Mill 1, Moor Lane Mills South

Mill 1, Moor Lane Mills South

A steam-powered cotton spinning mill, now converted to offices, located in Lancaster. The main block was completed by 1826, with probable fireproofing added after 1861. A gatehouse was constructed before 1877, and a water tower was added around 1900. The mill closed in 1982, adjoining weaving sheds were demolished in 1986, and the main building was converted to office use between 1989 and 1990.

The mill was built for Samuel Greg & Co, who purchased an adjoining sailcloth mill in 1825. In 1832 a 12 horsepower Boulton and Watt engine was transferred from Greg's original mill at Styal in Cheshire. The mill was bought by Storey Brothers in 1861, who probably carried out the fireproofing work.

The building is constructed of squared coursed sandstone with a hipped slate roof. It takes an L-plan form with 5 storeys and battered walls. The east elevation comprises 13 bays. In the 10th bay is a ground-floor doorway, and in the 11th bay a round-arched window with stone surround, moulded keystone and imposts marks the position of the engine. Restored round-arched openings on the ground floor in the 12th and 13th bays mark the probable position of the boilers. The end wall of the long arm of the L, facing south, was partially reconstructed following demolition of the adjoining weaving sheds in 1986 and has 3 ground-floor doorways with a narrow blocked opening on each floor to the right.

The main west elevation has 10 bays with doorways in the 1st and 6th bays. The west elevation of the short arm of the L comprises 3 bays. The south elevation of this arm has 2 bays with a doorway in the left-hand bay. The 5th storey right-hand bay is blind, with the cylindrical brick water tower rising behind it and bearing one window facing north and one facing south. The cast-iron water tank is circular in plan with panelled sides and is surrounded by an iron walkway.

The north elevation facing Moor Lane shows 2 upper storeys of the 6-bay main block visible above a single-storey range, with the 3rd storey partly covered by a 20th-century glazed lean-to roof. The 3 right-hand bays of the central part of the single-storey range are canted forwards and contain casement windows, probably partly contemporary with the main mill building. A doorway is located to the left with 2 blocked window openings to its right. Adjoining to the left is the blind wall of the present boiler room, probably added by 1893.

The 2-storey gatehouse, added by 1877, adjoins to the right of the Moor Lane elevation. It is built of rock-faced sandstone dressings with a slate roof. On the ground floor at the right is a pedimented porch with a round-arched window to its left. The first floor has 2 pairs of round-arched windows, with a further 3 similar windows on the first floor of the west elevation.

The windows throughout are late 20th-century timber casements with small panes, imitating the original windows, all with plain reveals and projecting stone sills. All elevations are partly restored following removal of additions.

The interior is reputed to be of fireproof construction except for the top floor and contains timber roof trusses. It is reputed to have 2 rows of columns supporting brick arches running longitudinally down the mill and a circular stone staircase below the water tower. The conversion to offices involved provision of additional staircases, lifts and toilet accommodation, and installation of raised access floors in open-plan offices.