Very short n sweet history
Built in the 1850s as a textile mill, it was once occupied by the Notts hosiery firm, Thomas Hollins, developers of the famous Viyella brand. Radford Mills was the first Viyella factory, and important part of Nottingham’s rich heritage in the textile industry. Since then it has been used by P T T Design, JB Armstrong Co Ltd, Excalibur Reproductions Ltd, Riche Fashions and Scene Photography to name a few, the city council bought the mill in the 1950s, there have been lots of plans for demolition and refurbishment but it still stands strong.
A really good history from "adarkertrantor.co.uk: "The site was bought by William Hollins in the 1890 who occupied the existing buildings and set up a spinning Mill. The mill can be described as having 3 parts:The oldest middle part, built before 1860s, the later rear extension built in the 1890s and the ‘newest’ front part built in the 1900s. There is evidence of the earlier works (Middle part, which I believe was a metal works) on the site, including a mid 1850s-60s central building constructed with bricks, few iron columns and solid wooden beams with a spiral staircase.
In the early 1900s the mill was expanded greatly with the addition of the ‘front building’ which was constructed in red terracotta tiles, with bands of yellow and carved stone embellishments by the same architect who designed Goyt Mill in Marple and Coppull Mill in Chorley.The Spinning works finished in 1959, and the site was destined to be sold off for housing. However Viyella decided to cling onto the site using it as a small scale dying works finally coming to an end in the 60s."
The Visit
Just like other mills its had various uses and been sectioned off internally, sadly for us there were quite a few areas we couldn't access towards the Ilkeston Road end of the building , but it was still a great explore one i have been wanting to do for ages! Pretty comical entry must of looked something like a circus act to the bloke that saw us. Oops but did he look like someone that cold be bothered to make "that" phone call…No! So we continued….
Thanks for looking Built in the 1850s as a textile mill, it was once occupied by the Notts hosiery firm, Thomas Hollins, developers of the famous Viyella brand. Radford Mills was the first Viyella factory, and important part of Nottingham’s rich heritage in the textile industry. Since then it has been used by P T T Design, JB Armstrong Co Ltd, Excalibur Reproductions Ltd, Riche Fashions and Scene Photography to name a few, the city council bought the mill in the 1950s, there have been lots of plans for demolition and refurbishment but it still stands strong.
A really good history from "adarkertrantor.co.uk: "The site was bought by William Hollins in the 1890 who occupied the existing buildings and set up a spinning Mill. The mill can be described as having 3 parts:The oldest middle part, built before 1860s, the later rear extension built in the 1890s and the ‘newest’ front part built in the 1900s. There is evidence of the earlier works (Middle part, which I believe was a metal works) on the site, including a mid 1850s-60s central building constructed with bricks, few iron columns and solid wooden beams with a spiral staircase.
In the early 1900s the mill was expanded greatly with the addition of the ‘front building’ which was constructed in red terracotta tiles, with bands of yellow and carved stone embellishments by the same architect who designed Goyt Mill in Marple and Coppull Mill in Chorley.The Spinning works finished in 1959, and the site was destined to be sold off for housing. However Viyella decided to cling onto the site using it as a small scale dying works finally coming to an end in the 60s."
The Visit
Just like other mills its had various uses and been sectioned off internally, sadly for us there were quite a few areas we couldn't access towards the Ilkeston Road end of the building , but it was still a great explore one i have been wanting to do for ages! Pretty comical entry must of looked something like a circus act to the bloke that saw us. Oops but did he look like someone that cold be bothered to make "that" phone call…No! So we continued….