loizoin
Waterfall Mills, Blackburn, Lancashire
Nice looking mill! Chimney long gone...
Described by Mike Rothwell in his book, Industrial Heritage: A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Blackburn: Pt 1: The Textile Industry as follows...
"John Fish's factory of 1851-52. Fish, an operative at jubilee and Brookhouse Mills, entered manufacture at the Silk Mill, Ainsworth St., c1843. From 1847-51 in partnership with Robert Watson at Stonebridge, Oswaldtwistle. The original buildings contained approximately 40,000 mule spindles and 600 looms worked by a 60 hp beam engine. Terraces of housing were built in Princess and John Bright Streets. Second spinning mill, with separate engine, boiler and chimney and extension to weaving shed 1859-60. 66,900 spindles, 924 looms employing 1000 by 1870's. A further addition in 1889-90 increased spindles to 73,288. The factory principally wove shirtings.
John Fish Ltd., formed 1874, directors included Wm. Sandeman and members of the Fish family. New boiler house built 1899; triple expansion inverted vertical engine by George Saxon & Co., installed 1906 to drive both mills. William Birtwistle secured control of John Fish Ltd., 1907.
Following 1945 the mills were modernized; mules replaced by 29,000 ring spindles, weaving shed rebuilt 1949-50, automatic looms installed. William Birtwistle Allied Mills ceased spinning in 1975 and weaving temporarily in 1980. During 1983-84 production was transferred from Cicely Bridge Mill to Waterfall. Current weaving capacity comprises 160 Piconals and 200 Northrops, some in the card room of the original mill.
Buildings: mainly brick built, with pilasters and stone parapet supported on brackets. Stone plinths to most buildings. The later additions are in machine pressed brick.
Old End - 4 storey spinning mill, 9 x 14 bays on longest side; single storey card room extension in recess on Peel Street. Beam engine house (converted to loading bay) projects from west gable, entrance and staircase turret adjoins. Tower on south side. 1906 engine house at right angle, facade on Peel Street has semi-circular Pediment, elaborate keystone arch window and "Waterfall Mills" in glazed brick. Rope race to rear. 1899 boiler house, with rooms above, just beyond. Plant includes three Lancashire boilers and two oil-fired units. Circular brick chimney. Single storey watch house, office and weigh house at corner of Peel and Queen Victoria Streets. Reconstructed weaving shed under north wall of spinning mill. An older stone built block with hipped roofs faces the yard. Two storey loading bay with hoist turret in corner.
New End - 4 storey 21 x 4 bay fireproof spinning mill extending along Queen Victoria Street. Two infilled round-headed doors at south west corner (for original boilers), gable end has two windows which probably lit the engine house. Taking in doors and hoist beam. Note also the wall brackets which may have carried a drive from the later engine. Brick tower with cast iron tank projects from north wall of mill. Chimney base adjoins. Beyond are the main offices and board rooms. Additional buildings on Queen Victoria Street comprise two and singe storey warehouses with loading bays to street. Housing - the terraces of houses erected by Fish have been demolished. Modern factory units have been erected on the site."
Buildings not listed.
Waterfall Mills, Blackburn, Lancashire
Nice looking mill! Chimney long gone...
Described by Mike Rothwell in his book, Industrial Heritage: A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Blackburn: Pt 1: The Textile Industry as follows...
"John Fish's factory of 1851-52. Fish, an operative at jubilee and Brookhouse Mills, entered manufacture at the Silk Mill, Ainsworth St., c1843. From 1847-51 in partnership with Robert Watson at Stonebridge, Oswaldtwistle. The original buildings contained approximately 40,000 mule spindles and 600 looms worked by a 60 hp beam engine. Terraces of housing were built in Princess and John Bright Streets. Second spinning mill, with separate engine, boiler and chimney and extension to weaving shed 1859-60. 66,900 spindles, 924 looms employing 1000 by 1870's. A further addition in 1889-90 increased spindles to 73,288. The factory principally wove shirtings.
John Fish Ltd., formed 1874, directors included Wm. Sandeman and members of the Fish family. New boiler house built 1899; triple expansion inverted vertical engine by George Saxon & Co., installed 1906 to drive both mills. William Birtwistle secured control of John Fish Ltd., 1907.
Following 1945 the mills were modernized; mules replaced by 29,000 ring spindles, weaving shed rebuilt 1949-50, automatic looms installed. William Birtwistle Allied Mills ceased spinning in 1975 and weaving temporarily in 1980. During 1983-84 production was transferred from Cicely Bridge Mill to Waterfall. Current weaving capacity comprises 160 Piconals and 200 Northrops, some in the card room of the original mill.
Buildings: mainly brick built, with pilasters and stone parapet supported on brackets. Stone plinths to most buildings. The later additions are in machine pressed brick.
Old End - 4 storey spinning mill, 9 x 14 bays on longest side; single storey card room extension in recess on Peel Street. Beam engine house (converted to loading bay) projects from west gable, entrance and staircase turret adjoins. Tower on south side. 1906 engine house at right angle, facade on Peel Street has semi-circular Pediment, elaborate keystone arch window and "Waterfall Mills" in glazed brick. Rope race to rear. 1899 boiler house, with rooms above, just beyond. Plant includes three Lancashire boilers and two oil-fired units. Circular brick chimney. Single storey watch house, office and weigh house at corner of Peel and Queen Victoria Streets. Reconstructed weaving shed under north wall of spinning mill. An older stone built block with hipped roofs faces the yard. Two storey loading bay with hoist turret in corner.
New End - 4 storey 21 x 4 bay fireproof spinning mill extending along Queen Victoria Street. Two infilled round-headed doors at south west corner (for original boilers), gable end has two windows which probably lit the engine house. Taking in doors and hoist beam. Note also the wall brackets which may have carried a drive from the later engine. Brick tower with cast iron tank projects from north wall of mill. Chimney base adjoins. Beyond are the main offices and board rooms. Additional buildings on Queen Victoria Street comprise two and singe storey warehouses with loading bays to street. Housing - the terraces of houses erected by Fish have been demolished. Modern factory units have been erected on the site."
Buildings not listed.