- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 5,647
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1. The History
Located on the edge of Millbrook, between Stalybridge and Mossley, about 4 miles from Ashton, the three-storey Grade II listed building was originally built as a specialised spinning mill for the Staley Mill Company. Built in millstone grit, it had Welsh slate roofs and was configured in two ranges at right angles, forming a U-shaped plan. The south range, a warehouse (no demolished), had three storeys, and sides of 19 and four bays, while the north range (the mill itself) had four storeys and sides of 28 and six bays. The clock tower is dated 1857, which represents the most-likely completion date of the mill. The original beam engine was replaced by a Yates & Thom triple expansion engine and a new engine house was built in 1908 with white glazed bricks internally to house it. In 1911 the mill could drive 59,000 mule spindles and 7,000 ring spindles. Staley & Millbrook Ltd operated the mill until they sold off all machinery for £13,000 in 1937. During the second world it was used to keep Italian prisoners. Cotton spinning ceased in 1961 and it was put to use for a while by a bleaching and dyeing company, Dukinfield Bleaching Co.
At the time of listing in November 1991, the mill was still being used for various light-industrial purposes. Now owned by The Casey Group, Oakwood Mill suffered major damage after three floors gave way on Friday, 9th February 2018 due to heavy rain falling on a build-up of ice on the roof. Despite locals saying they felt an earthquake, fortunately much of the falling brickwork and masonry landed in the mill’s yard.
2. The Explore
Hadn’t planned on looking around this place. Myself and Bikin Glyn were on our way to explore a nearby church when we saw this place so thought it rude not to go back and have a mooch. Given the dilapidated state of the place we were surprised by the relative thoroughness of the new looking heras fencing around the site. This will be explained by the recent collapse at the mill (mentioned above) and Casey’s attempts to secure the site. We could only find our way into the basement of the main part of the mill. Whether or not access to the upper floors went with the collapse, we couldn’t find a way up. Not worthy of a trip in its own right but if you are passing, well worth an hour of your time.
3. The Pictures
Full frontal:
Oakwood mill 13 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4768 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Date stone:
img4766 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The original company name on the front gates:
img4767 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And round the back:
Oakwood mill 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4762 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4756 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Boiler-house chimney:
Oakwood mill 12 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Oakwood mill 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And the boiler-house itself:
Oakwood mill 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4753 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4752 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Oakwood mill 05 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The engine room:
img4757bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4760 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4759 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Pipe from the engine room to the chimney:
img4758 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the mill:
img4754 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And down into the basement
Oakwood mill 11 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Oakwood mill 09 by HughieDW, on Flickr
It’s all a bit derpy to be honest:
Oakwood mill 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Oakwood mill 08 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But this little stove is quite cute:
Oakwood mill 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The lift shaft:
Oakwood mill 10 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And back out again:
img4763bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4765 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Located on the edge of Millbrook, between Stalybridge and Mossley, about 4 miles from Ashton, the three-storey Grade II listed building was originally built as a specialised spinning mill for the Staley Mill Company. Built in millstone grit, it had Welsh slate roofs and was configured in two ranges at right angles, forming a U-shaped plan. The south range, a warehouse (no demolished), had three storeys, and sides of 19 and four bays, while the north range (the mill itself) had four storeys and sides of 28 and six bays. The clock tower is dated 1857, which represents the most-likely completion date of the mill. The original beam engine was replaced by a Yates & Thom triple expansion engine and a new engine house was built in 1908 with white glazed bricks internally to house it. In 1911 the mill could drive 59,000 mule spindles and 7,000 ring spindles. Staley & Millbrook Ltd operated the mill until they sold off all machinery for £13,000 in 1937. During the second world it was used to keep Italian prisoners. Cotton spinning ceased in 1961 and it was put to use for a while by a bleaching and dyeing company, Dukinfield Bleaching Co.
At the time of listing in November 1991, the mill was still being used for various light-industrial purposes. Now owned by The Casey Group, Oakwood Mill suffered major damage after three floors gave way on Friday, 9th February 2018 due to heavy rain falling on a build-up of ice on the roof. Despite locals saying they felt an earthquake, fortunately much of the falling brickwork and masonry landed in the mill’s yard.
2. The Explore
Hadn’t planned on looking around this place. Myself and Bikin Glyn were on our way to explore a nearby church when we saw this place so thought it rude not to go back and have a mooch. Given the dilapidated state of the place we were surprised by the relative thoroughness of the new looking heras fencing around the site. This will be explained by the recent collapse at the mill (mentioned above) and Casey’s attempts to secure the site. We could only find our way into the basement of the main part of the mill. Whether or not access to the upper floors went with the collapse, we couldn’t find a way up. Not worthy of a trip in its own right but if you are passing, well worth an hour of your time.
3. The Pictures
Full frontal:
Oakwood mill 13 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4768 by HughieDW, on FlickrDate stone:
img4766 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe original company name on the front gates:
img4767 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd round the back:
Oakwood mill 01 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4762 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4756 by HughieDW, on FlickrBoiler-house chimney:
Oakwood mill 12 by HughieDW, on FlickrOakwood mill 04 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd the boiler-house itself:
Oakwood mill 03 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4753 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4752 by HughieDW, on FlickrOakwood mill 05 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe engine room:
img4757bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4760 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4759 by HughieDW, on FlickrPipe from the engine room to the chimney:
img4758 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn to the mill:
img4754 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd down into the basement
Oakwood mill 11 by HughieDW, on FlickrOakwood mill 09 by HughieDW, on FlickrIt’s all a bit derpy to be honest:
Oakwood mill 07 by HughieDW, on FlickrOakwood mill 08 by HughieDW, on FlickrBut this little stove is quite cute:
Oakwood mill 06 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe lift shaft:
Oakwood mill 10 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd back out again:
img4763bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4765 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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