Visited with ojay and steppinglightly.
The mill was originally constructed by Fothergill and harvey, The company was founded in 1846 by Alexander Harvey, son of Charles Berry who adopted the name Harvey, and two Fothergill brothers. The company specialised in merchanting cotton cloth in Manchester.
In 1859 they took over a small weaving shed in Littleborough from a small family firm, King & Co, and this was to become Sladen Wood Mill.
Sladen wood was expanded greatly till the turn of the century, But the company’s main expansion was almost entirely due to the expansion of
weaving facilities at Summit and, in 1886, the construction of the Rock Nook Spinning Mill. sometime in the early 1900's Rock Nook was extended to accommodate more weaving and yarn preparation. Raw cotton was carried overnight from Manchester by canal barges until, the twenties, when it became essential for this movement to be made by Motor Lorry.
The history then goes very hazy, although the mill continued to be used (and still is used) by Fothergill and Harvey, who has been producing technical textiles since 1848.
Originally, fabrics were woven from natural fibres such as cotton and the company produced the first khaki drill for servicemen's uniforms.
By 1945, as a research unit had been established, the company was diversifying away from cotton and into glass and other synthetic fabrics.
The company was amongst the first weavers to produce fabrics from new aramid fibres and during 1972 took advantage of the technology available from the Royal Aircraft Establishment to weave carbon fibre.
The Fothergill and Harvey Group was acquired by Courtaulds in 1987 and using the technology of Courtaulds commenced production of knitted fabrics.
Fothergill Engineered Fabrics regained its independence as a private limited company in early 1995.
After this the fate of "tygaflor" isnt 100% known, although what is clear is that "Tygaflor" is still a trading brand name, but it is owned by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Composites Group. and still trades out of Rochdale, albeit at a different location! I think it would be safe to assume Fothergill and Harvey sold that section of the business off although why isnt clear.
Continual production ovens on the top floor.
The next floor down was split into 2, half was a production area and the other half the offices and labs.
also on this floor in the production area was the underside of the hot machines above.
lab
the next floor floor was a packing area and featured this machine.
and the lowest explorable floor was a warehouse and the former engine house that now contains a small weighbridge.
engine house tiles still visible under the more recent whitewash.
and finally, some random shots to finish off.
a really good morning spent i think!!
B..
The mill was originally constructed by Fothergill and harvey, The company was founded in 1846 by Alexander Harvey, son of Charles Berry who adopted the name Harvey, and two Fothergill brothers. The company specialised in merchanting cotton cloth in Manchester.
In 1859 they took over a small weaving shed in Littleborough from a small family firm, King & Co, and this was to become Sladen Wood Mill.
Sladen wood was expanded greatly till the turn of the century, But the company’s main expansion was almost entirely due to the expansion of
weaving facilities at Summit and, in 1886, the construction of the Rock Nook Spinning Mill. sometime in the early 1900's Rock Nook was extended to accommodate more weaving and yarn preparation. Raw cotton was carried overnight from Manchester by canal barges until, the twenties, when it became essential for this movement to be made by Motor Lorry.
The history then goes very hazy, although the mill continued to be used (and still is used) by Fothergill and Harvey, who has been producing technical textiles since 1848.
Originally, fabrics were woven from natural fibres such as cotton and the company produced the first khaki drill for servicemen's uniforms.
By 1945, as a research unit had been established, the company was diversifying away from cotton and into glass and other synthetic fabrics.
The company was amongst the first weavers to produce fabrics from new aramid fibres and during 1972 took advantage of the technology available from the Royal Aircraft Establishment to weave carbon fibre.
The Fothergill and Harvey Group was acquired by Courtaulds in 1987 and using the technology of Courtaulds commenced production of knitted fabrics.
Fothergill Engineered Fabrics regained its independence as a private limited company in early 1995.
After this the fate of "tygaflor" isnt 100% known, although what is clear is that "Tygaflor" is still a trading brand name, but it is owned by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Composites Group. and still trades out of Rochdale, albeit at a different location! I think it would be safe to assume Fothergill and Harvey sold that section of the business off although why isnt clear.
Continual production ovens on the top floor.
The next floor down was split into 2, half was a production area and the other half the offices and labs.
also on this floor in the production area was the underside of the hot machines above.
lab
the next floor floor was a packing area and featured this machine.
and the lowest explorable floor was a warehouse and the former engine house that now contains a small weighbridge.
engine house tiles still visible under the more recent whitewash.
and finally, some random shots to finish off.
a really good morning spent i think!!
B..
