IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mill Street, CONGLETON, CW12 1AG

A row of four, three storey weavers' cottages. Note the top storey multi-light loom shops.

Fustian cutting mill built in 1913. Now apartments. Congleton has a rich textile past in silk, cotton and fustian cutting. Although some mills have now gone, others have been converted to apartments or offices. This mill has retained its character despite conversion. These relatively small mills convert quite well but the huge brick spinning mills of Lancashire are another story altogether.

In an even worse condition than Image these buildings will probably be left to decay so badly that they will have to be demolished and the "developers" will be allowed to put up something more profitable. This little road has character that you can't create in a new development: this is a fragment of the town's industrial history that has survived modernisation. The English like their heritage so a development should be able to use this to sell the site.

One of several former mills in Congleton that are going derelict and, hopefully, waiting for a developer. Although with today's economic climate it could be some time. This mill is located by Image

Originally painted red, this sign is fixed to the wall of the Image and would have provided information for the fire brigade.

Attached to the outside wall of the Image is what looks like an old fire alarm bell. The clapper under the bell would have been turned by handle on the inside.

This cut mark is on the south-eastern end of Image For more information on this and other marks visit the Bench Mark Database at http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm37278 .

On the left is the River Dane while on the right the wall marks the remains of Dane Bridge Mill with the sills of the ground floor windows visible in the wall. The guide book I have lists this as a former silk mill of 1875 with three storeys and in a ruinous condition. It has obviously been demolished and is now overgrown wasteland. An earlier view is seen here - Image Despite the loss of two large old mills in recent years, Congleton still has many links to its textile past.

I understand this vessel was a club but has been disused for some time. I was sufficiently unimpressed as to not bother crossing the road for a closer look.