Brunswick Mill

MANCHESTER

SJ8598 BRADFORD ROAD, Beswick And Clayton 698-1/17/529 (South East side) Brunswick Mill

GV II

Cotton spinning mill, now various workshops and warehouses. c.1840, with some later C19 alterations. Constructed by the firm of David Bellhouse, but with possible involvement by William Fairbairn (the mill is planned according to principals which have been particularly associated with him). Brick with slate roofs, fireproof internal construction, with cast iron columns and beams, and transverse brick arches. Trussed wrought iron tie rods added to strengthen structure when the mill was converted to use the heavier ring spinning machinery c1920. Built largely in a single phase to a courtyard plan, with main spinning mill alongside canal, 2 wings for spinning and ancillary processes including blowing and winding and a front block housing main entrance, and use for warehousing and offices. Main spinning mill is 7 storeys, and 28 bays with 2 rows of cast iron columns internally. Small rectangular windows with flat arched heads in each bay. External engine house (built to house 2 beam engines) at W of site. Advanced wings are also 7 storeyed, each of 6 bays. Semi-circular stair-cases in each wing, adjoining spinning mill. 4-storey, 20-window range *upper storey a later addition) to street links the 2 wings and encloses the yard; central entrance in wide segmental archway. 2-storey loading bays built in internal angles in yard. The mill is thought to be the first Greater Manchester mill to be converted to use mains electricity as its principal power source, and later additions include an electricity transformer house added in angle of W wing and spinning mill (electric motor towers built on inner face of main spinning block have been removed). A dust flue was also added as a tower to the We of the W wing. This was a large scale operation, a distinctive example of site planning and built as a single phase around a courtyard. Structurally and technologically conventional, but of interest as an example of adaptation to suit changing technologies, both in relation to power supply (the first mill in the region to be converted to use mains electricity), and spinning technology (the structure adapted to take ring spinning machinery).

Listing NGR: SJ8587498734