Sunnyside Mills, St Helen’s Road, Daubhill, Bolton

A large new mill erected a Daubhill, Bolton for the firm of Messrs Tootal, Broadhurst, Lee and Company, cotton manufacturers, has been formally opened. The firm previously possessed mills at Daubhill - giving occupation to 1,500 persons - in addition to works in other places, and this new mill will need 1,000 hands to fully work it. The new premises comprise an enormous weaving shed, 278 feet long and 235 feet wide, which is stated to be the finest in Lancashire. It will contain 1,200 looms, and give employment to some 600 weavers. Adjoining this shed is a new structure three stories high. The top room, which is 278 feet long and 34 feet wide, will be used for what are termed “dressings” operations, namely putting the yarn in the condition in which it goes to the weaver. The second story, which is of the same dimension, is to be used as a store room, whilst the bottom floor is divided into three portions, - a weft room, a pattern room and a mechanics shop. At the east end of this structure the mill is in four stories, two rooms of which have been used for winding and warping. In addition to the space for storage afforded by the above mentioned room, there is very spacious cellarage under the shed which will hold a vast amount of cloth and yarn. The new mill has been over two years in the building, the first brick being laid on the 14th of January 1872. Mr George Woodhouse, of Bolton, is the architect, and the building is in the Italian style of architecture. A prominent feature of the mill is a tower on the north side fronting the London and North Western Railway Company’s line. The tower is 90 feet high, with a flat platform, from which a flagstaff ascends to the height of 60 feet. The chimney shaft attached to the new premises is 55 yards high. No expense has been spared in the erection of the mill, and now the premises comprise probably the largest cotton manufactory in Lancashire. Messrs R Neild (sic) and Sons of Manchester, were the original contractors, and by them the work was sub-let to other tradesmen. Messrs Hicks, Hargreaves and Company have supplied the boilers, engines, and mill gearing. The two engines are of original character, and are described as the first of their kind erected in this country. They are after the fashion of steam-boat engines, and are described as compound, with the cylinders placed vertically over the main shaft of the mill. One of them is intended to work at high pressure and the other at low pressure, the steam from the former passing into the cylinder of the latter. Combined the two possess force equal to 400 indicated horse-power. To give some idea of the vast dimensions of the works, we may add that the distance from one end of the building to the opposite end - in a straight line - is 380 yards; The area occupied is 71,000 square yards, while the cottages belonging to the firm, which are situate in the neighbourhood of the mill, cover 20,000 square yards more.

A good company was present to see the mill formally opened, and witness the ceremony of “christening” the engines. Later on in the day the firm generously took the whole of their workpeople to Belle Vue gardens, Manchester, and gave them a substantial repast, free of cost. [Builder 3 October 1874 page 834].

The mill closed in 1980 and was demolished between 1982 and 1985. Eight relief sculptures were originally on the outside of the Sunnyside Mills, sculpted by J Bonehill and Co.(qv) under the supervision of G. Woodhouse. On demolition of the mill, the reliefs were saved, cleaned and displayed at the entrance to Bolton Market as part of the extension of the market in 1985