Anchor Mill

Anchor Mill is a cotton spinning mill built in 1881 by J. Stott for the Anchor Spinning Company. The mill features iron framed and brick construction, with brick arched fireproof ceilings and a Welsh slate roof over timber. It consists of five longitudinal aisles and is steam powered, with an internal engine house and upright shaft transmission.

The main block is five stories high and has a projecting stair tower and an office range. It measures 18 bays by 6 bays and is lit from each side by segmentally arched windows with stone sills, although some of these are now blocked on the rear elevations. The west elevation has two rows of original taking-in doors, while the north side has inserted doors. The corners are accentuated with pilasters that have narrow full-height recessed panels and moulded stone cornices.

In the north-west corner, there is an integral engine house with a round arched window that is partially blocked but still retains its original ornate glazing. The north side also features four semi-circular windows and an external boiler house, which has been modified with the addition of an upper storey. The original chimney, likely lowered in height, still displays lettering and an anchor motif in white brick.

Internally, there is a major division that separates the preparation and spinning areas, which corresponds to the external position of the stair and sprinkler tower that projects to the south. This section features angle pilasters with recessed full-height panels and tall windows with round arched stone heads in the upper storey. The office block is located in the south-west angle and includes five round-arched windows and a doorway in the angle with the tower. The upper storey of this block is a 20th-century addition. There is also an additional single-storeyed range to the east of the main block, which is likely original.

The internal construction consists of cast-iron columns that support longitudinal and transverse primary beams, with two transverse brick arches sprung between secondary beams in each bay.