Old Lane Mill, Ovenden, Halifax.

 

Towering over Ovenden in Halifax, Old Lane Mill stands as a testament to the industrial past of Yorkshire. Built in 1825, it's not just any mill; it's the oldest surviving multi-storey, steam-powered, iron-framed textile mill in Halifax, possibly even the UK.

James Akroyd, the visionary behind Old Lane Mill, wasn't afraid to push boundaries. He incorporated innovative features like an iron frame and stone floors, allowing the mill to support the weight of the revolutionary Jacquard looms he installed in 1827. These looms, the first of their kind in Britain, marked a significant leap forward in textile production.

Despite claims of being fireproof, Old Lane Mill wasn't immune to disaster. A blaze ripped through the building in 1905, causing significant damage. However, the mill persevered, changing hands and purposes throughout the 20th century. It even served as part of the larger Dean Clough Mill complex for a time.

Today, Old Lane Mill stands derelict, a haunting reminder of a bygone era. The empty shell, though ravaged by time and vandalism, still whispers stories of innovation and industry. The stone floors, stripped-out machinery remnants, and the large engine house with its distinctive features offer a glimpse into the heart of a once-thriving mill.

The future of Old Lane Mill remains uncertain. Preservation efforts are ongoing due to the building's historical significance. Whether it's restored to its former glory or repurposed for a new life, Old Lane Mill undoubtedly deserves to be cherished as a vital piece of Halifax's textile heritage.

Please note: Due to the derelict state of the building, exploring Old Lane Mill is not recommended.

I was in the area on the 15th April 2015 and visited the mill, I made no effort to enter the building as it looks unsafe and I am not good with heights, preferring to just photograph the outside safely on the ground level. There are many others that have photographed and video the inside available to view online, and Martin Zero did an excellent video on YouTube about the mill some 3 years ago that is worth a look. The pictures were taken using a polaroid is2132 bridge camera, they can be seen below or on my Clickasnap account were they are full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the un-watermarked, higher resolution version on Clickasnap.

Thanks for looking, please take a moment to share and follow me on social media.

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Dean Clough Complex, Halifax May 2015

 Dean Clough once the world's largest carpet mill is a mixed use development in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The majority of the buildings that make up the complex are Victorian having been built between 1840 and 1869, having been constructed by the Crossley's family, owners of Crossley's carpets. The first mill is thought to have been constructed in 1802 and the complex took its name from the valley in which it was built. The company moved its headquarters from Halifax to Kidderminster in 1970 and declining sales and competition from cheaper imports led to the Dean Clough site closing in 1982.

In 1983 Sir Ernest Hall and Jonathan Silver bought the complex and established Dean Clough Galleries and Dean Clough Industrial Park. The partnership was not to last with Hall buying Silver's shares the following year and to date he has invested over £20million pounds in redeveloping the Dean Clough complex. The large sheds were demolished to create car parking spaces and over the years the complex has become a hub of over 150 companies calling Dean Clough Home. The site also includes a hotel, leisure facilities, restaurants and the Viaduct Theatre.

The pictures were taken in May 2015 using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera. There are a total of 17 taken around Dean Clough which can be seen below, in a slideshow on YouTube and Tik Tok, and full size, resolution, and un-watermarked on Clickasnap where copies can also be purchased if required.

All the pictures can be seen in the YouTube slideshow below.

Thanks for looking and please take a moment to share and follow me on social media. All the pictures can be seen and purchased full size, resolution and un-watermarked on Clickasnap via the link underneath each.

All images remain the copyright of Colin Green.

A Snicket in Halifax 2022

 A Snicket in Halifax is a well known photo taken by Bill Brandt, a German born English photographer in 1937. The original picture which can be widely seen online shows a short cobbled hill climb from Old Lane, Dean Clough - North Bridge that led to a bridge across the then Queensbury Lines Railway and on towards Boothtown - Haley Hill. Whilst the railway has long since been removed the snicket and bridge still remain, the former line underneath being left to become overgrown with vegetation in recent years.

A snicket is commonly a phrase used in Northern England for a passageway between houses, garden's and fences. Also sometimes referred to as alley, ginnel, passage, path or alleyway.

The mill building shown in the background forms part of the Dean Clough complex and is known as Bowling Mill.

My copy which can be seen below or full size, resolution and un-watermarked on Clickasnap was taken on Sunday 3rd July 2022 using a Nikon d3300 SLR.

The original colour version I took of the picture can also be seen on Clickasnap and below,

Thanks for looking and please take a moment to share, all the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Old Lane Mill, Ovenden, Halifax

Towering over Ovenden in Halifax, Old Lane Mill stands as a testament to the industrial past of Yorkshire. Built in 1825, it's not just any mill; it's the oldest surviving multi-storey, steam-powered, iron-framed textile mill in Halifax, possibly even the UK.

James Akroyd, the visionary behind Old Lane Mill, wasn't afraid to push boundaries. He incorporated innovative features like an iron frame and stone floors, allowing the mill to support the weight of the revolutionary Jacquard looms he installed in 1827. These looms, the first of their kind in Britain, marked a significant leap forward in textile production.

Despite claims of being fireproof, Old Lane Mill wasn't immune to disaster. A blaze ripped through the building in 1905, causing significant damage. However, the mill persevered, changing hands and purposes throughout the 20th century. It even served as part of the larger Dean Clough Mill complex for a time.

Today, Old Lane Mill stands derelict, a haunting reminder of a bygone era. The empty shell, though ravaged by time and vandalism, still whispers stories of innovation and industry. The stone floors, stripped-out machinery remnants, and the large engine house with its distinctive features offer a glimpse into the heart of a once-thriving mill.

The future of Old Lane Mill remains uncertain. Preservation efforts are ongoing due to the building's historical significance. Whether it's restored to its former glory or repurposed for a new life, Old Lane Mill undoubtedly deserves to be cherished as a vital piece of Halifax's textile heritage.

Please note: Due to the derelict state of the building, exploring Old Lane Mill is not recommended.I was in the area on the 15th April 2015 and visited the mill, I made no effort to enter the building as it looks unsafe and I am not good with heights, preferring to just photograph the outside safely on the ground level. There are many others that have photographed and video the inside available to view online, and Martin Zero did an excellent video on YouTube about the mill some 3 years ago that is worth a look. The pictures were taken using a polaroid is2132 bridge camera, they can be seen below or on my Clickasnap account were they are full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

The water outlet stands just to the south of Old Lane Mill, it carries
the Ovenden Brook underneath the mill and probably provided some 
of the power source for the mill historically.

Thanks for looking and please take a moment to share.

Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the Clickasnap version.

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green. Please don't take the approach of an estate agent who a few years ago was marketing the mill and decided to use my pictures without permission, suitable recompense and no credit. The not even bothering to credit me really was the most annoying bit.