Had my eye on a new location in Bury so went to check it out. Unfortunately it was inaccessible, so I headed to Ainsworth Mill instead.
History (wiki):
The site was in use in 1850. It was reconfigured in 1893. It was driven by a condensing stationary steam engine which required a reservoir or mill lodge to contain water to condense the steam; this was filled in the 1970s. The mill took advantage of the copious soft water to engage in finishing yarn or fabric. The processes involved bleaching, mercerising and dyeing. The industry peaked in 1912 when it produced 8 billion yards of cloth. The great war of 1914–1918 halted the supply of raw cotton, and the British government encouraged its colonys to build mills to spin and weave cotton. The war over, Lancashire never regained its markets. 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. Ainsworth Mill, Breightmet was one of 104 mills bought last by the LCC. It one of the 53 mills that LCC owned in 1950, and was extensively refurbished to provide a mercerising facility. They established a research and quality control laboratory here to service the group and ensure the stability of the colour. Yarn was received from other mills in the group in warp or in hank, and is mercerised, bleached and dyed, then wrapped into hank, cone, quiller pirn, back beam, weaver's beam, cheese or precision wound multiple end cheese as required. On LCC demise, Ainsworth Mill continued in business as a bleaching and dyeing work until the dyeing company that went into liquidation in 2006. The works is derelict, but surveys have been done showing an intention of bring the mill back into industrial use.
My visit:
I didn't venture far in this room because the floor was unsound. I then went around the back, where there are some building materials and walked down the ramp. The building consists of several large Halls and some rooms at the front of the building. The Halls have square holes leading to the floor below - used to quickly pass materials between floors. There's hardly anything to show what the building was used for. (Apart from the Mill Chimney of course).
There is a lower floor / basement, but as I was on my own I didn't fancy venturing down there
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Corridor
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Upstairs in the main building - unsafe flooring - be careful
Selfie
One of many Bathrooms
Triggered a few flashes
After playing around with my flashgun I spotted a small red light outside at the back of the building, so I turned my head torch off, and sure enough it was a tripod-mounted sensor pointing towards the building. I made my way back to the front gate and was greeted by Security. Security told me that the Sensor belongs to John (the Farmer at the back) and that his Office is inside a Shipment Container on the premises. He was very relaxed and friendly.
History (wiki):
The site was in use in 1850. It was reconfigured in 1893. It was driven by a condensing stationary steam engine which required a reservoir or mill lodge to contain water to condense the steam; this was filled in the 1970s. The mill took advantage of the copious soft water to engage in finishing yarn or fabric. The processes involved bleaching, mercerising and dyeing. The industry peaked in 1912 when it produced 8 billion yards of cloth. The great war of 1914–1918 halted the supply of raw cotton, and the British government encouraged its colonys to build mills to spin and weave cotton. The war over, Lancashire never regained its markets. 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. Ainsworth Mill, Breightmet was one of 104 mills bought last by the LCC. It one of the 53 mills that LCC owned in 1950, and was extensively refurbished to provide a mercerising facility. They established a research and quality control laboratory here to service the group and ensure the stability of the colour. Yarn was received from other mills in the group in warp or in hank, and is mercerised, bleached and dyed, then wrapped into hank, cone, quiller pirn, back beam, weaver's beam, cheese or precision wound multiple end cheese as required. On LCC demise, Ainsworth Mill continued in business as a bleaching and dyeing work until the dyeing company that went into liquidation in 2006. The works is derelict, but surveys have been done showing an intention of bring the mill back into industrial use.
My visit:
I didn't venture far in this room because the floor was unsound. I then went around the back, where there are some building materials and walked down the ramp. The building consists of several large Halls and some rooms at the front of the building. The Halls have square holes leading to the floor below - used to quickly pass materials between floors. There's hardly anything to show what the building was used for. (Apart from the Mill Chimney of course).
There is a lower floor / basement, but as I was on my own I didn't fancy venturing down there
Corridor
Upstairs in the main building - unsafe flooring - be careful
Selfie
One of many Bathrooms
Triggered a few flashes
After playing around with my flashgun I spotted a small red light outside at the back of the building, so I turned my head torch off, and sure enough it was a tripod-mounted sensor pointing towards the building. I made my way back to the front gate and was greeted by Security. Security told me that the Sensor belongs to John (the Farmer at the back) and that his Office is inside a Shipment Container on the premises. He was very relaxed and friendly.
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