frontage comprised offices with the manufacturing and warehousing to the rear. After the Duckworth Group was taken over by Cargill in 2003 the premises were soon redundant and became empty by 2007. The Grade II listed building has been publicised for a number of years as a probable base for the Church of Scientology but it currently stands vacant. The terracotta is of high quality and was probably manufactured by Dennis of Ruabon who certainly made the bricks used at the front.

The entrance to the Swift building at the junction of Addington Street and Mason Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter. This former warehouse has now been converted to offices.

The Swan Lane No.3 Mill was built in 1914 to the design of Stott & Sons of Oldham. The Swan Lane Spinning Co Ltd. finally closed the mill in 1963 and it is now partly occupied by a range of businesses. It is listed Grade II* but is on the register of buildings at risk. This is one of several similar rainheads peeping over the parapet and reflecting the name of this fine mill. I wonder whether it was ever painted white?

The Swan Lane Spinning Co Ltd. made sure that its mill was recognisable with a number of architectural details. The use of coloured brick in the chimney left us this superb piece of advertising.

Bolton's Swan Lane No.3 Mill on the left was built in 1914 to the design of Stott & Sons of Oldham. The Swan Lane Spinning Co Ltd. finally closed the mill in 1963 and it is now partly occupied by a range of businesses. It is listed Grade II* but is on the register of buildings at risk. To the right are the No.1 and No.2 Mills which were completed in 1903 and 1906.

The Greengate Brick and Tile Co., also owned Greengate Colliery at St Helens. Later the brickworks passed to Pilkington's. It was situated close to the railway on land at the rear of the current Pilkington's Greengate factory. The works in 1923: www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw009301

There was once an extensive coal industry exploiting the thin seams under the moors between Bolton and Darwen in Lancashire. These remains of the four beehive coke ovens at Cranberry Moss are typical of the small scale of operations in the area.

Arrow Mill, Castleton, Rochdale was was designed by Sydney Stott for R & T Howarth. It was built very quickly. The contract to build was signed in late 1906, the first brick was laid in January 1907, the engine first ran under steam in February 1908 and the first cotton was spun in this large mill fifteen months after the first brick was laid. It was acquired by Courtaulds Ltd in 1934 and sold by them to Arrow Mill Fabrics Ltd in 1979. This was the last cotton mill to operate in the Rochdale area and did not cease production until the late 1990s. It is now listed Grade II and is in multiple occupation.

In 1884 James Eckersley built the first of the Western Mills and by 1899 there were three mills on the site being operated by James Eckersley & Sons. In 1888 the firm was the largest ring spinning business in Britain. Today the remains of the mills are in poor condition and awaiting a rejuvenation scheme. This facade appears to have been completed c1921 and features some nice terracotta details.

In 1884 James Eckersley built this, the first of the Western Mills and by 1899 there were three mills on the site being operated by James Eckersley & Sons. In 1888 the firm was the largest ring spinning business in Britain. Today the remains of the mills are in poor condition and awaiting a rejuvenation scheme. The No.1 mill seen here was built as an integrated mill with a spinning block with integral engine house, chimney, reeling and winding rooms, weaving shed and warehouse. This is the spinning block which is listed Grade II. In front once stood James Eckersley senior's original Swan Meadow Mills of 1827 and 1838 which were demolished in 1960 and 1963.

The Great Wood Pit was winding coal during the early 19th century and continued in use until the closure of Denton Collieries at the end of 1929. Hidden away in woodland are the remains of the pithead with the bedstones for the drum, flywheel and crank of the beam engine winder that worked this pit.

This one is a mystery. It was found during an archaeological excavation at Ashburys in Manchester. The other bricks found in the same context appear to have been made in the period 1875-1885 but research into works of that time has so far failed to suggest a possible maker.

I haven't been able to find much of the history of Cobden Mill, Farnworth. In 1891 it was owned by John Harwood and Son, cotton spinners. Today it is the headquarters of The Lighting & Interiors Group.

Alongside the Rochdale Canal in Ancoats are this fine group of cotton mills. From the right are Murray's Decker Mill (1801-02) and Old Mill (1798), McConnel & Kennedy's Sedgwick Mill (1819-20) and Royal Mill 1912), with Brownsfield Mill (1825) in the left distance.