Albany Mills, Firth Street, Huddersfield

Albany Mills, originally named Gladstone Mills, was a cotton mill on Firth Street, Huddersfield.

History

The mill was constructed in 1868s by architect and builder John Eastwood (c.1823-1891) on a site which formerly housed Aspley Lime Kilns.

On Monday 26 June 1871, 13-year-old James Rose met with an accident in the carding room of the mill. His right hand was pulled into a set of rollers and two of his fingers were crushed, necessitating the amputation of his little finger. On the same day, Mary Costello met with a similar accident when cleaning a condensing engine — she also required a finger on her right hand to be amputated.[1]

On Saturday 6 January 1872, 38-year-old Joseph Pogson and a colleague were raising a heavy box into the mill with a crane, when Pogson slipped and tumbled down some steps. His left leg was "severely broken just below the knee" and it was reported that it would be a long time before he would be able to work again.[2]

13-year-old John Jessop of Moldgreen caught his arm in a carding machine and badly lacerated it on 8 January 1873. He was sent for treatment at the Huddersfield Infirmary.[3]

A small fire broke out on 6 April 1872 in the scutching room of the mill, which had been built to be fireproof. The fire was soon brought under control and damage was estimated at between £100 and £200.[4] Another small fire occurred on 22 October 1872 in the upper floor of the mill, only a few days after a steam-powered fire engine had been tested behind the mill.[5] Another steam fire engine test, this time one built my Messrs. Merryweather and Sons of London, was trialled on 17 December 1872.

A major fire occurred on 1 August 1882, causing around £40,000 of damage.

On 30 September 1886, 34-year-old weaver Allen Marsden fell down the mill steps and received a head injury. He died a few days later at Huddersfield Infirmary. The inquest into his death returned a verdict of "accidental death".[6]

37-year-old Henry Sutcliffe, employed as a foreman at the mill, was crushed to death on the morning of 7 May 1891.[7] A verdict of "accidental death" was returned by the jury at the inquest into his death.[8]

In February 1898, 15-year-old William Beaumont fell 3 storeys from the hoist door of the mill, apparently after a strong gust off wind knocked him off his feet.[9] In March 1900, a 69-year-old employee was killed by the mill's rag machine.[10]

The mill became part of the University of Huddersfield's campus and was demolished in 2009 in order to build the university's new Business School. Stone and timber from the mill were salvaged for incorporation in the new building.

Location

Links

Notes and References

  1. "Two Accidents at a Mill" in Huddersfield Chronicle (01/Jul/1871).
  2. "Accident to a Labourer" in Huddersfield Chronicle (13/Jan/1872).
  3. "Accidents to a Boy" in Huddersfield Chronicle (09/Jan/1873).
  4. "Fire" in Huddersfield Chronicle (13/Apr/1872).
  5. "Fire in a Mill" in Huddersfield Chronicle (26/Oct/1872) and "Trial of a Steam Fire Engine at Aspley" in Huddersfield Chronicle (19/Oct/1872).
  6. "Local and District News: Fatal Accident" in Huddersfield Chronicle (08/Oct/1886).
  7. "" in Huddersfield Daily Chronicle (08/May/1891).
  8. "The Fatal Mill Accident" in Huddersfield Chronicle (11/May/1891).
  9. Huddersfield Weekly Examiner (19/Feb/1898).
  10. Huddersfield Weekly Examiner (17/Mar/1900).