I haven't been back to Paton's Mill since October 2008, and the past 18 months have not been kind to the place. First, on-site security left, then the metal thieves and neds moved in to trash the place, then (far too late) the council eventually secured the building - it's now breeze-blocked to second-floor level and there are internal walls as well. It makes entry a lot more entertaining :)
In a storeroom off the sales office, there was a flip-chart presentation that must be 40 years old - it was soaked through and every page disintegrated as I turned it...
More marketing materials:
Some more entertaining climbing, and up onto the flat roof:
Into the main part of the mill:
Lace samples from 1932:
One mission was to do the tower - never been up this before, and considering the state of the wooden ladders it's not going to be do-able for much longer...
Just down from the roof is a cast-iron water tank.
And the floor below this has a surprise - a wooden pattern store. These patterns must be very old...
In a storeroom off the sales office, there was a flip-chart presentation that must be 40 years old - it was soaked through and every page disintegrated as I turned it...
More marketing materials:
Some more entertaining climbing, and up onto the flat roof:
Into the main part of the mill:
Lace samples from 1932:
One mission was to do the tower - never been up this before, and considering the state of the wooden ladders it's not going to be do-able for much longer...
Just down from the roof is a cast-iron water tank.
And the floor below this has a surprise - a wooden pattern store. These patterns must be very old...
so here are a couple of ads to keep it alive.
