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Cotton Drive, BOLTON, BL3 2GF

Two large cotton spinning mills. No. 1 on the right was built in 1895 and retains its engine house while No. 2 on the left was built in 1902 and retains a severely truncated chimney with a modern stack up its centre. Then used as a distribution centre. In their day these were the largest spinning mills in the world. The large scar on No. 2 mill shows where its angine house has been demolished. The mills each had a large Hick, Hargreaves horizontal twin tandem triple expansion engine of 2000 horsepower. In September 2019 the local news paper showed photographs of the site's demolition with No. 2 largely demolished by then. The site is to be housed for a new housing development.

This picture is dominated by No. 2 Mill that was built in 1902 and is hiding No. 1 Mill of 1895. The only part of No. 1 that can be seen is the projecting engine house beyond No. 2's truncated chimney that has had a metal stack inserted up it. The mill was built for cotton spinning but was latterly used as a distribution centre. By September 2019 No. 2 had been partly demolished with No. 1 to follow. The site was to be used for a new housing development.

Two large cotton spinning mills. No. 1 on the right was built in 1895 and retains its engine house while No. 2 on the left was built in 1902 and retains a severely truncated chimney with a modern stack up its centre. Now used as a distribution centre. In their day these were the largest spinning mills in the world.

No. 2 is closest and No. 1 is beyond. They were claimed to be the largest mills in the world in their day. Now used by Home Delivery Network.

The further mill is the original (No.1) mill of 1895, the nearer is No.2 mill of 1902. The architectural styles are similar but not identical.

The left hand tower, of the original 1895 mill, formerly supported a pyramidal roof. The designation "No.1" has been added in terracotta at the time of construction of No.2 mill in 1902. The introduction of a small amount of terracotta decoration is unusual, but it is clear that the intention was for the new mill to match the old one in general style.

The lefthand tower is No. 1 Mill of 1895. The balustrade off to the right carries the date 1902 and states that it is Bee Hive No. 2. The bricked archway probably marks the original entrance to the mills.

Service 501 is one of the main local services in Bolton providing a frequent service between Farnworth to the south-east and Doffcocker (Moss Bank Way) to the north-west. Seen here passing Bee Hive Mills.

This blocked-up doorway would have been the original main entrance to the mill, probably with offices adjacent. With expansion of the mill, a separate office building was built further along Crescent Road http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3106351

A candidate for the shortest named street in the UK, and with no frontagers!