Description

1792 Tannery, converted in 1799 to flax spinning and
extended to E in 1820s-30s, completed by 1851. Fire barrier
divides 3-storey mill into 2 10-bay sections, rubble built
with some later harling. W section, 1792, windows altered
1799, ground floor below street level as a result of
natural slope, 1st floor harled and windows altered except
1 in W gable. 2nd floor 10 windows with 9-paned wooden-
framed glazing. 2 windows W gable, 1 with iron hook for
hoist. Small window in attic.
E section, 3-storey, ground and 1st floor harled, ground
floor windows altered but 1st and 2nd floors retain
original window pattern, with larger 1st floor window at
W to light engine house. E gable, 3-storey 3-bay with 2
1st floor sash and case windows and 2nd floor fixed windows
flanking central hoist doors under iron hooks. Skewputts
and flat-topped finial. N elevation similar, but with 1st
floor of W section altered. Slate roof with 2 fire barrier
walls and brick wallhead stack.
Interior, W section: 1799 single row of Y-shaped cast-iron
columns carrying 2 parallel wooden beams. Fluted cast-iron
columns with Egyptian Lotus capital at base of engine
house. N wall carried on square stone pillars and heavy
cast-iron columns, inserted 1846-51. 1st floor altered.
2nd floor is as built, with recess for "the Jakes", earth
closet, installed by Brown in 1819 in NE corner. Central
engine house retains at 2nd floor the stone and wooden
platform and casing for iron beam of engine, installed by
Boutton and Watt in 1809 and plaster corniced ceiling.
Tie-beam roof, originally plastered. E section, ground
floor altered, 1st and 2nd floors have flanged iron columns
and wooden beams.

Statement of Interest

List excludes modern garage additions at rear. The first

successful steam powered flax mill in Scotland, owned by

George Wilkie and then J and W Brown. William Brown was

an innovative manager and has left a detailed account of

his problems with East Mill.

O G Miller, son-in-law and successor to William Brown,

went bankrupt in 1884 and East Mill was acquired by J and

C Carmichael's Ward Foundry for use as a pattern store.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17800820

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)