IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Rope Walk, CONGLETON, CW12 1HN

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.

A former fustian cutting mill. This shows the three storey brick built block of the 1870s. At the far end is a 20th century flat roofed, concrete and steel framed range. This is one of several remaining former silk and cotton mills in Congleton. Fustian cutting was using a sharp blade to cut through the loops of various types of fabric (usually cotton) to produce the high pile required for velvet, moleskin and corduroy. Between 1860 and 1950 fustian cutting was Congleton's dominant industry and took place in reused silk mills and in new build premises.

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.

Former fustian cutting mill alongside the River Dane. Brick built three storey range of the 1870s (to the rear in this view) Later 20 the century flat roofed and concrete and steel framed ranges of 2 and three storeys to the west and south.

Built in 1878, the Masonic Hall is located on Mill Street. The front entrance is just in front of the white car, near the bottom of the brickwork and just to the right of that car is an Ordnance Survey flush bracket (Image). This was also the site of the original United Reformed Church before it was moved to Antrobus Street (Image).

This mark is set into the brickwork on the front wall of Image For more information on this and other bench marks go to http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm20363 .

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.