Newsome Mills

Newsome Mills

Mill building of hammer-dressed stone, late 19th century, with associated ancillary buildings.

The main mill building is a triple-span structure, 16 windows long and 3 bays wide with 2 windows to each bay, comprising four storeys. On Ruth Street, the ground floor windows are not visible from outside, while the 1st floor windows are 8 lights, the 2nd floor windows are 6 lights, and the 3rd floor windows are also 6 lights but shorter in height. The slate roof has had most of its slates removed to storage. The left return features 3 bays each with 2 windows matching the front elevation, and a round window in each gable end. A clock tower sits at the left side. The rear elevation has pillars to the ground floor, which formerly led to weaving sheds but are now blocked.

At the right end of the mill are weaving sheds, single-storey structures in hammer-dressed stone of the same date. These feature 8 windows to the front, one of which has been altered and all are now blocked. The right return comprises 3 bays with north lights, an entrance in the left bay, 2 windows in the central bay, and a single window to the right. The roof slates have been removed, exposing the roof structure. The rear has breeze block walls that formerly linked to other buildings, now demolished.

The mill interior contains four floors, each with a double row of cast iron columns supporting steel frames and original wooden floors. Evidence of line shafting remains at the top of the columns. The roof structure features king posts to each bay with north lights. Some original wood and glass partitions survive on the 3rd floor.

The tower is constructed of hammer-dressed stone and rises for 6 storeys, surmounted by a water tank. The lower 4 storeys have paired arched windows with plain voussoirs and keystones, crowned by a moulded cornice. The 4th floor has 2 windows with moulded impost band and moulded voussoirs, set in a sunk panel and topped with a heavier moulded cornice. The 5th floor has angle pilasters taking the full entablature, with clocks on each face, moulded voussoirs, and ornamental spandrels.

The tower interior houses the stairs for the adjoining mill building. Stone stairs rise around a central lift to the 3rd floor. A spiral wrought iron stair rises to the 4th floor, which houses a bell inscribed with the date 1887. A wooden stair continues to the 5th floor.

An archway features Tuscan pilasters with entasis, taking the full entablature and blocking course, inscribed "Newsome Mills". The frieze is inscribed "Established 1827" in relief. Cast iron gates with ornamental spear finials complete the gateway.

A lodge to the left of the archway is single-storey with a hipped roof, an arched entrance, and a double arched window facing the mill building.

An office building comprises two storeys with a hipped slate roof and central stack. An arched entrance sits to the right, with two ground floor windows and a single light round-arched window above the entrance. The centre first floor has a 2-light arched window. The right return contains an entrance to the left and 2 single pane sash windows to each of the ground and first floors.

The first woollen mill on the site at Newsome was founded by John Taylor in 1827. This building burnt down in 1872. In 1873, Ephraim Beaumont Taylor entered into partnership with Joshua Littlewood to form Taylor & Littlewood, which operated as a worsted mill until closure in 1983. The current mill buildings were constructed soon afterwards, and by 1893 the firm occupied the whole block with integrated mill, weaving sheds, clock tower, and ancillary and administrative buildings. Following the mill's closure, most buildings were let as business units until the site was sold in 2006. The boiler house and chimney had already been lost by then, and the greater part of the weaving sheds and some ancillary buildings were subsequently demolished to make way for housing.