Dean Clough facts for kids
Dean Clough is a huge group of old factory buildings in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. These buildings were constructed between the 1840s and 1860s. They were originally home to Crossley's Carpets, which became one of the world's biggest carpet factories. It was about half a mile long and had a massive amount of floor space.
After many years, the factory closed in 1983. A group led by Sir Ernest Hall bought the site. They turned the old factory into a place for many different businesses and arts groups. Dean Clough is now a great example of how old industrial areas can be successfully brought back to life.
You can find Dean Clough on the north side of Halifax. It's close to the old Victorian North Bridge and the modern Burdock Way road system. Today, about 150 businesses, big and small, are located here. There are also art galleries, like the Crossley Gallery, and the Viaduct Theatre. This theatre is the home of the Northern Broadsides theatre company.
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History of Dean Clough Mills
The story of Dean Clough began in 1802. That's when John Crossley, his brother Thomas, and James Travis first rented the mills. After 20 years, John Crossley took over the lease by himself. When he passed away in 1837, about 300 people worked there.
His three sons, John, Joseph, and Francis, continued the business. They called their company John Crossley and Sons. In 1864, they formed a joint stock company. This made them one of the first limited liability companies in Britain. This new company built the very large mills you see today between 1841 and 1869.
Around 1855, the mills started being named with letters like A, B, C, and so on. By 1900, the company employed 5,000 people in Halifax and other locations. During the two World Wars, the factory stopped making carpets. Instead, they made military supplies like blankets and yarn for uniforms.
In 1970, the company's chairman, Patrick Crossley, retired. The company moved its main office to Kidderminster. Then, in 1982, the decision was made to close the Dean Clough site.
New Beginnings for the Mills
After the mills closed in 1983, Sir Ernest Hall and his group bought the site. Sir Ernest Hall's son, Jeremy, became the managing director. He slowly updated the buildings. They were turned into offices and cultural spaces for many different companies.
Dean Clough has even hosted important events. For example, the Conservative Party launched its plan for the 2017 General Election there. This event was led by the Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May.
Exploring the Dean Clough Site
Dean Clough has many mill buildings. Some are very large, and most are named with letters of the alphabet. Most of them are located at the bottom of the steep Hebble Valley. However, G Mill stands on a steep bank. It has nine floors at the road level and five floors at the top of the bank.
Key Mill Buildings and Their Construction
The first mill built by the Crossley family was A Mill in 1841. B Mill, which had six floors, followed in 1844. These mills likely held machines for spinning yarn and weaving. The first weaving shed, called Old Shed, was built in 1849.
Other important mills built later include C Mill in 1850, New Shed in 1853, E Mill in 1857, F Mill in 1858, G Mill in 1867, and H Mill in 1869. Many other smaller buildings were also constructed on the site.
How Goods Moved Around the Factory
In the past, the factory had its own railway lines. These lines were connected to North Bridge railway station, which was close to the factory's eastern end. A bridge connected this station to the main Halifax railway station. The railway also went through a tunnel near the mills to connect to Bradford and Keighley.
The railway closed in 1955, and North Bridge Station was taken down in 1960. Today, Dean Clough relies on roads for transport. Major roads like the A58 and A629 serve the area. These roads are connected by the Burdock Way system, which was built in the early 1970s. This system includes high, curving bridges that overlook the mills.
Bringing Dean Clough Back to Life
In 1983, Sir Ernest Hall and Jonathan Silver bought the Dean Clough site together. They wanted to develop the site in a flexible way. However, the two men had different ideas about how to work. Within a year, Sir Ernest Hall bought Silver's share, and Silver left. Three years later, Silver bought another old factory, Salt's Mill, and started to bring it back to life in his own way.
Some large sheds on the southwestern part of Dean Clough were removed. This opened up the area and created space for car parking. Now, a Travelodge hotel and an NHS health facility use buildings at the western end. The refurbishment of G Mill has been happening for over 20 years, floor by floor.
The stone walls of the buildings have been cleaned. They used to be black from industrial pollution. The outside of the buildings has been changed very little. However, the insides have been completely updated for new uses. This sometimes meant removing floors and old iron pillars to install things like modern lifts.
Today, the mills offer office space for about 150 companies. They also house art galleries, restaurants, and The Viaduct Theatre. There's even a 35-foot-long model of the factory made from Lego on display!
The Viaduct Theatre: A Special Place for Performances
The Viaduct Theatre is an underground performance space that can seat 300 people. It has been the main home for the Northern Broadsides theatre company for more than 30 years. The theatre also welcomes other visiting theatre groups and local community groups for performances.
See also
- Listed buildings in Halifax, West Yorkshire
