IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Cheetham Street, OLDHAM, OL2 8PW

Built in 1883 at a cost of £20,000. Demolished 1985. Site now built on as part of huge littlewoods distribution centre that encompasses the site of the former Dee Mill and includes the surviving Lily Nos. 1 & 2.

The stone wall in the foreground is where the River Beal runs. JD Williams is a mail order distributor, one of two major ones in Shaw using old mill premises. From this viewpoint Grains Road climbs up to a junction with Buckstones Road.

Attractive stone houses on the edge of Shaw and near some surviving former cotton mills. This grouping contains two Grade II Listed buildings.

The square building just right of centre was the remaining engine house of Dee Mill. This contained the sorry remains of a 1500 hp horizontal Scott & Hodgson steam engine of 1907. This had been preserved in workable condition before the mill was closed and largely demolished. The chimney with its name on it is seen to the right. Lily Mill is seen to the left.

This was preserved and scheduled but as a result of constructive neglect reached this state, where the only sensible option was demolition. I have some monochrome photographs of it in pristine condition.

This was when it was still owned by Courtaulds and the Northern Mill Engine Society were steaming the engine 4x/year. A stunning site and a tragedy that it was lost. Other pictures shows its degradation.

The Northern Mill Engine Society had an arrangement with Courtaulds to allow this engine to be run for the public on a quarterly basis. This lasted for about 6 years until the mill was closed and demolished. The engine and its house were scheduled but were also eventually demolished. The picture includes several leading lights of the NMES but some have now passed on.

This cotton spinning mill was one of many in Shaw and was opened in 1907 with power provided by this horizontal twin tandem compound steam engine by Scott & Hodgson of Guide Bridge. The cylinders were 18" & 42" x 5' (x2) and turned a 26' diameter flywheel driving by cotton ropes. The engine ran at 60 revolutions per minute and generated 1500 horsepower. It stopped running commercially in 1967 but was then preserved with the assistance of the Northern Mill Engine Society and was run on occasions until 1982 when the mill closed and was sold. Although the engine was made a Scheduled Ancient Monument it became very badly vandalised and was finally scrapped in 1994. This was a lovely engine and typical of so many in Lancashire. There are now only three large spinning mill engines surviving in situ.

This cotton spinning mill was one of many in Shaw and was opened in 1907 with power provided by this horizontal twin tandem compound steam engine by Scott & Hodgson of Guide Bridge. The cylinders were 18" & 42" x 5' (x2) and turned a 26' diameter flywheel driving by cotton ropes. The engine ran at 60 revolutions per minute and generated 1500 horsepower. It stopped running commercially in 1967 but was then preserved with the assistance of the Northern Mill Engine Society and was run on occasions until 1982 when the mill closed and was sold. Although the engine was made a Scheduled Ancient Monument it became very badly vandalised and was finally scrapped in 1994. This was a lovely engine and typical of so many in Lancashire. There are now only three large spinning mill engines surviving in situ.

This cotton spinning mill was one of many in Shaw and was opened in 1907 with power provided by this horizontal twin tandem compound steam engine by Scott & Hodgson of Guide Bridge. The cylinders were 18" & 42" x 5' (x2) and turned a 26' diameter flywheel driving by cotton ropes. The engine ran at 60 revolutions per minute and generated 1500 horsepower. It stopped running commercially in 1967 but was then preserved with the assistance of the Northern Mill Engine Society and was run on occasions until 1982 when the mill closed and was sold. Although the engine was made a Scheduled Ancient Monument it became very badly vandalised and was finally scrapped in 1994. This was a lovely engine and typical of so many in Lancashire. There are now only three large spinning mill engines surviving in situ.