Mills in Sparth

Rochdale was amongst the most productive cotton spinning mill towns in the world. By 1830 the town had 38 cotton spinning mills and Sparth became a key area for mills. 

SPARTH MILL

Opened April 1900

Cotton spinning mill – spinning Egyptian yarns

Became Lancashire Wallpaper Supply Company.

Points of interest

1929 known as the worlds leading spinner of fine single cotton yarns

1901 the mill held 119,000 spindles

July 1951 Sparth Mills held a Festival of Fabrics as part of the Jubilee exhibition.

Fire destroyed the mill in 1975

STANDARD MILL

Opened around 1900

Cotton spinning mill and doublers

Doubling “a process where two or more single threads are compounded and twisted together”

Closed 1980 amidst angry protests of lost jobs / demolished 1983

Points of interest

1915 – A fire damaged the spinning and card rooms which destroyed 5 mules (see A Spinners Vocabulary) in the early hours of a Saturday morning, but the mill was running again as usual the following Monday morning

2^nd world war – yarn produced at standard mill was treated with plastic and formed the bearings for Spitfire propellers. The mill also produced yarn which was used in the manufacture of bullet proof petrol cans dropped at Arnhem.

1947 - Standard Mill installs oil burning plant for raising steam to overcome coal famine.

REDBROOK MILL

Opened 1854

Woolen mill

Owner James Sharrocks

BRIMROD MILL (Brierley Mill)

Opened around 1890

Cotton spinning mill

Owned by Abraham Brierley

1955 - Acquired by FS Ratcliffe spring manufacturers

BRIDGEFIELD MILL (Later Dane Mill)

Opened around 1845 as a spindle making shop.

1853 - Owned by Mr. George Williamson – a weaving manufacturer.

1910 – Bridgefield Works – Bridgefield Ring Mill

1930 – Boro Works – Confectioners Machinists

Points of interest

Saturday 15^th July 1854 A massive Boiler explosion - 10 people died

“The engine is blown to atoms, the debris spread in all directions. One person whom we consulted, and who lives a quarter of a mile from the scene of the catastrophe, says that it shook the whole of their windows, doors and furniture, and that the sound was as if there had been an earthquake” Rochdale Senital 22^nd July 1854.

OAK MILL

Opened 1859