Cotton Spinning Mill, Wesley Street, Bamber Bridge

The Bamber Bridge Spinning and Weaving Company Limited was formed to erect a large modern fireproof spinning mill with provision for about 120,000 spindles. The greenfield site was a plot of level ground near Bamber Bridge railway station and close to the road between Preston and Chorley.

Designed by Potts Son and Hennings FRIBA of Manchester Bolton and Oldham, this was a five-storey mill over 100m in length housing 135,000 spindles. Engine of 300hp. Wesley Street Mill was a Lancashire super mill established as a purpose-built cotton-spinning factory in 1907, creating the largest mill in the South Ribble district. In contrast to earlier mills, it did not occupy a canal-side location, and water required by the steam-power plant was obtained from two purpose-built lodges. In 2012, prior to its demolition, the extant buildings included a large five-storey spinning block, an attached three-storey engine house, a boiler house, and two further buildings, possibly an economiser house and stables. The buildings were a rare survival of a large Edwardian spinning mill, being in a style more typical of the mills in the satellite towns of Manchester, most notably Oldham.

Plans for another identical multi-storey spinning mill on the same site, referred to as Basildon Mill,(qv) were drawn up in 1923 by the firm of Potts, Henning & Topping, but were not progessed..

NEW BAMBER BRIDGE MILL - The first sod of the site of a new mill to be erected by the Bamber Bridge Spinning and Weaving Company Limited was cut this afternoon at Bamber Bridge by Mr. Reginald Arthur Tatton, the new squire of Cuerdale. Mr J. Nelson presided over an attendance of about 300 persons. The new mill, which is to contain 120,000 spindles, will be erected on land behind the Wesleyan Schools and is expected to be completed in about 12 months. The architect is Mr W. E. Potts of Manchester and the contractor Mr F. Partington, Manchester. [Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 18 January 1907 page 3]

SOD CUTTING AT BAMBER BRIDGE - The Lord of the Manor of Cuerdon (Mr. Reginald A. Tatton) made his first publica appearance since his succession to the estate, yesterday, when he cut the first sod on the site oi the Bamber Bridge Spinning and Weaving Company's new mill. When completed the new mill will contain about 120,000 spindles. The site which is on a level plot of land near Bamber Bridge Railway Station, and close to the highway leading from Preston to Choriey, is in every respect an admirable one, having the advantage of an ample water supply and being easy of access from all parts. It is in the very centre of a district which owes its prosperity mainly to the cotton trade, and in which skilled labour is readily obtainable. The mill will be in every way modern and the machinery of the latest and most approved type. With these advantages there every reason to expect that the Company will prove a sound dividend earning concern. The company contemplate adding weaving to their enterprise at a future date and provision has accordingly been made for increasing the nominal capital of the company if such a course should commend itself to the directors. [Preston Herald - Saturday 19 January 1907 page 5]

Reference    Lancashire Daily Post, Friday 16 November 1906 page 1 – prospectus
Reference    Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 18 January 1907 page 3 – first sod
Reference    Preston Herald - Saturday 19 January 1907 page 5