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Report - - Barkerend Mill, Bradford, West Yorks, October 2022 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Barkerend Mill, Bradford, West Yorks, October 2022

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HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
1. The History
This mill complex is situated east-north-east of the centre of Bradfield. The first mill to be established here in 1815 was steam-powered worsted-spinning mill. Early buildings included a four-storey, timber-floored mill (with internal end engine house) and a number of warehouses. The warehouses were later extended and in 1852 a new four-storey mill with basement and attic designed by W Metcalf of Bradford was also added. Then, in 1870, the largest building on the site, Barkerend Mill, was built. It boasted six storeys and was constructed so it was fireproof mill. Designed by Bradford-based Architects Milnes and France, the mill showed evolution of a transmission system from upright shaft in shaft tower to a rope race. At it’s peak it provided employment for in excess of 400 workers.

Barkerend mill was Grade II listed on 9th August, 1983. In 1987 a fire damaged much of the North Mill building. Mill operations finally ceased in 1996, bring to an end over 180 years of continuous working on the site. Since then the buildings have been used for storage and the manufacture of aquariums, before being left empty in 2017 and slipping into dereliction. The second of two major fires in the site occurred in leaving the North Mill without a roof.

Back in 1952 when the floors of the mill were jam-packed with machines:

8574658854_dfdcfff756_b.jpg


8666078266_d5d2bd536c_b.jpg


More archive pictures HERE

In 2021 it was announced that the mill would be transformed into 117 new apartments after Barkerend Mills Ltd were granted planning permission was granted by Bradford Council. Barkerend Mill and North Mill will be converted into a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments while the third building, Tahiti Mill, will be demolished to make way for an outdoor area and car park. As of October 2022, work is yet to start and the mill lies in a forlorn state.

2. The Explore
Had this place on my radar for a while, so early one morning off me and my non-forum member exploring mate set. After parking up close by and making the short walk over to the mill complex, we soon very quickly found out way into the main Barkerend mill. The six-story mill is by far the most photogenic of the three buildings. Although pretty much empty and a little bit samey, the architectural features, including the cast-iron ceiling columns, are ridiculously photogenic and the views over the other two mills and the local area just get better and better the higher you go. So we must have spent over an hour in the main mill. We didn’t bother with the fire-damaged North Mill as it didn’t look that interesting. We did, however have a peek in the smaller Tahiti Mill, which, at some part in time looked like it had been the sight of a grow.

Overall, a great explore.

3. The Pictures

The glorious site that first avails itself:

52389101186_8d365ba9f3_b.jpg


End shot of the mill:

52388178342_2e487b104c_b.jpg


Connecting walkway to Tahiti Mill:

52389529620_d67fd5427a_b.jpg


Fire escape:

52389409119_340cd11a6f_b.jpg


First up, the dark foreboding first floor:

52383926643_55bdcacc4e_b.jpg


52383686136_c7b4cc0f9b_b.jpg


Second floor:

52389408704_e4c940755f_b.jpg


52389417049_2d858cbac8_b.jpg


52388186742_a5275646a8_b.jpg


52389537530_4e1a7600d7_b.jpg


Old coms system?

52384112050_4bbb834fb6_b.jpg


Sun shafting into the third floor:

52388185987_e61fd7cbd6_b.jpg


Broken sink:

52389416684_11f822aabe_b.jpg


The fourth floor is not that spectacular:

52389535675_17a3be3c1b_b.jpg


52382736092_0695ce4cbd_b.jpg


Connecting corridor:

52389354643_f3e8a0e0ce_b.jpg


Old electrics:

52389415869_a6e755681a_b.jpg


The burnt-out part of North Mill:

52382735097_8186bfd156_b.jpg


52383986814_667a570006_b.jpg


And the part that retains its roof:

52384101735_7db0c85d9b_b.jpg


And onward:

52388184242_65541b6d05_b.jpg


52382746747_02852aae5a_b.jpg


To the fifth “blue” floor:

52389534490_208525d87d_b.jpg


52389107686_5728a681bb_b.jpg


52389415249_9a91aa19a2_b.jpg


Old wooden cases:

52382745647_9433f29859_b.jpg


Evidence of previous occupants:

52383908148_0d1d0b19cf_b.jpg


And views over Bradford:

52383907863_b0f345af91_b.jpg


52382733497_22bc53f850_b.jpg


52383991599_6a89281bae_b.jpg
 

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
CONTINUED:

The glorious sixth and final “orange” floor:

52389413449_7647930d9f_b.jpg


52389104811_81a5cb4147_b.jpg


52389350793_3270022e2c_b.jpg


52389532530_dd973dff84_b.jpg


52388182167_a1d1b00667_b.jpg


52388182757_fb9a9697a2_b.jpg


Looking down over Tahiti Mill:

52383981829_a78e4f9c03_b.jpg


52383676541_f30268088b_b.jpg


Some sort of beam-mounted engine:

52389101646_c4e91df814_b.jpg


Electrics long stripped out by the metal faeries:

52389411669_f0b497f7a8_b.jpg


Engine at the end at the top in the roof space:

52388180642_0a2336ba48_b.jpg


52389411504_8049c03ff8_b.jpg


Looking down the lift shaft:

52389410934_990baa0fb4_b.jpg


Time to leave Barkerend:

52389531145_a2999e1903_b.jpg


Barkerend’s reverse elevation:

52389103336_730c4ff944_b.jpg


52388180057_5b7b08bbb6_b.jpg


Where three mills meet:

52389103146_774ac06a2e_b.jpg


And on to Tahiti mill and the basement:

52389528600_44c84fafee_b.jpg


52389528680_30316891b7_b.jpg


First floor in Tahiti:

52388178667_debbebfb3e_b.jpg


52389409844_1de5a025e3_b.jpg


Evidence of that grow:

52389528545_a7608e70ce_b.jpg


And up to the attic:

52389102511_58502b9f4d_b.jpg


52389409609_a03ed11953_b.jpg


OK, that’s all folks:

52388178257_e10e9e7462_b.jpg
 

dave

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Good work i enjoyed the views from the top floor that was the best bit for me. Its a little disapppointing and stripped once inside as it looks quite inviting from the outside. Shame that sink has been smashed it was intact when i went.
 

MK83

Wife and husband
28DL Full Member
Awesome shots! Really liked this place, one of my favourite mills even though its very empty.
 

Exploring With Pride 🌈

Exploring with pride in more ways than one
28DL Full Member
1. The History
This mill complex is situated east-north-east of the centre of Bradfield. The first mill to be established here in 1815 was steam-powered worsted-spinning mill. Early buildings included a four-storey, timber-floored mill (with internal end engine house) and a number of warehouses. The warehouses were later extended and in 1852 a new four-storey mill with basement and attic designed by W Metcalf of Bradford was also added. Then, in 1870, the largest building on the site, Barkerend Mill, was built. It boasted six storeys and was constructed so it was fireproof mill. Designed by Bradford-based Architects Milnes and France, the mill showed evolution of a transmission system from upright shaft in shaft tower to a rope race. At it’s peak it provided employment for in excess of 400 workers.

Barkerend mill was Grade II listed on 9th August, 1983. In 1987 a fire damaged much of the North Mill building. Mill operations finally ceased in 1996, bring to an end over 180 years of continuous working on the site. Since then the buildings have been used for storage and the manufacture of aquariums, before being left empty in 2017 and slipping into dereliction. The second of two major fires in the site occurred in leaving the North Mill without a roof.

Back in 1952 when the floors of the mill were jam-packed with machines:

8574658854_dfdcfff756_b.jpg


8666078266_d5d2bd536c_b.jpg


More archive pictures HERE

In 2021 it was announced that the mill would be transformed into 117 new apartments after Barkerend Mills Ltd were granted planning permission was granted by Bradford Council. Barkerend Mill and North Mill will be converted into a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments while the third building, Tahiti Mill, will be demolished to make way for an outdoor area and car park. As of October 2022, work is yet to start and the mill lies in a forlorn state.

2. The Explore
Had this place on my radar for a while, so early one morning off me and my non-forum member exploring mate set. After parking up close by and making the short walk over to the mill complex, we soon very quickly found out way into the main Barkerend mill. The six-story mill is by far the most photogenic of the three buildings. Although pretty much empty and a little bit samey, the architectural features, including the cast-iron ceiling columns, are ridiculously photogenic and the views over the other two mills and the local area just get better and better the higher you go. So we must have spent over an hour in the main mill. We didn’t bother with the fire-damaged North Mill as it didn’t look that interesting. We did, however have a peek in the smaller Tahiti Mill, which, at some part in time looked like it had been the sight of a grow.

Overall, a great explore.

3. The Pictures

The glorious site that first avails itself:

52389101186_8d365ba9f3_b.jpg


End shot of the mill:

52388178342_2e487b104c_b.jpg


Connecting walkway to Tahiti Mill:

52389529620_d67fd5427a_b.jpg


Fire escape:

52389409119_340cd11a6f_b.jpg


First up, the dark foreboding first floor:

52383926643_55bdcacc4e_b.jpg


52383686136_c7b4cc0f9b_b.jpg


Second floor:

52389408704_e4c940755f_b.jpg


52389417049_2d858cbac8_b.jpg


52388186742_a5275646a8_b.jpg


52389537530_4e1a7600d7_b.jpg


Old coms system?

52384112050_4bbb834fb6_b.jpg


Sun shafting into the third floor:

52388185987_e61fd7cbd6_b.jpg


Broken sink:

52389416684_11f822aabe_b.jpg


The fourth floor is not that spectacular:

52389535675_17a3be3c1b_b.jpg


52382736092_0695ce4cbd_b.jpg


Connecting corridor:

52389354643_f3e8a0e0ce_b.jpg


Old electrics:

52389415869_a6e755681a_b.jpg


The burnt-out part of North Mill:

52382735097_8186bfd156_b.jpg


52383986814_667a570006_b.jpg


And the part that retains its roof:

52384101735_7db0c85d9b_b.jpg


And onward:

52388184242_65541b6d05_b.jpg


52382746747_02852aae5a_b.jpg


To the fifth “blue” floor:

52389534490_208525d87d_b.jpg


52389107686_5728a681bb_b.jpg


52389415249_9a91aa19a2_b.jpg


Old wooden cases:

52382745647_9433f29859_b.jpg


Evidence of previous occupants:

52383908148_0d1d0b19cf_b.jpg


And views over Bradford:

52383907863_b0f345af91_b.jpg


52382733497_22bc53f850_b.jpg


52383991599_6a89281bae_b.jpg
Typical i was in bradford last week and didn't know about this lol great report some good pics there
 

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