Report - Bolton Textile Mill, March 2015

[dweeb]

Once again thanks to Host for introducing me to the odd bunch that now occupy this mill.

Typical and in some ways rather plain mill, built 1909.
Since closure has found the usual "conversion" (and I use the term loosely) into storage, boxing club etc etc.
The mills engine hall is still standing, and despite loosing it's floor at engine level, still has a patchwork array of original tilework on the walls.

We ventured under the floor to the steam tunnels, where a beautiful and extremely long cast iron spiral staircase leads the climber up the rope race, past the dust extraction equipment and up to bricked up entrances to each floor of the mill. The ironwork and general scale of the rope race is a sight to behold, despite the terrible state of neglect the building has fallen in to.

The roof offered some typical northern drizzley views over the town and neighbouring mills...

​

 

[Oxygen Thief]

That's spot on mate, plenty to see in there. Remind me, what is the rope race for?

 

[Punk]

Once again, exceedingly good stuff love the staircase

 

[dweeb]

The daddy bear wheel spins, and the ropes transport the power to the mummy bear wheel situated in the rope race on each floor for each individual machine.

Just think of the amount of power that big wheel was producing!!

 

[Oxygen Thief]

Unbelievably, I've never seen pictures of the daddy wheel, and didn't realise it was driven by rope. Cheers for the info.

 

[Yorrick]

..and usually more than one rope to each floor, so that if one rope snapped the other would keep going and the whole mill didn't have to stop to get one floor back "on line"

 

[dweeb]

Did you learn nothing in that museum in Bradford!? You were too busy being wooed by the masons!!

That picture is of Trencherfield mill's engine, we should go when they steam it, a lot of what we have seen over the years starts to make sense when you see one running.

It kind of explains why the engine halls were so lavish, the bit of kit inside them was the 'beating heart' of the whole mill. If the engine stopped, every single machine stopped.

With that in mind, it makes you realise what an innovation the electric motor must have been!

 

[host]

Cracking stuff mate, this is one of my new favourate mills..

 

[Will Knot]

Nice set of pics there......great staircase shots

Thanks for sharin'

 

[Ojay]

My bad, I'll get my coat

 

[Kenni]

Fanbloodytastic! I really need to start 'milling' about, seeing as these are on my door-step!!