List of mills in Rochdale facts for kids
Rochdale Borough, located in Greater Manchester, England, has a rich history tied to the Industrial Revolution. This area was once home to many mills, which were factories where raw materials like cotton and wool were turned into thread and fabric. These mills played a huge part in shaping Rochdale and the lives of its people.
Contents
What are Mills?
A mill is a building or a group of buildings where raw materials are processed. In Rochdale, most mills were textile mills. This means they took materials like raw cotton or wool and spun them into yarn. Then, they wove the yarn into cloth.
There were different kinds of mills:
- Cotton mills processed cotton.
- Woollen mills processed wool.
- Fulling mills were an older type of mill. They cleaned and thickened woollen cloth using water power.
Rochdale's Mill Story
Rochdale was a perfect place for mills to grow. It had rivers like the River Roch, which provided water power for early mills. Later, with the invention of the steam engine, mills could be built anywhere. Rochdale also had good transport links. These included canals and railways, which helped bring in raw materials and send out finished goods.
The cotton industry was especially big in Rochdale. Many people worked in these large factories. They helped make Britain a world leader in textile production. The mills created many jobs. They also changed the way people lived and worked.
Some Famous Mills in Rochdale
Many mills existed in Rochdale Borough. Here are a few that stand out:
Hanging Lane Mill
This mill was very important because it was Rochdale's first steam-powered mill. It opened way back in 1791. This marked a big step forward, as mills no longer needed to be right next to a river for power.
Ellenroad Mill
Located in Newhey, Ellenroad Mill was a large cotton mill. It was built in 1890. Even though the main mill building is gone, its engine house, boiler house, and tall chimney are still standing. Inside the engine house, there's a huge steam engine. It's maintained by the Ellenroad Trust and is sometimes steamed up for visitors!
Ladyhouse Mill
Ladyhouse Mill in Milnrow was one of the first mills to use a new spinning method called "ring spinning." This method made spinning cotton faster and more efficient. The mill opened in 1879. It was a very busy place, employing many people, especially women. In 1914, there was a small outbreak of smallpox at the mill. It was thought to have come from bales of cotton from Mexico. This shows how connected the mills were to global trade.
Fieldhouse Mill
This mill on Whitworth Road had its own special railway line. This line connected it to the main railway network. This made it easy to transport goods. Fieldhouse Mill was known as a good place to work. It even had a creche, which is like a daycare. This allowed mothers to work while their young children were looked after.
Malta Mill
Malta Mill was located in Middleton. It was built in 1905. It was designed by a famous architect named F.W. Dixon.
Mars Mill
Mars Mill in Castleton was built in 1906. It was a large mill, but it has since been taken down.
Oakenrod Mills
These mills were originally a fulling mill on the River Roch. Later, in 1848, they became a woollen mill. They were stone-built and had three storeys.
Red Lumb Mill
Red Lumb Mill has been converted into homes. It's now called "The Meadows." This is a common way old mills are reused today.
Riverside Mill
This mill was located near the river, as its name suggests.
State Mill and Moss Mill
These two mills were located close to each other on Woodbine Street.
Images for kids
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Arrow Mill
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Butterworth Hall Mill
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Coral Mill, Newhey
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Crawford Mill
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Crimble Mill
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Crossfield Mill
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Dicken Green Mill
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Facit Mill, Whitworth
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Marland and Mars Mills
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Miller Brook Mill
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Milnrow Cotton Mill after a fire in 1992
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Mutual Mill No 1
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Foundation stone of Mutual Mills No 2
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Mutual Mill No 3
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Rock Nook Mill
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Sladen Wood Mill
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Victoria Mill
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Warwick Mill, Middleton
See also
