This is Dobroyd Mills, which dominates the village of Jackson Bridge. It was once a major contributor to the West Yorkshire textile industry like other major mills nearby and those in the Colne valley. Its primary function was producing fine worsted cloth for export. The mill now houses a fine yarn spinners, John Woodheads (Dobroyd Mills) Ltd, plus other small businesses and a café filled with vintage cars.
Along with Tweek & Fudge, who had already visited this mill on a couple of occasions, Jon and I spent an entire day trundling up hill, down dale, poking around mills (both live and derp), drinking a couple of beers and looking at rarebreed pigs.
Many of the buildings here now lie empty as their machinery has long since been dismantled, although around, there were still many remnants, including one huge room full of partly assembled carding machinery, spare parts, wheels, pulleys and all manner of rusty and oily items.
This image shows the Mills in 1947, pre-extension. The part with the curved windows was presumably added shortly after this and New Mill Dike (a tributary of the river Holme) culverted and routed beneath.
As with many of these facilities built in the Victorian era, the machinery was initially powered by steam. An almighty steam driven wheel with ropes and pulleys would have powered belt races that ran the various machinery running at all times. Alongside big oily pits, the only remnant of the mill’s powerhouse is a huge locally produced switchboard, which is magnificent and occupies and entire room.
Anyway here are lots of photographs:
The big room.
Into the more empty parts, with the switchboard.
Images of the 1920's stationary engines still in situ from 1971.
I couldn’t stop taking photos of the switchboard - sorry.
Along with Tweek & Fudge, who had already visited this mill on a couple of occasions, Jon and I spent an entire day trundling up hill, down dale, poking around mills (both live and derp), drinking a couple of beers and looking at rarebreed pigs.
Many of the buildings here now lie empty as their machinery has long since been dismantled, although around, there were still many remnants, including one huge room full of partly assembled carding machinery, spare parts, wheels, pulleys and all manner of rusty and oily items.
This image shows the Mills in 1947, pre-extension. The part with the curved windows was presumably added shortly after this and New Mill Dike (a tributary of the river Holme) culverted and routed beneath.
As with many of these facilities built in the Victorian era, the machinery was initially powered by steam. An almighty steam driven wheel with ropes and pulleys would have powered belt races that ran the various machinery running at all times. Alongside big oily pits, the only remnant of the mill’s powerhouse is a huge locally produced switchboard, which is magnificent and occupies and entire room.
Anyway here are lots of photographs:
The big room.
Into the more empty parts, with the switchboard.
Images of the 1920's stationary engines still in situ from 1971.
I couldn’t stop taking photos of the switchboard - sorry.
