Century Mill, Farnworth

Century

Location within Greater Manchester
Cotton
Spinning (ring mill)
Location	George St, Dixon Green.
Further ownership	Lancashire Cotton Corporation (1930s) Courtaulds (1964)
Coordinates
Power
Date	1902
Engine maker	Hick Hargraves & Co. Ltd.
Engine type	Cross compound
Valve Gear	Corliss
rpm	59
Flywheel diameter	27ft
No. of ropes	45
Boiler configuration
Pressure	190
References

Century Mill, Farnworth is a cotton spinning mill in Farnworth, Bolton, Greater Manchester. It was built in the early 20th century, for ring spinning. It was taken over by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the 1930s and passed to Courtaulds in 1964. It was still standing with its chimney in 2004.

History

Century mill was built early in the 20th century, spinning 40's counts on ring frames for general-purpose work.

The industry peaked in 1912 when it produced 8 billion yards of cloth. The Great War of 1914–1918 halted the supply of raw cotton, and the British government encouraged its colonys to build mills to spin and weave cotton. The war over, Lancashire never regained its markets. The independent mills were struggling. The Bank of England set up the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1929 to attempt to rationalise and save the industry. Century Mill, Farnworth was one of 104 mills bought by the LCC, and one of the 53 mills that survived through to 1950. In 2004 it was standing and still had its chimney.

Architecture

Power

The mill had a 1500 hp cross compound engine by Hick, Hargreaves & Co. Ltd. built in 1902 which operated at 190psi. The cylinders were 26"HP, 54"LP on a 5 ft stroke. The 27 ft flywheel drove 45 ropes at 59rpm.

Equipment

Ring frames

Owners

• Lancashire Cotton Corporation (1930s–1964)
• Courtaulds (1964–

See also

• Textile manufacturing
• Cotton Mill

External links

• www.cottontown.org
• www.spinningtheweb.org.uk
• Story of a half-timer Catherine Walton who started at Century mill aged 12 in 1917