Shaw Lodge Mill Former Combing Shed

Warehouse and shed, former combing shed, dated 1876, constructed in coursed dressed gritstone. The shed has a sheet metal roof, whilst the warehouse at the front is roofed in slate.

The building occupies a sloping and narrowing site, with the widest section being the warehouse to the south, behind which stands the shed. The warehouse comprises 2 storeys, with a third (lower) storey at the south end. The shed is lower and single storey in height. The warehouse's south front features 15 two-over-four wood-framed windows, with a vehicular entrance at ground level, and extends two windows in depth. The shed has a vehicle entrance at the north end of its west side and a series of windows along the east side. The interior of the warehouse includes a vaulted fireproof ceiling to the ground floor, whilst the shed is open to its roof structure.

Shaw Lodge Mill was founded by John Holdsworth in 1822, building on his family's established position as woollen textile manufacturers and merchants in Shibden and Halifax. The business specialised in worsted cloth, initially produced by hand loom weavers. Following mechanisation in spinning, Holdsworth established his first spinning mill in 1822, and by 1825 was purchasing land at Shaw Lodge. The first mill on the site, the extant No 1 Mill, dates to 1830.

The mechanisation of weaving led to the construction of the first power loom weaving shed at Shaw Lodge in 1844, with an extension in 1852. No 2 Mill, dated between 1831 and 1839, stood to the south of the existing buildings and ran eastwards towards Hebble Brook. No 3 Mill, dated 1850 on a 1925 plan (though earlier referred to as a warehouse), stood by 1855 to the north of and adjoining No 1 Mill. By 1839 the mills were steam powered, each with separate engines. In 1855 a separate engine house, boiler house and chimney were constructed on the eastern side, with underground power connections to the mills. By 1851 the firm had invested in Jacquard looms and won a medal at the Great Exhibition for their worsted cloths. Family branches operated in Bradford and London, and John Holdsworth occupied Shaw Lodge, a house close to the western side of the site, now demolished.

Continuing prosperity led to the construction of a 7-storey warehouse north of No 3 Mill in 1862 and a separate office block with adjoining stable in 1865. A workshop and shed at the north end of the site, and a tower and timekeepers office at the northern end of the weaving sheds, were added in 1876. Subsequent alterations included the loss of No 2 Mill and the southern end of No 1 Mill, reconstruction of the stables, extensions to the engine and boiler houses, and reroofing of most weaving sheds and mills. The firm operated continuously until 2006, becoming one of the few woollen manufacturers to survive national industry decline, specialising in moquette production for the bus and coach trade. The site is due to be redeveloped.

The former combing shed forms an integral part of a very important and complete complex of worsted mill buildings. The Yorkshire textile industry is of acknowledged national significance, and Shaw Lodge was identified by the 1992 English Heritage thematic survey of West Yorkshire textile mills as meriting Grade II* listing for its high quality and intactness. The overall completeness of the site and its significance in demonstrating regional specialism in worsted production make it of more than special interest. As an essential component of the mill complex, the former combing shed provides significant evidence of the degree of specialisation and planning within the site, and is of high significance in the history of this nationally important industry.