IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hulme Street, MANCHESTER, M1 5BW

Chorlton is less well known than Ancoats but contains a very important collection of early cotton mills. Cambridge Mill is also known as (I think) Chorlton Old Mill, originally built 1795 but rebuilt since. Chorlton New Mill, with chimney, has blocks dating from 1814, 1818 and 1845. In the 1860s an entire complex of mills in this area was taken over by Charles Macintosh for the production of rubberised cloth.

The corner block with the two arched openings for a former double beam engine house is the block of 1845. The block leading to the chimney is the original 1814 mill. This is believed to be the oldest surviving example of fireproof mill construction in Greater Manchester. The complex is well documented and well described in M Williams with D A Farnie, Cotton Mills in Greater Manchester, 1992. This was in association with RCHM(E) and is suitably erudite. Returning to the mill, the opening up of the engine room arches is welcome but the roof garden and chimney balcony are dubious.

One of the important early mills in Chorlton-on-Medlock. This is the original 1814 block and is believed to be the earliest surviving fireproof mill construction in Greater Manchester.

Built for the Birley family in three phases, 1813-15, 1818 and 1845. It is an early example of fireproof construction. The chimney arrived in 1853. Grade II listed. See also Image It is, of course, now flats, but I was taken aback to find that it also houses the International Anthony Burgess Foundation. Burgess was a local boy.

Chorlton New Mill, built for Hugh Birley in 1814, is probably the earliest surviving example of a fire proof mill* in Manchester. It, together with its attached chimney, is a Grade II listed building (English Heritage ID:387963 http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-387963-chorlton-new-mill-and-attached-chimney- British Listed Buildings) During the mid-nineteenth century, this area, then known as “Little Ireland”, was one of Manchester’s worst slums; today, like many of Manchester’s old industrial buildings, these fireproof mill buildings have been converted into apartment blocks (http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/tours/tour7/area7page9.html Manchester History Net). * Early mills and factories were usually built with timber, making them vulnerable to fire and limiting their size. In 1796, Charles Bage built the first 'fireproof' factory, which only used cast iron, brick and stone. This design reduced the fire risk and formed a strong structure that could accommodate large, powered machinery. (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/energyhall/page110.asp Science Museum)

Chorlton New Mill, built for Hugh Birley in 1814, is probably the earliest surviving example of a fire proof mill* in Manchester. It, together with its attached chimney, is a Grade II listed building (List Entry Number: 1197774 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1197774?section=official-list-entry Historic England). Now converted into residential apartments. During the mid-nineteenth century, this area, then known as “Little Ireland”, was one of Manchester’s worst slums; today, like many of Manchester’s old industrial buildings, these fireproof mill buildings have been converted into apartment blocks (http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/tours/tour7/area7page9.html Manchester History Net). * Early mills and factories were usually built with timber, making them vulnerable to fire and limiting their size. In 1796, Charles Bage built the first 'fireproof' factory, which only used cast iron, brick and stone. This design reduced the fire risk and formed a strong structure that could accommodate large, powered machinery. (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/energyhall/page110.asp Science Museum)

The red brick building with clocktower is the Refuge Assurance Building.

Old industrial buildings on Cambridge Street.

Perhaps late C19th and built as a warehouse, but now used by Manchester Metropolitan University. A red plaque records that it stands on the site of Little Ireland where "large numbers of immigrant Irish workers lived in appalling housing conditions. Built c1827. Vacated c1847. Demolished c1877."

One of the Grade II-listed former mills on Cambridge Street. Now converted to residential apartments.