Houldsworth Mill, Reddish

Houldsworth Mill, also known as Reddish Mill, is a former mill in Reddish, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England (grid reference SJ895935). Designed by Abraham Stott, it was constructed in 1865 for Henry Houldsworth, a prominent mill owner at the time. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

Houldsworth Mill
The main entrance
Location in Greater Manchester
Cotton
Alternative namesReddish Mill
Spindles136,692
Combined SpinningWeaving
Structural systemNorth Mill, Central engine house, South mill, Red Engineering brick
LocationReddish, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England
Serving canalStockport branch, Ashton Canal
ClientWilliam Houldsworth
Further ownership
  • Fine Cotton Spinners' Association by merger (1898)
  • John Myer's Mail Order Warehouse (1950s)
Current ownersHeaton and Houldsworth Property Company
Current tenantsvarious
Coordinates53.4363°N 2.1656°W / 53.4363; -2.1656
Construction
Built1863
Completed1865
Employees454
Renovated
  • 1:1999
Size64 acres (260,000 m2)
Floor count4 plus cellar
Floor area400,000 square feet (37,000 m2)
Design team
ArchitectAbraham Stott
Awards and prizes and listingsGrade II* Listed
Cotton count80s to 250s
Mule Frames136,692
References
Astle 1922, p. 145

History
Houldsworth Mill c. 1900

Reddish mill was built by Stott and Sons for William Houldsworth, snd opened in 1865. It covers 64 acres (260,000 m2), and employed 454 workers.

In 1898, it amalgamated with the Fine Cotton Spinners Association. The mill had 136,692 spindles and at one time spun counts of 700 and 800, but normally 80s to 250s.[2]

After cotton

Cotton production at Houldsworth Mill ceased in the 1950s. The mill was sold to a mail-order catalogue company, John Myers, and was used principally as a warehouse. In the late 1960s the building was expanded with a five-storey extension to the rear of the north end of the mill. This was built of glass and concrete in the style of the period.

Mail-order trading ceased in the 1970s, and the mill was sold. It was divided into separate business units, but most of the building remained vacant and it fell into a state of disrepair.[3]

Architecture

The 1865 mill consists of two five-storeyed blocks of 18 bays, with a narrower 9 bay central block for warehousing and offices. The central block has two Italianate stair towers and carries a central clock. The floors have become wider to accommodate the larger mules of the period. All floors are fireproof, with transverse vaults.

The detached engine house used horizontal shafts that connected to vertical shafts in each spinning block. The chimney was octagonal, on a plinth with a highly embellished oversailer. In the early 20th century this was replaced with separate inverted compound engines for each block, with external rope races for rope drives.[4]

Restoration

The pilot study for restoration was part-funded by English Heritage. The refurbishment was funded by:[5]

  • The mill's owners (Heaton and Houldsworth Property Company)
  • Northern Counties Housing Association (and Housing Corporation)
  • English Partnerships
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • Stockport Council
  • Various anchor tenants, including Ridge Danyers College and Kingfisher Pools

This mill was converted by Stephenson Bell architects. It provides 70 shared ownership apartments for social housing provider Northern Counties Housing Association, start-up units for emerging high-technology and arts-based businesses with commercial and leisure uses at the lower floors to provide active frontages.

See also

References
Notes
  1. Historic England. "Houldsworth Mill, Stockport (1067171)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  2. Astle 1922, p. 145
  3. "Houldsworth Mill, Stockport, Cheshire, UK". h2g2. bbc. 6 June 2001. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  4. Williams & Farnie 1992, p. 179
  5. Stockport Council
Bibliography
  • Astle (1922). Stockport Advertiser History of Stockport (PDF). Stockport Advertiser. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2010. Retrieved 25 Feb 2009.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Williams, Mike; Farnie (1992), Cotton Mills of Greater Manchester, Carnegie Publishing, ISBN 0-948789-89-1CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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