List of mills in Wigan Facts for Kids

Leigh skyline in 1974.

This article is about the many cotton mills and other textile factories that once filled the towns and villages of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. These places, like Wigan and Leigh, were historically part of Lancashire.

Long ago, people made cloth at home using a system called the putting-out system. They often made a strong fabric called fustian. Later, in the late 1700s, cotton became very important. It was brought in through the Port of Liverpool. The building of canals like the Bridgewater Canal and Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and then railways, made it easier to move cotton and finished cloth. A special strong cotton cloth called Wigan fabric was even named after the town!

The Wigan area didn't have many fast-flowing rivers for water power. So, not many factories were built until steam power became available. In the 1800s, mills on the Lancashire Coalfield used cheap coal to power their machines. By 1818, Wigan had eight mills. It really grew as a cotton town during Victorian times.

The Rise of Silk Weaving
Cotton's Golden Age
Famous Mills in the Wigan Borough
See also

The Rise of Silk Weaving

After 1827, a silk industry started in the Leigh area. People wove silk fabrics at home or in special weaving sheds. The silk yarn came from places like Macclesfield or Leek.

By 1830, about 10,000 people in the Leigh parish worked in silk weaving. Most of them worked from their homes. However, as new power looms were introduced in the 1850s, fewer people were needed for hand weaving. Many silk mills eventually switched to cotton.

Cotton's Golden Age

In 1911, over 6,000 people in Leigh worked in the cotton industry. By 1913, Leigh was the fifth-largest cotton spinning center in Greater Manchester. Large multi-storey mills were built for spinning cotton.

Some mills, like Jones Brothers Bedford New Mills, became "integrated mills." This meant they did both spinning (making yarn) and weaving (making cloth) in one place. In the early 1900s, huge weaving sheds were also constructed.

A company called Combined Egyptian Mills Ltd was formed in 1929. Its main office was at Howe Bridge Mills in Atherton. It became the second-largest cotton-spinning company in the world! It had 34 mills and millions of spindles, which are parts of machines that spin cotton into yarn.

Famous Mills in the Wigan Borough

Many mills were built across the Wigan borough. Here are some of the notable ones:

Mills in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Makerfield Mill: This mill was located in Ashton-in-Makerfield.

Mills in Aspull

Dicconson Mill: In 1891, John Leigh and Brothers owned this mill, which had 20,000 spindles. It was later demolished and is now a housing estate.

Mills in Astley

Arrowsmiths Mill: Built in 1833 by James and Robert Arrowsmith, this mill was next to the Bridgewater Canal. It wove fabrics like fustians and velvets. The mill closed in 1951 due to damage from mining.

Mills in Atherton

Atherton Mill: Built in 1839 by James Burton, it was the first of several mills he built near Hindsford Brook.
Victoria Mill: The Atherton Spinning Company built this mill in 1860. It had 69,000 spindles. The old mill was demolished in 1957.
Dan Lane Mills: Constructed around 1840, this was Atherton's first large spinning mill. Most of it has been demolished.
Ena Mill: This five-storey mill, built in 1908, is a Grade II listed building. It's made of red brick and has a tall chimney. Today, it houses shops and offices.
Howe Bridge Mills: The first of six mills here was built in 1865. In 1929, Howe Bridge Mills became the headquarters for Combined Egyptian Mills Ltd. Some parts were demolished in 1965.
Laburnum Mills: A large twin spinning mill built in 1905. Its chimney and ornate tower were demolished in the 1980s.

Mills in Bedford, Leigh

Alder Mill: Designed in 1907, this five-storey spinning mill was made of reinforced concrete and covered in red brick. It had a huge engine and 122,000 spindles. The mill was demolished in 1978, but its decorative office building still stands.
Bedford New Mills: Started in 1834, this mill was operated by Jones Brothers and Co. It had 53,000 spindles and 970 looms.
Brooklands Mill: Built in 1893, this mill is on the south bank of the Bridgewater Canal.
Butts Mill: Built in 1905, this six-storey mill has a steel frame and a unique tower with a copper dome. It was designed as a double mill, but only half was built. It stopped spinning in 1960.
Leigh Spinners (Leigh Mill): This double spinning mill is a Grade II* listed building. The first part was built in 1913, and the second in 1923. It still has a working steam engine!
Mather Lane Mill: The first mill here opened in 1878. This Grade II Listed cotton spinning mill is known for its strong, classical design. It's on the north bank of the Bridgewater Canal.
Stanley Mill: Built in 1833, this was originally a silk mill. It's a rare example of a factory that used hand-driven looms. It was later converted to cotton manufacturing.

Mills in Golborne

Parkside Mills: In 1891, this mill had 80,000 spindles and 93 looms, weaving velvets and cords.

Mills in Hindley

Prospect Mill (Platt Lane Mill): Built in 1887, this weaving mill is now a business center.

Mills in Pemberton

May Mill No.1 and No.2: These ring spinning mills were built in 1889 and 1900. They were later owned by Courtaulds but closed in 1980 and were demolished.

Mills in Pennington

Etherstone Mill: This weaving shed started construction in 1914. During World War I, the building was used as a camp for German prisoners! Machinery was installed in 1920, and the mill began making industrial cloths.
Knott's Mill: Built in 1858, this mill closed in 1930, and its machinery was removed.
Welch Hill Mill: Originally a silk weaving mill, it was later converted to cotton weaving and is now used for other purposes.

Mills in Standish

Bradley Mills (Douglas Mill): Built in 1906, this mill was used for storage in 2016.
Standish Bleachworks: This factory, which used the Mayflower as its trademark, started bleaching cloth in 1884. It closed in 1998 and was later demolished for housing.

Mills in Tyldesley

Barnfield Mills: This was a large group of six mills. The first was built in 1851. The last mill, Barnfield No 6, was built in 1894 with concrete floors and modern features. It was demolished in 1993.
Resolution Mill: Built in 1823, this mill was destroyed by fire in 1891.

Mills in Westleigh

Firs Mills: Built by Tunnicliffe and Hampson, the last mill was completed in 1902. It had a water tower with four clock faces. It has since been demolished.
Victoria Mills (Hayes Mills): The first of these mills was built in 1856. The Hayes brothers were pioneers in using long-stapled Egyptian cotton. These mills were later demolished.

Mills in Wigan

Gidlow Mill (Pagefield Mill): Built in 1865, this large mill complex is a Grade II listed building. It was designed to be fireproof and is now being considered for residential use.
Swan Meadow Mills: The first mill here was built in 1827. The company, James Eckersley and Sons, eventually ran six spinning mills and two weaving sheds in Wigan.
Trencherfield Mill: Built in 1907-1908, this cotton spinning mill is famous for its original, working steam engine, which is still in place. The mill has been converted into workshops, apartments, and offices.
Western Mills Nos.1, 2 & 3 (Eckersley Mills): This group of mills, designed by A H Stott, are near Wigan Pier. They are Grade II listed buildings and are in varying conditions, some still standing as warehouses.

List of mills in Wigan facts for kids

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