Stone Bleaching Baths

The stone bleaching baths, dating from the late 18th century, are located on the south side of Hodge Lane in Longdendale. These baths were used for bleaching and dyeing and are constructed from stone. They consist of three groups of baths that are terraced into the hillside, arranged in rows on either side of a deep central tunnel. This tunnel is covered by stone slabs in some areas and by earth in others. The groups include one with 30 baths, another with 6 or more, and a third with 14 or more, although some of these have been covered by earth. Each bath is at least 2 meters deep, with slab walls that are tenoned together and secured by iron stays.