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Report - - Wardle and Davenport, Big Mill, Leek, February 2017 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Wardle and Davenport, Big Mill, Leek, February 2017

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Alley

Conspicuous Loiterer
Regular User
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The Big Mill was built in 1857 to designs by William Sugden. It was first occupied by Joseph Broster in 1858. The firm of Wardle & Davenport was formed in 1867 by Henry Wardle, keeper of the Britannia tavern in West Street, also described as a photographer; and George Davenport, a silk throwster. Wardle provided the capital, and Davenport ran the business. Later George’s brother Henry Davenport joined the business.

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Their premises were at first in West Street, but by 1872 they had moved to part of Big Mill in Mill Street, sharing it with William Broster & Co. and Frederick Hammersley & Co.

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Early in the 20th century artificial silk was introduced, with Wardle & Davenport among the pioneers. The firm established a company at Tubize in Belgium in 1899, and around 1905 became the first in Britain to make artificial silk stockings. In 1920 Wardle & Davenport conveyed its manufacture of such cotton along with Big Mill to Peri-Lusta Ltd., established in 1919. Peri-Lusta remained at Big Mill until 1992.

A colour advertisement for Wardle & Davenport 'The Drapers' Organiser', July 1925.
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This portrait shows Henry Davenport with his daughter Minnie, wife Eliza (née Hassall) and son Fred. Henry was only about 43 years old when this picture was taken; six years later, in 1895, he died.
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There have been many reports on here over the years, the first being OT's report in 2006 and the last 2014, so here’s our contribution from 2017. It’s in a lot worse shape nowadays with dangerously rotten floors, but the decay makes for some colourful pictures. Visited with @FreshFingers and SoundLightGo.

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paddington bear

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
I remember crawling round this as a model on my hands and knees around this time :) The floors after level one were shocking! I was sent this and advised it was a death trap not to go to...so it had to be done and it was stunning!
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Nicely done, I like the old photos added into the report. Just adds an essence of what it was like. Fantastic as always :thumb
 

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