Beehive Mill

MANCHESTER

SJ8498, JERSEY STREET, Ancoats, 698-1/17/451, (South side)

Beehive Mill

11/11/88

GV

II*

Cotton spinning mill, built as a room and power mill. Early 1820's in three major building phases, with some later additions. Brick externally, with cast-iron and timber internal construction. Earliest buildings on the site comprise L-shaped block of six storeys with 13-bay range to Radium Street, and 3-bay wing to Jersey Street. 5-storeyed, 13-bay mill added on Bengal Street c1848. Original building has small cambered headed window in each bay (with six in gable returns). Attic lit by three windows to N, and by segmental window to S. Timber and cast iron internal construction, with cast-iron columns supporting transverse timber beams with heavy floorboards (and no joists). Curved cast-iron roof ribs support timber principle rafters in attic storey which was also originally powered. Internal beam engine house towards N of building with cross wall originally containing upright shaft creating segregated area to N. Original circular staircase was also located on this axis, enclosing chimney (now demolished). Taking-in doors on each floor in this end section. Range to Jersey Street dated 1824, and probably built for warehousing. Three bays, with central segmentally arched entrance to yard, and small windows with cambered heads in each bay. Double taking-in doors on each floor originally (now altered). Internal construction comprises cast-iron columns supporting grid of T-section cast-iron beams carrying stone flagged floors. Cast-iron trusses with wrought-iron ties to roof structure. Adjacent block to Bengal Street was added in 1848, and partly rebuilt following a fire in 1861. Four storeys, 13 bays. In the rear elevation, the bays are separated by narrow full-height pilaster-like towers, possibly associated with a heating or ventilation system originally.

Warehouse range is important example of early fire-proof construction, an advanced type of construction for its date, which demonstrates an understanding of the different properties of cast and wrought iron. Original building is also a good example of a once common type of early C19 construction, in which timber floors are constructed without joists a method which provided a strong structure with slow-burning properties. This method enabled heavy weights to be carried on upper floors, and together with the design of roof adopted in this mill, was appropriate in a room and power mill in which different firms would use different floors. Early use of bolting faces for line shafting cast into cast iron beams is also notable. In plan, L-shaped range type with internal engine house forming segregated area.

(Williams M: Cotton Mills in Greater Manchester: London: 1992-: 151-153).

Listing NGR: SJ8509798719