Description

MANCHESTER

SJ8598 BRADFORD ROAD, Beswick And Clayton
698-1/17/529 (South East side)
Brunswick Mill

GV II

Cotton spinning mill, now various workshops and warehouses.
c.1840, with some later C19 alterations. Constructed by the
firm of David Bellhouse, but with possible involvement by
William Fairbairn (the mill is planned according to principals
which have been particularly associated with him). Brick with
slate roofs, fireproof internal construction, with cast iron
columns and beams, and transverse brick arches. Trussed
wrought iron tie rods added to strengthen structure when the
mill was converted to use the heavier ring spinning machinery
c1920. Built largely in a single phase to a courtyard plan,
with main spinning mill alongside canal, 2 wings for spinning
and ancillary processes including blowing and winding and a
front block housing main entrance, and use for warehousing and
offices. Main spinning mill is 7 storeys, and 28 bays with 2
rows of cast iron columns internally. Small rectangular
windows with flat arched heads in each bay. External engine
house (built to house 2 beam engines) at W of site. Advanced
wings are also 7 storeyed, each of 6 bays. Semi-circular
stair-cases in each wing, adjoining spinning mill. 4-storey,
20-window range *upper storey a later addition) to street
links the 2 wings and encloses the yard; central entrance in
wide segmental archway. 2-storey loading bays built in
internal angles in yard. The mill is thought to be the first
Greater Manchester mill to be converted to use mains
electricity as its principal power source, and later additions
include an electricity transformer house added in angle of W
wing and spinning mill (electric motor towers built on inner
face of main spinning block have been removed). A dust flue
was also added as a tower to the We of the W wing.
This was a large scale operation, a distinctive example of
site planning and built as a single phase around a courtyard.
Structurally and technologically conventional, but of interest
as an example of adaptation to suit changing technologies,
both in relation to power supply (the first mill in the region
to be converted to use mains electricity), and spinning
technology (the structure adapted to take ring spinning
machinery).

Listing NGR: SJ8587498734

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Brunswick Mill, Ancoats at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q4979522

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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