Old Spinning Mill, Deanston Mills, Deanston

The Old Spinning Mill at Deanston Mills is a substantial L-plan block, originally constructed between 1830 and 1831. It is five storeys high with a basement, built using fire-proof jack-arch construction. The exterior is of rubble masonry with an ashlar ground floor featuring arched and channelled details. The mill’s foundations trace back to a mill established in 1785, with a detailed description of the works as they existed in 1843 appearing in historical documents. Originally powered by four waterwheels, each 36 feet 6 inches in diameter and 10 feet 10 inches wide (supplied by Fairbairn of Manchester in 1830), these were replaced in 1949 by Gilkes turbines. Significant features relating to the original water power remain, including the large concrete and brick conduit that fed the turbines, as well as the lades and tail-races. The building’s listing status was raised from Grade B to Grade A on 11 December 1991.