List of mills in Preston facts for kids

Preston, a town in Lancashire, England, has a long and interesting history with cotton. For many years, it was a very important place for making cotton fabric. This all started when John Horrocks built his first cotton factory, called the Yellow factory, in 1791. This factory used a special engine to power its machines.

Cotton factories, also known as cotton mills, often had their own water reservoirs. Inside these mills, workers used machines called spinning mules to turn raw cotton into thread. They also used power looms to weave the thread into cloth. Local companies even made these machines for the mills. By 1927, there were about 60 cotton mills working in Preston!

Preston's Cotton Mills: A Busy Past

Preston was once a hub of activity thanks to its many cotton mills. These large factories were where cotton was processed and turned into textiles. They were very important for the town's economy and provided many jobs.

What Cotton Mills Did

Cotton mills were busy places. Raw cotton would arrive, and then it would go through several steps. First, it was cleaned and prepared. Then, machines like spinning mules would spin the cotton fibers into strong threads. After that, power looms would weave these threads into large sheets of fabric. This fabric was then ready to be made into clothes or other items.

Famous Mills in Preston

Many mills operated in Preston over the years. Some of them were very large and important.

• Centenary Mill: This mill was also known as Horrockses. It was a very strong building with steel beams and concrete floors. A huge engine powered it, providing a lot of energy for the machines. It was built in 1895 and is now a Grade II listed building, meaning it's a special historical building.
• Tulketh Mill: Built in 1905, Tulketh Mill was another impressive factory. It had a very tall chimney, which was later made a bit shorter. Inside, it had many machines for spinning cotton. This mill is also a Grade II listed building.

Many other mills also played a big part in Preston's cotton story. They included places like Aqueduct Street Mill, Brookfield Mill, and Hanover Mill. Each mill helped make Preston a major center for cotton production.

Images for kids

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  Arkwright Mill in Preston.

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  Aqueduct Street Mill.

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  Centenary Mill, also known as Horrockses Cotton Mill.

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  Hanover Mill on Fylde Road.

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  Shelley Road Mill.

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  Tulketh Mill, a large cotton factory.

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  Alliance Works in Preston.

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  Brookhouse Mill.

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  Higher Walton Mill.

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  Manchester Mill.

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  Primrose Hill Mill.

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  Another view of Tulketh Mill.

See also

• List of mills owned by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation Limited