Ray Mill, Clarence Street, Stalybridge

Much less than ten years ago that excellently situated piece of land known as the “Flatts” on the Tame Valley side of Stalybridge was practically unoccupied. Now there exists three of the most up-to-date and artistic factories in the kingdom. By Spring these concerns will be finding employment for some 1,700 persons, which will assuredly represent a weekly wage list of over £1,500. 

Running parallel with the * Flatts™ is the river Tame; near at hand are the railways and added to these all-important facilities is the close proximity of the chief electrical generating station belonging to the Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Joint Board. The site is an ideal one, and Mr. Leach and his codirectors would gladly welcome the offer to purchase any other plot so admirably adapted. The Victor and Premier Mills were the first two, erected in the order named; now the Ray has made up the trio. The latter is perhaps the most attractive of all 

The Ray is a five-storey mill built by Messrs Parkinson and Sons, of Blackpool, and the rapidity with which the work has been accomplished has surprised the cotton world. It was only on June 13 that the contract was let, and the owners were so anxious to have the mill running as early as possible that they inserted a clause requiring completion within seven months although it was not expected that it would be built in this period. The foundations were anticipated to be something like 10 feet deep. but on making excavations it was necessary to go down 30 feet in some places. There was a heavy penalty clause specified but on the other hand the builders were entitled to substantial premiums for completing earlier. Messrs. Parkinson and Sons have practically completed the mill within five weeks of the time, and mill owners from Oldham, Burnley, Bolton, and other parts of Lancashire have expressed astonishment at the achievement.

The winding and beaming department occupies the uppermost room.  The room is spacious and airy. and is to be fitted with 24 beaming frames, 20 winding frames, and 10 circular warping frames. Three formidable hoists will be in use and the one which runs to the warehouse will effect a considerable saving of time. The second hoist will be utilised for bringing up all the yarn and the third will convey the empty bobbins to terra firma.  In the top ring-room are to be fixed 77 frames representing 33,264 spindles with counts ranging from 30’s American up to 70’s Egyptian. The second ring-room is of the same dimensions as the top room whilst the cardroom, which will be finished this week, will have 122 carding engines and the necessary preparing machinery. In the centre of the room will be a passage
7 feet by 6 feet, and about 120 workpeople will be employed in the card and blowing departments. On the ground floor are the doubling, mixing, reeling rooms, and the warehouse. Outside the main mill is the gassing house, where the yarn is specially prepared for the Nottinghamshire lace trade This  latter is not a large plant, but it is computed to be capable of dealing with six or eight thousand pounds weight of gas yarns per week. The blowing and scutching rooms for the initial preparation of the cotton after it is mixed are on the ground floor together with the store-room for cotton and cotton mixing. Roller covering will be done near the main entrance. which, like the excellent suite of offices, will face Tame Street. 

The entire mill will be electrically driven and lighted and in the Ray Mill Company the Joint Board will have a splendid customer. Electricity equivalent to 1,600 indicated horse-power and equal to four Lancashire boilers, will be supplied and each room in which machinery is fixed will be fitted with motors. The electrical arrangement of course dispenses with a chimney as well as boilers, and this will effect a saving of £14,000. The sanitary arrangements are perfect. In some of the rooms wash-basins are being fixed: indeed. there is evidence that the comfort and convenience of the workpeople have been seriously considered by the directors. The heating of the mill is by means steam through pipes connected with the sister mill, the Premier. 

In addition to the builders, the following firms have been engaged: Messrs. Morrison and Roebuck, Blackpool, electrical fittings: R. H. Lord, Manchester, concreting: G. H. Coop, Ashton-under-Lyne, plumbing: Messrs. Spencer and Cook, Stalybridge, steam heating and millwright work; Messrs. Ferbur and Jordan, Oldham, the hoists. Machinery is being made for the mill by the respective firms of Messrs. Howard and Bullough and Messrs. Taylor Lang and Co. 

DIMENSIONS The dimensions of the various rooms will perhaps be of interest. The cardroom is 237 it. Jong and 187 t wide: ring and winding rooms, 229 ft. 11in. by 102 ft. The height of the mill tower from the ground is 146 ft. Later, the mill will be fitted with sprinklers of the best style. Faced Accrington bricks and Huddersfield stone have been used throughout by the builders.

 MILL TO BE WORKING IN FEBRUARY. It was only in June that the contracts were let, and work was not commenced until the beginning of the following month, but by the aid of a large and competent staff of men Messrs. Parkinson had the mill erected on December 21st last—a truly remarkable feat—and the directors anticipate that by the end of next February the Ray Mill will be in full working order.

SHARE CAPITAL TAKEN UP. It is a significant fact that the whole of the £260.000 share capital has been subscribed, and in all likelihood the loan account will reach pretty nearly the same amount. The Ray Mill stands upon a site of 10500 square yards: the entire “Flatts " covers an area of 43500 square yards. 

 ARCHITECT'S DESCRIPTION. The mill is built on the land forming the corner of Clarence-street and Tame-street and is five stories high above the street level. The ground floor contains offices, cotton store, blowing-room, ring doubling, reeling, warehouse. and yarn and waste storage. The first floor contains carding and preparation. The second and third floors ring spinning, and the top storey winding, warping, and beaming. The mill is designed to hold 66,528 ring spinning spindles and preparation and about 10,000 ring doubling spindles. Provision is alto made for gassing on the ground floor. The whole is to be electrically driven, the arrangements for same being very simple and compact. The motors for the various floors will be stationed in separate houses, which are easily accessible. The building is fireproof throughout, on the brick arch system. In addition to a staircase at each end of the mill, fire escapes are provided so that the large number of hands which will be employed can have a ready exit from any part in case of fire or other emergency. The mill is built very substantially, being faced with Accrington bricks, with Yorkshire stone dressings and presents, standing as it does at the corner of the streets, a handsome and imposing appearance, a credit to all concerned. The mill has been designed and carried out from drawings prepared by Mr. Sidney Stott, of Oldham, and makes the 16th from his plans in this immediate neighbourhood. [Stalybridge Reporter Saturday 11 January 1908 page 5]

The syndicate of owners also owned Victor Mill and Premier Mill. In 1911 the three companies merged to form Victor Mill Ltd which employed 1500 people. Spinning at Ray Mill ended in 1982

On 17 March 2018, the building was largely destroyed by the fire and subsequently demolished.

Reference    Stalybridge Reporter - Saturday 4 May 1907 page 5 – new mill announced
Reference    Stalybridge Reporter Saturday 11 January 1908 page 5