Report - Holme Spring Mill, Haslingden - May 2025

[Landie_Man]

The Explore
Visited a week or two ago after a tip off by @mookster . I'm currently on a placement in The North and I'm trying to do as much urbex as I can whilst in the land of the mills, and it would be rude not to do as many mills as I can muster. I saw this pop up on Facebook and instantly fell in love. I LOVE a good Textiles Mill and this was no exception. It's in pretty good nick considering its various levels of decay and obvious attempts to change all this by the local scrotes.

Access on site was discussed kindly with Mookster and upon arrival; I found I had unfortunately left my boots in the car, and had to do the whole thing in my Air Force 1s which had 50p piece sized holes in the shoe, and whilst a rather comfortable crep, do not provide much in the way of protection from nails, glass, metals etc. Good job replacement was imminent anyway.

As for explores; it was an extremely relaxed and enjoyable afternoon from start to finish; and despite having some dodgy floors throughout it thanks to the local wankers, it was safe enough. The roof had failed and water was cascading in through the roof; creating lake like water swathes in some areas on the Ground Floor of the mill. The weather was really against me here, but the mill was great and had good lighting throughout.

The History
The Mill seems to have closed in stages; with some seemingly being as late as 2022 going by whiteboards marked with Annual Leave for employees and newish products left scattered around the place.

Main History shamelessly borrowed from @mookster

Holme Spring Mill was started as a weaving shed in about 1856-57 by Henry Walton, although his father-in-law, Lawrence Whitaker, took over soon after and ran the shed with Holden and Waterfoot Mills. Extensions were made in the 1860s, when waste spinning was introduced. In 1912 the looms increased in number to over 300 and the mill produced waste plains, twills, dusters, glass cloth and sheeting. There were further additions in the 1930s and after World War Two, and Lancashire looms were gradually phased out. There was a slow decline through the 1970s and the mill finally closed in 1983. It was then sold to J H Birtwistle and Company who had an open ended spinning plant there until 1995. The buildings are now used by Birtwistles for yarn preparation, storage and as offices. The oldest portion of the site is in the north-west area, and dates to the 1850s. A two storeyed warehouse with a hipped roof faces the mill yard. There is a single storey projection at the corner, which probably was the original office or watch tower. At the east end of the warehouse, the boiler and engine houses are attached. The former has firing doors to the yard. A twentieth-century brick addition is set at an angle to the 1850s block. Devilling and scutching rooms were in the L-shaped blocks at the north-east corner of the original mill. A narrow weaving shed with a northern light roof is behind the boiler and engine houses. Its cast iron columns have bolting faces for cross shafting. The southern end was extended in 1891. To the west is a second weaving shed, which was part of the original structure. It now has an additional floor, constructed after World War Two. A three storey building at the rear dates from the 1930s. Further additions including a single storey drawing in room and a two bay warehouse, stone clad, with a hipped slate roof, can be seen at the far end of the mill. By 1912 the mill was manufacturing "waste plains, twills, dusters, glass cloth and sheeting" for the company L. Whitaker & Sons Ltd. During the 1970s the mill declined and had closed by 1983, before it was sold to J.H. Birtwhistle who housed a spinning plant there until 1995. In later years it was used by them for yarn preparation, storage and for manufacturing of items such as bean bags, curtains, cushions, roller blinds etc for John Lewis, Argos etc etc.

I erroneously thought that this was Grane Mill, but it was in fact Holme Spring Mill; Grane was nextdoor and demolished around four years ago. Being fairly local to this; I may return during my tenure in Leeds as I enjoyed it so much!

I even got my 50mm out here; which is praise indeed as I only ever do this for sites that to me; deserve it. I also noticed that the shots from my 50mm are Crystal Clear in comparison to my Workhorse 10-20mm where the shots have become a bit washed out; and it is slightly crunchy when used in AF mode. Perhaps it needs a weekend way at Sigma HQ...

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Unfortunately the poor old Tricycle had no drive to the wheels from the pedals, despite the chain being in tact
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I WANT these filing cabinets!
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Spot the very early "Fire Kills" Public Information Sticker!

***To be Continued***

 

[Landie_Man]

***Continued***
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LOVELY Enamel Lamp Shade

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As Always thanks for looking

Grane Mill

Explore this photo album by Harry Seager on Flickr!

flickr.com

 

[mookster]

It is a very nice mill this, although I can't help but feel the owners are just waiting for 'the big one' to happen so they can demolish it easier and plonk a load of houses on both this and the adjacent land.

 

[Landie_Man]

It is a very nice mill this, although I can't help but feel the owners are just waiting for 'the big one' to happen so they can demolish it easier and plonk a load of houses on both this and the adjacent land.

Absolutely. They aren’t in the slightest bit bothered about it.

 

[JaffaTB]

Did this one a couple of days ago, it reminds me of Dawsons mill for some reason especially in the area with those big hoppers, pretty eerie having the whole place to yourself.

I took a close up of that "fire kills" sticker

 

[Landie_Man]

Did this one a couple of days ago, it reminds me of Dawsons mill for some reason especially in the area with those big hoppers, pretty eerie having the whole place to yourself.

I took a close up of that "fire kills" sticker

I did too, its on my Insta . Loved it here though!

 

[Speed]

Absolutely. They aren’t in the slightest bit bothered about it.

Not exactly true. They have trail cameras set up around site and do respond to them. Friendly enough and clearly not that bothered about explorers. More about kids not killing themselves and starting fires. It's. Typical case of cashing in while putting in minimal investment I think. Bit of an old skool site.

 

[host]

Not exactly true. They have trail cameras set up around site and do respond to them. Friendly enough and clearly not that bothered about explorers. More about kids not killing themselves and starting fires. It's. Typical case of cashing in while putting in minimal investment I think. Bit of an old skool site.

Since when did it have camera's ?? is that a recent thing I didn't see any on my visits...

 

[MotionlessMike]

Since when did it have camera's ?? is that a recent thing I didn't see any on my visits...

Probably since it got moved over to public 🙄

 

[fogyfos]

Perhaps you should send copies of the photos to the local fire brigades; because you know that, some time in the near future, they're going to have to go there, and risk their lives putting out the fire that some idiots will start!!

 

[mookster]

Perhaps you should send copies of the photos to the local fire brigades; because you know that, some time in the near future, they're going to have to go there, and risk their lives putting out the fire that some idiots will start!!

There's already been multiple fires in the office areas sadly.

 

[Landie_Man]

Perhaps you should send copies of the photos to the local fire brigades; because you know that, some time in the near future, they're going to have to go there, and risk their lives putting out the fire that some idiots will start!!

Unfortunately I think it’s a bit late for that. They know the building is here and derelict

 

[Speed]

Since when did it have camera's ?? is that a recent thing I didn't see any on my visits...

Trail cam on a tree by the 'gate' saw us. To be fair its hardly a professional security operation, 4 chavs in a little car more like! They cant have been far away as they were almost there before we had climbed over the fence. Told us there were more but didnt spot anymore, would assume if there is other ones they would be looking over the other entrances.

 

[host]

Trail cam on a tree by the 'gate' saw us. To be fair its hardly a professional security operation, 4 chavs in a little car more like! They cant have been far away as they were almost there before we had climbed over the fence. Told us there were more but didnt spot anymore, would assume if there is other ones they would be looking over the other entrances.

Shit. I hope you still managed to get in. There has been a quite a few fires. Hope it wasn’t a wasted trip.

 

[Speed]

Yeh we had a good mooch around! They said the usual 'don't go in the buildings' then drove off. Didn't really care!