Cowling Mill, Cowling Brow, Chorley

 A cotton spinning mill of brick construction, with concrete and steel floors, a technique developed by Potts in the late nineteenth century. The mill also retains an almost intact Mather and Platt integrated sprinkler system of relatively early date. The Cowling Mill Spinning Co., Ltd., was registered in May 1905, with £100,000 in 20,000 shares of £5.00 each to contain 120,000 spindles.

The foundations were laid in September 1905, and by December 1905 the bricklayers had reached the fourth floor. The chimney was topped out at the beginning of May 1906.and In August 1906 the spinning machinery was being installed. Supplied by Dobson and Barlow of Bolton, 72 mule spindles and 24,000 ring spindles were provided, spinning Egyptian 30's to 90's, and American 30's to 40's.

During World War Two the Cowling Mill was closed under the concentration war effort scheme, and re-opened by the Cotton Controller in April 1945. Spinning finally ended in late 1959.

Reference     Historic England