Oakes Mill West, Huddersfield - February 2021
Visited Solo
I was fortunate enough to meet a descendant of the family who owned these mills outside and to be allowed a look around here. The mills are being totally flattened currently, starting with the sheds and moving onto the two remaining big, old main mill buildings. Hence the reason for putting this up in here, if anyone is passing on their state allowed daily walk then maybe they have time to have a gander too. The Eastern block of these Mills were demolished in 2017ish, along with the last remaining textile firm, who were born out of a merger with the original firm of Benjamin Crosland and Sons.
Brief History
The firm Ben Crosland and Sons were founded in 1827, and were certainly operating out of these mills by the latter half of the nineteenth century; suffering big fires in 1870 and 1875, and with the death of a 34 year old spinner (arm torn off by strap) in 1877 listed in the records. As well as couple more deaths in the late 1890s. The 166ft chimney was demolished in 1963. Ben Crosland and Sons operated here until they were acquired in 1969 by a Mr Omeir Cotran. This firm finally stopped producing at the mills in 2016ish, with the majority of these remaining buildings being occupied by a variety of light manufacturing firms, as well as the Huddersfield Thespians.
Quite empty, as was expected, but some nice work floors, windows and spaces all the same. I didn't get to see all the ground floor or any basements as some firms were still clearing out their possessions, so there may be more left to see. I've just started reluctantly using a digital camera again for the first time in 8 years, so apologies for the quality as I have forgotten how to use them and just stuck it on high ISO mostly.
Visited Solo
I was fortunate enough to meet a descendant of the family who owned these mills outside and to be allowed a look around here. The mills are being totally flattened currently, starting with the sheds and moving onto the two remaining big, old main mill buildings. Hence the reason for putting this up in here, if anyone is passing on their state allowed daily walk then maybe they have time to have a gander too. The Eastern block of these Mills were demolished in 2017ish, along with the last remaining textile firm, who were born out of a merger with the original firm of Benjamin Crosland and Sons.
Brief History
The firm Ben Crosland and Sons were founded in 1827, and were certainly operating out of these mills by the latter half of the nineteenth century; suffering big fires in 1870 and 1875, and with the death of a 34 year old spinner (arm torn off by strap) in 1877 listed in the records. As well as couple more deaths in the late 1890s. The 166ft chimney was demolished in 1963. Ben Crosland and Sons operated here until they were acquired in 1969 by a Mr Omeir Cotran. This firm finally stopped producing at the mills in 2016ish, with the majority of these remaining buildings being occupied by a variety of light manufacturing firms, as well as the Huddersfield Thespians.
Quite empty, as was expected, but some nice work floors, windows and spaces all the same. I didn't get to see all the ground floor or any basements as some firms were still clearing out their possessions, so there may be more left to see. I've just started reluctantly using a digital camera again for the first time in 8 years, so apologies for the quality as I have forgotten how to use them and just stuck it on high ISO mostly.
*Admin: Obviously, happy for this to be moved when flattened, or as and when interested parties have had a look*
tweek
Attachments
Last edited:
