Atherton Cotton Spinning Co

of Victoria Mill, Atherton, near Leigh.

1891 Directory (Leigh): Listed as Cotton spinners. More details

1893 'NEW MILL AT ATHERTON. STARTING THE ENGINES. ... Among the most successful of the limited concerns has been the Atherton Cotton Spinning Company, which, starting in 1860, has recently made an important enlargement of its premises by the erection of a fine new mill for 64,000 spindles, being the third erected by this enterprising firm. Land having been acquired adjoining the present mill, the directors instructed Messrs. Bradshaw and Gass, F.R.I.B.A., architects, of Bolton, to prepare the necessary plans showing how the space could be utilised to the best advantage, making arrangements for the storage the water from the stream on the site. The plans for the buildings were afterwards approved and in the early part last year operations were commenced. The structure is four stories in height, the natural fall of the ground allowing basement over a considerable part, without increasing the depth of foundation walls. Altogether the building is 261 feet long, the width being as great as experience has shown can satisfaotoruy worked. Special care has been taken to make Ike arrangements the best for economical working and good overlooking. All the rooms are lofty, with double width bays so that the wheel-gates are left clear. Over each pair of mules is a flat reflecting surface and with very large polished plate-glass windows each end, perfect lighting is secured over the whole length of the mules. Fireproof construction is adopted throughout, and a ventilation system has been arranged to supply the rooms with air, the foul air and flue dust being exhausted through down-draught flues and conveyed by expanding foul air duct into the chimney shaft. Externally the building has an imposing appearance, and while ornamentation has been avoided, effect has been gained by arrangement of window and wall space, the staircase tower farming a fine angle, having a steep pitched roof, covered with red tiles, making a striking feature in the landscape for miles round. All the work, including the large reservoir and the watercourses, has been executed under the superintendence of the architects, Mr. T. Peters acting clerk of works. The foundations and reservoir were contracted for by Mr. W. Winnard, Wigan, Mr. Hamilton, of Altrincham, having the brickwork; Mr. Nicholas of Atherton, having the castings and Messrs. Dunkerley, of Manchester, the steel girders. All the other contractors were from Bolton: Mr. John Dickinson, masonry and concrete work ; Mr. W. Bryce, joiners’ work ; Mr. S. Seddon, iron fixing ; Messrs. W. and A Shaw, slating, Mr. John Vause, plumbing and glazing, Mr. A Warburton, plastering and painting; Mr, John Booth, iron doors and screens ; and Mr. R. Walsh, steam piping and apparatus. The fine engine has been built by Messrs. J. and E. Wood, Victoria Foundry, Bolton ; and is a splendid example of some of the best of Bolton engineering skill. It is a horizontal, double crank, triple expansion, condensing steam engine, and will indicate 900 horse power when working, with a boiler pressure of 160lbs, and running at a speed of 60 revolutions per minute. The high-pressure cylinder is 20in. diameter and five feet stroke, the intermediate cylinder 29in. diameter, and two low-pressure cylinders each 32in. dia.; polished Siemens-Martin steel piston rods with crankshaft 14in. dia. of Whitworth’s fluid compressed steel The fly rope pulley is 26 feet diameter, with rim turned and grooved for 30 ropes, and weighs about 60 tons. Each part is fitted with the latest improvements and very well finished. .... The machinery throughout supplied by Messrs. Platt Bros. and Co., Limited, Oldham.'

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