Stott A H and Sons

In the second half of the nineteenth century Oldham became the major cotton spinning town in Britain creating a demand for, amongst other things, industrial architects. Architects from Oldham came to dominate the business of designing cotton spinning mills in Lancashire and Stott & Sons were one of the oldest and most prominent firms active in this field, being responsible for around 20% of all new spinning mills designed in Lancashire between 1880 and 1914.

The firm originated in 1847 when Abraham Henthorn Stott, senior, set up an office in Oldham and subsequently he took two of his sons, Jesse Ainsworth Stott and Abraham Henthorn Stott, junior, into partnership. They built a reputation on their technological abilities, advancing the methods of fire proof construction, initially retaining brick arches but later moving to reinforced concrete. P S Scott worked for the firm 1881-1883 before commencing work on his own account.

Their later designs were for mills of great size but can be seen as conservative in that they did not make the fullest possible use of new methods of construction, spinning or power. Before 1880 major commissions came from private companies who were often developing their business over many decades, employing Stott and Sons not only to design mills but also adjoining housing and other buildings.  Later the limited liability companies became the most important new mill builders and the partners in Stott & Sons were often involved in the promotion of these companies.

Address : 37a King Street Oldham