By far the most impressive building in Diggle is the Dobcross Loom Works; built in 1860 and located on the Canal side of Huddersfield Road about 300 yards from the junction with Standedge Road. For 37 years until 2006 it had been the home of Shaw’s Pallet Works, reputedly one of the largest pallet works in Europe.
The stunning building at the entrance known locally as ‘The Cathedral’ the main building housing the clock tower. The building with the clock tower is a Grade II listed building and any future development of the site will have to incorporate that building into their plans.
Nothing is left of the loom works, but the Pallet Works’ site, covers 22 acres, is up for re-development, interestingly, the buildings were used for munitions in World War I and for making parts for Russian submarines in World War 2.After over 36 years of making wooden pallets, and a major employer of the village, W.H Shaws factory closed down in 2006 after going into administration. It is more than likely that the whole site will be turned into a major housing development..
There was a huge auction at the factory on the 7th March 2007 when to name just a few of the items sold were Eight Fork Lift Trucks,Pallet Trucks, Climax 90 Sideloader, Ford Agricultural Tractor, Rolls Royce Diesel Generator, Wellman Robey Ygnis & Senior Green Gas Fired Steam Boilers, Atlas Copco Air Compressors, Pressure Washers, Welding & Fitters Shop Equipment including Mig Tig Welders, Cut Off Saws, Power Hacksaw, Drills, Degreasing Bath, Collectible Office (Partners Desk & Boardroom) Furniture & Equipment including computers, Canteen & Kitchen Equipment. Three Scania Sleeper Cab Tractor Units, Leyland Daf 85 330 Shunter Tractor Unit and a Ford Transit 190 Dropside Tipper. At one time the factory even had its own buses transporting staff to and from the pallet works.
Also found some info on the listed Admin building out front of the site.
W.H.Shaw Ltd. Dobcross Works - Office Building - II Dobcross loom works, office building. 1890 for Huchinson and Hollingworth. Ashlar with Westmorland slate roof. Gothic style. 5 x 3 bays with 2 storeys (plus attics). Asymmetrical elevation, bays 2 and 4 being advanced, the latter with entrance and clock tower, the others each being gabled. Rock-faced plinth, first floor band. Each bay on each floor has a 2, 3 or 5-light chamfered mullion window with shouldered heads and leaded glass in the upper part. The gables are coped, have kneelers and ornate finials, and 1 or 2-light windows with cusped heads. The door at the base of the tower has an overlight with keystone, flanking pilasters, cornice, dies with ball finials and entwined initials above a scroll. The 4-stage tower rises above with its machicolated top stage having clock faces, gables, corner pinnacles and a Lombardic roof with decorative iron crown. Clustered diagonally set ridge chimney stacks. The interior remains largely unaltered with original glazed tile skirtings, panelled doors, cornices, a cast iron staircase and a decorative cast iron spiral staircase. The "Dobcross Loom" was exported worldwide in the late C19.
Thanks for looking.
The stunning building at the entrance known locally as ‘The Cathedral’ the main building housing the clock tower. The building with the clock tower is a Grade II listed building and any future development of the site will have to incorporate that building into their plans.
Nothing is left of the loom works, but the Pallet Works’ site, covers 22 acres, is up for re-development, interestingly, the buildings were used for munitions in World War I and for making parts for Russian submarines in World War 2.After over 36 years of making wooden pallets, and a major employer of the village, W.H Shaws factory closed down in 2006 after going into administration. It is more than likely that the whole site will be turned into a major housing development..
There was a huge auction at the factory on the 7th March 2007 when to name just a few of the items sold were Eight Fork Lift Trucks,Pallet Trucks, Climax 90 Sideloader, Ford Agricultural Tractor, Rolls Royce Diesel Generator, Wellman Robey Ygnis & Senior Green Gas Fired Steam Boilers, Atlas Copco Air Compressors, Pressure Washers, Welding & Fitters Shop Equipment including Mig Tig Welders, Cut Off Saws, Power Hacksaw, Drills, Degreasing Bath, Collectible Office (Partners Desk & Boardroom) Furniture & Equipment including computers, Canteen & Kitchen Equipment. Three Scania Sleeper Cab Tractor Units, Leyland Daf 85 330 Shunter Tractor Unit and a Ford Transit 190 Dropside Tipper. At one time the factory even had its own buses transporting staff to and from the pallet works.
Also found some info on the listed Admin building out front of the site.
The visit.
Visited with Oli, early doors on a wet windy Sunday, access wasn't really any trouble and after sneaking up on a few people to see if they were security, we found out they were up to the same as us.
Not sure how we hadn't been here before as it seems to have been around for ages? Pretty much wrecked throughout mainly by the weather there was still a few photogenic spots and with most of the floors being inches deep in water i was glad to have good shoes on.
Unfortunately we couldn't find a way into the admin building.
A map from the historical England website showing site layout.
History source
Here's the few pics we managed to take.
This little block and tackle looks like its bleeding to death slowly.
We found this tunnel deep in the mill, maybe 30 ft long and back filled at the far end.
Visited with Oli, early doors on a wet windy Sunday, access wasn't really any trouble and after sneaking up on a few people to see if they were security, we found out they were up to the same as us.
Not sure how we hadn't been here before as it seems to have been around for ages? Pretty much wrecked throughout mainly by the weather there was still a few photogenic spots and with most of the floors being inches deep in water i was glad to have good shoes on.
Unfortunately we couldn't find a way into the admin building.
A map from the historical England website showing site layout.
History source
Here's the few pics we managed to take.
This little block and tackle looks like its bleeding to death slowly.
We found this tunnel deep in the mill, maybe 30 ft long and back filled at the far end.
Thanks for looking.
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