An empty mill in the process of being renovated for its next incarnation as storage for an online book reseller.
I did this one because the Historic England listing said something about the mill being water-powered and built over a culvert, and I was down in the river anyway looking at other culverts in Rawtenstall:
www.28dayslater.co.uk
History. Plenty of information available online. It was originally built as a wool carding mill (ca 1830), then switched to cotton spinning and weaving around 1841 and has been various things since including a slipper factory.
Despite what Historic England say, the consensus from an archeological survey I found is that it was never water-powered because the engine house (now converted) dates from the same period.
The culvert may have been to do with the reservoir shown on the map below, which is now a car park.
Starting down in the River Irwell, the remains of a weir (top) which diverted water into the reservoir through an opening in the river wall, currently blocked by wooden boards.
Another opening in the wall downstream was probably the overflow from the reservoir - there was some water still dribbling out but the hole was too small to be worth investigating.
A few externals taken at different times. The faded sign on the tower says ‘Osbornia’, the name of a shoe manufacturer.
The engine house is on the left at the back, with an underground flue leading up to the chimney behind.
Side view with some occupied buildings in front (former weaving sheds).
The boiler house, now mostly demolished, ran along the side of the hill above and to the left.
There turned out to be sensors on the ground floor, so just a couple of quick pictures from here.
Former engine house.
Anything left in this type of place is likely to be in the attic or basement.
There were some stairs going down to a basement area outside the engine house - however the door at the bottom, which had a promising small of damp emanating from behind, was locked.
The rest of the pictures move up to the attic.
View back down from the chimney
I haven’t been past since last Christmas but I expect it’s fully converted now - good news for employment in the Rossendale area I suppose.
I did this one because the Historic England listing said something about the mill being water-powered and built over a culvert, and I was down in the river anyway looking at other culverts in Rawtenstall:
Report - - River Limy Culverts (Rawtenstall and Crawshawbooth, Lancashire, 2020/21) | UK Draining Forum
Wading down another East Lancs cotton valley - the red lines on the map below are culverts totalling about 1 km in length. The original aim was to find a hydraulic ram just off the top of the map and then have a look at any water-related remains further downstream. Many of the mills that...
www.28dayslater.co.uk
History. Plenty of information available online. It was originally built as a wool carding mill (ca 1830), then switched to cotton spinning and weaving around 1841 and has been various things since including a slipper factory.
Despite what Historic England say, the consensus from an archeological survey I found is that it was never water-powered because the engine house (now converted) dates from the same period.
The culvert may have been to do with the reservoir shown on the map below, which is now a car park.
Starting down in the River Irwell, the remains of a weir (top) which diverted water into the reservoir through an opening in the river wall, currently blocked by wooden boards.
Another opening in the wall downstream was probably the overflow from the reservoir - there was some water still dribbling out but the hole was too small to be worth investigating.
A few externals taken at different times. The faded sign on the tower says ‘Osbornia’, the name of a shoe manufacturer.
The engine house is on the left at the back, with an underground flue leading up to the chimney behind.
Side view with some occupied buildings in front (former weaving sheds).
The boiler house, now mostly demolished, ran along the side of the hill above and to the left.
There turned out to be sensors on the ground floor, so just a couple of quick pictures from here.
Former engine house.
Anything left in this type of place is likely to be in the attic or basement.
There were some stairs going down to a basement area outside the engine house - however the door at the bottom, which had a promising small of damp emanating from behind, was locked.
The rest of the pictures move up to the attic.
View back down from the chimney
I haven’t been past since last Christmas but I expect it’s fully converted now - good news for employment in the Rossendale area I suppose.
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