IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Burwell Close, LEIGH, WN7 2DJ

Abandoned and awaiting the developer even then.

Looking west along the Bridgewater Canal at Leigh. The photograph was taken from close to the back of Image In front to the left, part of Image] can be seen; whilst ahead is the large frame of Image The large number of mill in this part of the town is a reminder of the town's industrial past; in 1911, more than 6,000 people were employed in the textiles industry in Leigh.

Looking west along the Bridgewater Canal. From left to right Brooklands Mill, occupied by several small firms, Mather Lane Mill and Bedford Spinning Mill, which was derelict.

Terraced houses seen across the Bridgewater Canal.

In pride of place is the projecting engine house for a 1200 horsepower horizontal cross compound mill engine built in 1893 by J & E Wood of Bolton. It was a cotton spinning mill but is now in multiple occupation.

Looking along the Bridgewater Canal towards former cotton spinning mills. On the left is Brooklands Mill. A five storey spinning mill by the Bridgewater Canal and built in 1893 with a 1200 horsepower J & E Wood mill engine that was in the projecting engine house with tall windows. Now in multiple occupancy. The chimney has been demolished. On the right is Mather Lane Mill. Now being converted to housing. This cotton spinning mill was built in 1882 to the design of Bradshaw, Gass & Hope. There is a partly internal engine house on the north elevation (facing). The engine was a very unusual beast being an 800 horsepower inverted vertical tandem compound by J & E Wood of Bolton. It had an ejector condenser and a specially built flywheel with a rim speed of 7000 feet/minute (usually about 5,000 feet per minute or nearly 60 mph). If I recall correctly it also had a parallel motion guide for the crosshead. A very interesting design for its day and I wish I had seen it.

Brooklands (formerly Mather No 3) Mill, on English Street, Leigh, next to the Bridgewater Canal. The former now is now split into smaller industrial units.

A five storey spinning mill by the Bridgewater Canal and built in 1893 with a 1200 horsepower J & E Wood mill engine. Now in multiple occupancy. The chimney has been demolished. This shows the imposing entrance to the three storey office block that is next to the stair tower.

A five storey spinning mill by the Bridgewater Canal and built in 1893 with a 1200 horsepower J & E Wood mill engine. Now in multiple occupancy. The chimney has been demolished. The large engine house is in the left background. The closer three storey section appears to be the mill's offices. They were often detached. There is a large and impressive door to the offices (seen in a separate photograph).

This is the block south of the Bridgewater Canal