Broadfield Mill, Huddersfield - June 2018
Visited solo
Broadfield Mill is a partially demolished mill complex located beside the River Holme in Lockwood, a mile south of Huddersfield town centre. The mill dates back to at least the 1840s.
Godfrey Berry moved to this mill from Folly Hall Mills in 1850 to form Messrs. Berry & Crowther; this later became Henry Crowther & Sons. In 1897, Kaye & Stewart took over the mill. The 1937 Directory lists Gledhill Bros. & Co at the mill in addition to Kaye & Stewart. Deluxe Bed Ltd were the last tenants of this part of the mill, possibly leaving the site around 2004/05.
History
Godfrey Berry purchased land in Lockwood in the 1840s, including land on which a 'Chapel or Meeting House' had been erected. This seems to have been bought as 'lots' and later further shares in the land were sold, possibly as a means of raising money. Earlier deeds had referred to 'land belonging to John Berry', so the family seem to have been fairly well off. Earlier members of the family owned mills in Honley and had been involved in local politics. Godfrey Berry went into partnership with Henry Crowther - purchasing Broadfield Mills in Lockwood in 1845, and it seems that his son Josiah also had some interest in the business.
After his father's death, Josiah - with Alfred and Henry Crowther - purchased the land and mill of Broadfield Mills in Lockwood with the agreement of Samuel Naylor, who was the executor of the late Godfrey Berry's will. Josiah was described in 1851 as an 'employer of 208'. At this time he lived in Yews Hill, just above the mills at Lockwood, with his wife and children. Josiah's interest in Broadfield Mill must have been sold later, when the firm of Henry Crowther & Sons began. Later, Kaye and Stewart (fancy worsted manufacturers) took over Broadfield Mill and became one of the largest employers in Huddersfield.
Deluxe Beds were the last occupiers of this mill, and I'm not certain when they moved out but from old newspapers inside it seems like it was around 2004.
Deluxe Beds now operate out of a mill in Birkby on the other side of the town centre, and until researching this report, I had no idea that they still use the name Kaye & Stewart to sell their more upmarket bed ranges - suggesting a possible continuous link to the company formed in 1883(!), now specialising in beds and mattresses. It is of course possible that they 'borrowed' the name to give their company a bit of extra heritage it doesn't really have. I say this only because they don't allude to being a 135-year old company on any of their websites, stating instead that they were formed in 1995.
I've had a little nosey in the Birkby Mill previously, but got told off swiftly by the first person I came into contact with. Here's a rushed photo.
Large parts of Broadfield Mill were demolished in the early years of this century, and the remaining parts were subdivided into smaller units. There are still some firms operating out of various corners of the mill, hence this one sort of going unnoticed right under my nose for so long - I only noticed this section was derelict earlier in 2018. There is another part of the mill which is also derelict that I've not managed to get into as yet, it appears to be the former offices and showrooms.
Photos on 35mm, as always...
Ah for f*ck sake, down we go...
I feel like I can still smell the pigeon sh*t!
tweek
Visited solo
Broadfield Mill is a partially demolished mill complex located beside the River Holme in Lockwood, a mile south of Huddersfield town centre. The mill dates back to at least the 1840s.
Godfrey Berry moved to this mill from Folly Hall Mills in 1850 to form Messrs. Berry & Crowther; this later became Henry Crowther & Sons. In 1897, Kaye & Stewart took over the mill. The 1937 Directory lists Gledhill Bros. & Co at the mill in addition to Kaye & Stewart. Deluxe Bed Ltd were the last tenants of this part of the mill, possibly leaving the site around 2004/05.
History
Godfrey Berry purchased land in Lockwood in the 1840s, including land on which a 'Chapel or Meeting House' had been erected. This seems to have been bought as 'lots' and later further shares in the land were sold, possibly as a means of raising money. Earlier deeds had referred to 'land belonging to John Berry', so the family seem to have been fairly well off. Earlier members of the family owned mills in Honley and had been involved in local politics. Godfrey Berry went into partnership with Henry Crowther - purchasing Broadfield Mills in Lockwood in 1845, and it seems that his son Josiah also had some interest in the business.
After his father's death, Josiah - with Alfred and Henry Crowther - purchased the land and mill of Broadfield Mills in Lockwood with the agreement of Samuel Naylor, who was the executor of the late Godfrey Berry's will. Josiah was described in 1851 as an 'employer of 208'. At this time he lived in Yews Hill, just above the mills at Lockwood, with his wife and children. Josiah's interest in Broadfield Mill must have been sold later, when the firm of Henry Crowther & Sons began. Later, Kaye and Stewart (fancy worsted manufacturers) took over Broadfield Mill and became one of the largest employers in Huddersfield.
Deluxe Beds were the last occupiers of this mill, and I'm not certain when they moved out but from old newspapers inside it seems like it was around 2004.
Deluxe Beds now operate out of a mill in Birkby on the other side of the town centre, and until researching this report, I had no idea that they still use the name Kaye & Stewart to sell their more upmarket bed ranges - suggesting a possible continuous link to the company formed in 1883(!), now specialising in beds and mattresses. It is of course possible that they 'borrowed' the name to give their company a bit of extra heritage it doesn't really have. I say this only because they don't allude to being a 135-year old company on any of their websites, stating instead that they were formed in 1995.
I've had a little nosey in the Birkby Mill previously, but got told off swiftly by the first person I came into contact with. Here's a rushed photo.
Large parts of Broadfield Mill were demolished in the early years of this century, and the remaining parts were subdivided into smaller units. There are still some firms operating out of various corners of the mill, hence this one sort of going unnoticed right under my nose for so long - I only noticed this section was derelict earlier in 2018. There is another part of the mill which is also derelict that I've not managed to get into as yet, it appears to be the former offices and showrooms.
Photos on 35mm, as always...
Ah for f*ck sake, down we go...
I feel like I can still smell the pigeon sh*t!
tweek
