HISTORY
Brierfield Mills stands on the east bank of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, It was established before 1844 as a steam-powered cotton mill but the buildings shown on the 1844 map, evidently a spinning mill and a weaving shed, were demolished when the site was rebuilt and substantially extended between 1868 and 1907.
These new buildings survive and comprise a multi-storey spinning mill dated 1868 parallel to but set slightly back from the canal, an attached two-storey building, three weaving sheds, two free-standing east of the spinning mill and terraced into the valley side, and both of pre-1891 date, and one south of the spinning mill dated 1907, and offices. The buildings are all of squared stone rubble and steam powered. The 1968 spinning mill is four storeys high, 39 bays long, with a central engine and boiler house; it is of fireproof construction.
The two weaving sheds to its east are single storeyed, the sheds with three-storeyed warehouse and yarn preparation blocks at their downhill ends. The south-east shed incorporates a stair tower surmounted by a later clock tower and is built up to a two storey range with a warehouse block formerly linked to the railway and a later Italianate office block.
The south-east shed of 1907 is single-storeyed with its own corner engine house.
THE VISIT
Got up especially early so we can have a lot of time inside, went out and met @Brandon.ee and travelled to the location, met with a man named Paul who showed us around and told us about a lot of the history of the mill. Turns out Paul has worked in the mill for 30 years and continued to work/guard the area 5 years after shutting down with his dog, cannot remember her name sorry
.
After probably 2 hours in the mill we had to vacate due to a man coming to look at parts of the building which wasn't safe.. Took as many images as I could take in the time we had (I have over 150). If you want to see more you can visit my Flickr just message me for it.
Enjoy!
-LancashireExplorations
Brierfield Mills stands on the east bank of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, It was established before 1844 as a steam-powered cotton mill but the buildings shown on the 1844 map, evidently a spinning mill and a weaving shed, were demolished when the site was rebuilt and substantially extended between 1868 and 1907.
These new buildings survive and comprise a multi-storey spinning mill dated 1868 parallel to but set slightly back from the canal, an attached two-storey building, three weaving sheds, two free-standing east of the spinning mill and terraced into the valley side, and both of pre-1891 date, and one south of the spinning mill dated 1907, and offices. The buildings are all of squared stone rubble and steam powered. The 1968 spinning mill is four storeys high, 39 bays long, with a central engine and boiler house; it is of fireproof construction.
The two weaving sheds to its east are single storeyed, the sheds with three-storeyed warehouse and yarn preparation blocks at their downhill ends. The south-east shed incorporates a stair tower surmounted by a later clock tower and is built up to a two storey range with a warehouse block formerly linked to the railway and a later Italianate office block.
The south-east shed of 1907 is single-storeyed with its own corner engine house.
THE VISIT
Got up especially early so we can have a lot of time inside, went out and met @Brandon.ee and travelled to the location, met with a man named Paul who showed us around and told us about a lot of the history of the mill. Turns out Paul has worked in the mill for 30 years and continued to work/guard the area 5 years after shutting down with his dog, cannot remember her name sorry
.After probably 2 hours in the mill we had to vacate due to a man coming to look at parts of the building which wasn't safe.. Took as many images as I could take in the time we had (I have over 150). If you want to see more you can visit my Flickr just message me for it.
Enjoy!
-LancashireExplorations
