Mill Buildings At Low Mills

The Mill Building at Low Mills is a late 18th-century structure located on Low Mill Lane in Keighley. It is constructed of coursed squared stone with a stone slate roof and has three storeys and ten bays, oriented on a north-south axis. The ground floor features a wheel housing beneath a voussoired round arch on the left side, while other openings have been altered. However, two 16-pane sash windows with plain stone surrounds and raised cills remain. On the first floor, there are casement windows in plain stone surrounds with raised cills, and a loading door has been inserted in the third bay. The second floor has a band and a loading door on the left, along with casement windows that have stone lintels and cills.

This building is part of a complex of mill structures, some of which have been demolished, and it played a significant role in housing the first cotton mill in Keighley. The original construction was initiated by the Ramsdens of Halifax and completed by Clayton and Walshman, who began cotton spinning in June 1780. The machinery was installed under the guidance of Sir Richard Arkwright, and due to the new cotton-spinning process in the area, several employers were sent to Arkwright's works in Cromford, Derbyshire, to learn the necessary techniques. In the 19th century, the mill was converted for worsted production.