IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Dale Street, HUDDERSFIELD, HD3 4TG

This is one of the few small mill buildings that seems to be still in the textile trade. It is opposite the remains of Woodlands Mill, where my interest in steam engines and industrial archaeology was first ignited (in 1976).

This mill in Longwood near Huddersfield was where I saw my first in situ stationary steam engine just after it had stopped. The mill was subsequently largely demolished and the name and date stones were salvaged and used in this wall by the entrance. The engine was removed for Bolton Museum Services but is now in store in Wales. This is Colin Bowden's photograph of the engine in the mill - Image

Woodland Mills were owned by Job Beaumont and Son Ltd and were in the woollen trade. The mills closed in 1976 and the engine stopped then. I (Chris Allen) saw it about a week later and it was the first in situ stationary steam engine that I ever saw. It was to start an interest that has lasted over 30 years. The photograph was taken by my friend Colin Bowden as one of many, many engines recorded by this august figure. This steam engine is a typical product of John and Edward Wood with the high pressure cylinder nearest the crank and both cylinders fitted with Corliss valves at the bottom. The HP steam valves are fitted with trip gear under the control of a rope driven Lumb governor, whilst the LP steam valves are non-releasing. The engine has twin slipper guides and a single web overhung crank. The jet condenser was in the basement with the air pump driven by levers from the crosshead. The flywheel is 18’ diameter and I think it was only boarded on the engine room side. It drove by ropes that passed up the end wall of the main mill block in a glazed rope race. There was also a rope drive to a generator in the rear of the engine house. It was rated at c500 ihp at 67 rpm on steam at 120 psi (in the 1970s). The engine was named Mary and I believe the name plate and builder’s plate were stolen before the engine was removed for preservation. It originally went to Bolton Museum Services and was stored in doors until late 2012 when it was removed for preservation at the Internal Fire museum in Ceredigion. I hope to catch up with it there in due course.

The right-hand end of the building in Image, with a different occupier.

One of the few surviving mill buildings in the Longwood valley, and still used for textile manufacture

This was operated by Job Beaumont until 1976. There was a 1903 J & E Wood horizontal tandem compound steam engine that I think was perpendicular to the white bit. That was, I think, the end of the engine house and the door led to the boiler (a big modern package job). This was where I saw my first ever in situ stationary steam engine - in 1976 - and I haven't looked back since with over 1100 steam power sites behind me.