Mellor Mill, Marple
in Marple, Cheshire
Built by Samuel Oldknow
Believed to have been the largest single cotton mill building in the world when completed in 1792. A second waterwheel was added in 1797. A third, the Waterloo Wheel, followed in 1815, fed from the tailrace of the earlier wheels. The low level of its own tailrace necessitated the construction of a tunnel leading to the river.
A steam engine was added in the 1860s, made by Benjamin Goodfellow.
Later owned by John Clayton and Co.
1887 'TO BE LET, or SOLD by Private Treaty, Valuable PROPERTY, within one mile of a first-class station, quarter of an hour from Manchester, ten minutes from Stockport, as a going concern: Cotton Spinning Mill, containing about 26,000 spindles, large proportion ring, first-class maker, with ample preparation ; steam and water power; the whole in excellent condition; labour plentiful. Along with the above, about 125 Acres of Freehold Land, much of which is elevated and well suited for building purposes: also Farmstead and two first-class Dwelling-Houses and a number of Cottages, all being well tenanted.—Apply on the promises.—JOHN CLAYTON & CO., Mellor Mills, Marple.'[1]
Burned down in 1892 [2]
See Also
Sources of Information
'Newcomen Links' 243, September 2017: 'A Visit to the Site of Mellor Mill, Marple' by John Glithero.