broad mills

Broadbottom Mills were established by William and George Sidebottom in the early 1800s’ and by 1824 included three large cotton spinning mills. During the 1830s water-power was supplemented by steam and the company added cotton weaving to its activities. In 1850 the business further expanded with the construction of a large weaving shed. The following decade, however, brought the ‘Cotton Famine’ and the closure of Broadbottom Mills: the community of Broadbottom heavily depended upon the textile industry, was halved as people sought work elsewhere.

In the 1870s Broadbottom Mills reopened under the new ownership of the Hirst family. The early 20^th century saw a change of name to Broad Mills and the construction of a new engine house. In the late 1930s, against a background of widespread decline in the industry, textile production at Broad Mill came to an end. In 1949 fire damage resulted in the demolition of the greater part of the mill complex.

Broad Mills, originally Broadbottom Mills were the largest of several textile works which were established in and around Broadbottom from the late 18^th centaury onwards. The industry was largely responsible for transforming a rural landscape into the extensive village of today. The attraction to the area to early textile entrepreneurs lay in the natural resource of the River Etherow which, when harnessed through the construction of weirs and mill leats, provided a power-source of their machinery

Site Introduction

Today only fragments of the 1850 weaving shed stand to any great height. The remains of this single story building can be seen next to the site map and the long interior wall still shows the outline of its saw-tooth roof.

However, a program of excavation and conservation carried our since the 1980s has revealed a number of key elements within the mill complex. These include the late 19^th century gasholder, the sluices and channels which fed the water-wheels of the early spinning mills and the remains of an engine house of the 1830s.

Starting your visit to the Broad Mill Heritage Site you are welcomed by a sign telling you are in part of the Etherow Valley Country Park. From the narrow path the site opens up to the area where the Broadbottom Mills were situated. To your right is the pond which held water taken from the Etherow just below Best Hill Bridge before being fed through a sluice to power the mighty-water wheel at the cotton spinning mill (3). To your left is the site of weaving sheds (6) and warehouses (5). Ahead and to the left is the remains of the gasholder (7)

Site of Gas Holder (7)

Holding Pond

Site illustration of the water-wheel

Site of 1830s engine house (4)

Culvert leading to water-wheel

Remains of part of the engine house

Site of water-wheel (3)

Dye-vats by the River Etherow

Steps by the site of the dye-vats steps lead down to a path by the river, where the remains of a water-course or leat can be seen, where water was taken from the river to power another water-wheel at the 18th century Moss Mill, a woollen mill further down stream. Although a path can be seen by the riverside it must be pointed out that this is not a public right of way.

Other website about our local history

LONGDENDALE HISTORY

history broadbottom.html

If you would like to know more of the history click on this link

TAMESIDE LEISURE SERVICES

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/leisure/new/leisure4.htm#broadmills

TAMESIDE LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY

http://members.aol.com/gayjoliver/TamesideLinks.htm

Moving through the site, following the river, in the overgrown wooded area to the right is the site of the rest of the mill complex (1 -3).

Passed the foot-bridge follow the path up to the right and then straight ahead at the end of Well Row where the path reaches Summerbottom a row of 18th century weavers cottages. Ahead along Hodge Lane; to the right is Hodge House and to the left the site of the Hodge Printworks. Leading from this to the left are the conserved dye-vats that serviced the mill.