Building Name

Anchor Mill. Daisy Street Oldham

Date
1881 - 1903
Street
Daisy Street
District/Town
Westwood, Oldham
County/Country
GMCA, England
Architect
Client
Anchor Spinning Company Limited
Work
New build
Listed
Grade II

Built by the Anchor Spinning Co Ltd. The chimney incorporates both an anchor and date. The mill ceased production in 1929, being used as a cotton waste warehouse until 1995. In  2008 the vacant building was purchased by a syndicate of eight Bangladeshi businessmen from Greater Manchester, and in 2010 underwent a total refurbishishment,  with its 20,000 sq ft first floor transformed into a wedding banqueting hall catering up to 1500 guests.

Iron framed and brick construction, with brick arched fireproof ceilings. Welsh slate over timber roof, comprising 5 longitudinal aisles. Steam powered, with internal engine house and upright shaft transmission. 5-storey main block with projecting stair tower and office range. Main block of 18 bays by 6 bays, lit from each side by segmentally arched windows with stone sills (some now blocked in rear elevations). Two rows of original taking-in doors in west elevation, inserted doors to north. Corners stressed with pilasters with narrow full-height recessed panels and moulded stone cornices. Integral engine house in north-west corner, with round arched window partially blocked but retaining original ornate glazing. 4 semi-circular windows to north. External boiler house adjacent to the engine house to the north, modified with addition of upper storey. Original chimney also to north, probably lowered in height, but retaining lettering and anchor motif in white brick. Major internal division separating preparation and spinning areas corresponds externally with position of stair and sprinkler tower projecting to south, with angle pilasters with recessed full-height panels and tall windows with round arched stone heads in the upper storey. Office block in south-west angle with tower: 5 round-arched windows and doorway in angle with tower. Upper storey a C20 addition. Additional single-storeyed range to east of main block probably original. Internal construction of cast-iron columns supporting longitudinal and transverse primary beams. Two transverse brick arches sprung between secondary beams in each bay. [Williams, Michael: The Greater Manchester Textile Mill Survey: Manchester: 1989-)].

Reference    Oldham Local Studies D-SRIS/4