List of mills in Dewsbury facts for kids

Dewsbury, a town in West Yorkshire, England, was once a very important place for making fabrics like wool and cotton. This article tells you about the many textile mills and warehouses that helped Dewsbury become famous during the Industrial Revolution. These mills were huge factories where raw materials like wool and cotton were turned into cloth.

What are Textile Mills?

Textile mills are factories where different types of fabrics are made. In places like Dewsbury, these mills mainly worked with wool and cotton. They used big machines to spin raw fibers into yarn and then weave the yarn into cloth. This process was a big part of the Industrial Revolution in England, changing how clothes and other textiles were made. Instead of people making cloth at home, large mills could produce huge amounts of fabric much faster.

Dewsbury's Mill History

Dewsbury was a key center for textile production, especially for wool. Many mills were built along rivers, like the River Calder, because they needed water power to run their machines. Later, steam power took over, allowing mills to be built anywhere.

Here are some of the important mills in Dewsbury and nearby areas:

Mills in Dewsbury Town

Dewsbury had many busy mills right in the town center. These mills were essential for the local economy, providing many jobs for people. Some well-known mills included:

• Albert Mills
• Aldams Mill
• Batley Carr Mills
• Britannia Mill
• Calder Bank Mills and Calder Mills were located near the River Calder.
• Crown Mills
• Dewsbury Mills
• Eastfield Mills
• Hirstland Mill
• Kiln Mill
• Low Mill
• Moor End Mill
• New Wakefield Mill
• Providence Mill and Providence Mills
• Ratcliffe Mill
• Ravenswharf Mills
• Sands Mill
• Scout Hill Mills
• Shoddy Mill was a special type of mill that recycled old wool into new fabric, a process Dewsbury was famous for.
• Spinkwell Mills
• West End Mills

Mills in Soothill

Soothill, a nearby area, also had its share of important textile mills. These mills contributed to the wider textile industry around Dewsbury. Some of them were:

• Alexandra Mills
• Chickenley Mill
• Culvert Mills
• Greengates Mill
• Hoyle Head Mills
• Lady Ann Mill
• Little Royd Mill
• Phoenix Mill
• Savile Mill
• Sykelng Mill and Sykeing Mills
• Union Mill

Mills in Thornhill

Thornhill, another area close to Dewsbury, also played a part in the textile industry. Mills here helped produce a variety of fabrics. Key mills included:

• Albert Mills
• Bridge Mill
• Cut End Mills
• Headfield Mills
• Hebble Mill
• King’s Mill
• Midland Mills
• Queen's Mill
• Savile Mills
• Victoria Mills

Warehouses for Textiles

Besides the mills, Dewsbury also had many warehouses. These buildings were used to store the raw materials before they went to the mills, and the finished fabrics before they were sent out to be sold. Warehouses were just as important as the mills for the textile trade. Many of these warehouses were located on streets like Bradford Road and Wellington Road.

See also

• Heavy Woollen District
• Textile processing

Images for kids

• 

  Ratcliffe Mill, located near the River Calder.

• 

  Spinkwell Mill in Dewsbury.