Building record 2887/8 - Bromley Mill (also formerly known as Albion Mill and Empire Mill)

<1> Calladine A & Fricker J, 1993, East Cheshire Textile Mills, p. 162 (Book). SCH1093.

Listed in the gazeteer of East Cheshire Textile Mills.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1896-98, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2472.

Mill shown at this NGR on 2nd ed. OS maps (6").

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1911-1914, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3843.

"Empire Mill" on the 3rd ed. OS (3).

<4> Aeon Archaeology, 2017, Land off Thomas Street, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1QY: Archaeological Assessment, R4448 (Client Report). SCH8910.

An archaeological assessment was undertaken in 2017 in support of proposed re-development of a site to the east of Thomas Street. The area destined for development includes a late nineteenth century mill complex formerly known as Bromley Mill/Albert Mill/Empire Mill.

The mill, fronting onto Brown Street, is first depicted as occupying the central and eastern parts of the proposed development site on the second edition 25” county series Ordnance Survey map of 1899 where it is shown as a roughly square structure and is labelled as Bromley Mills (Turkish Towel). It is not known exactly when the mill was constructed but it is not shown on the first edition 25” county series Ordnance Survey map of 1875. Moreover, the Trade Directory of 1896 shows that this mill was called Albert Mill and was occupied by Henry Barton (Turkish Towel manufacturer) who must have changed the name to Bromley Mill between 1896 and 1899 due to confusion with the existing Albert Mill on Hatter Street (CHER 2887/2).

By the production of the third edition 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1909 the mill is labelled as Empire Mill, presumably in commemoration of the success of the British Empire or perhaps in tribute to Queen Victoria who died in 1901. This map depicts a little more detail than the first edition map and shows a chimney and rectangular pond to the rear (east) of the mill. The trade directory records the mill as occupied by Stott and Smith (Turkish Towel manufacturers) from 1903-1964, commencing production of Turkish Towels in 1904 with 180 looms. The mill was extended to include shed 2 in 1910 housing an additional 250 looms and increasing the workforce to 400; and shed 3 in 1915 housing a further 300 looms and increasing the workforce to 700. However, the 10.5” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1926 depicts the site the same as that shown on the map of 1909.

An aerial photograph of 1929 shows the mill with the extended sheds to the east and north, suggesting that shed 2 and 3 were not constructed until between 1926 and 1929. It is however possible that the 10.5” County Series map of 1926 was drawn from the 1909 map and is incorrect in its detail. The aerial photograph of 1929 shows the original part of the mill as a two-storey brick-built L-shaped structure fronting on to Hatter Street. The chimney for the boiler is shown at the rear of the building and shed 1 is shown conjoined to the east elevation with an alternating slate and glazed roof. Shed 2 had also been constructed at this time as an L-shaped building to the east; and shed 3 as a rectangular building to the north, all with alternating slate and glazed roofs. A smaller rectangular building is also shown partly conjoined to the northern part of the eastern elevation of shed 3.

The mill is again depicted on the 10.5” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1938 and on the aerial photograph of 1951 but appears unchanged. It is also shown on the 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1963 where the southern part of the mill is labelled as ‘factory’ and the northern part is labelled ‘mill’. This map also depicts the central chimney and a small well to the rear (east) of the building, as well as a building across Hatter Street connecting the mill with the former Jubilee Mill building. This map also shows that the rectangular building conjoined to the northern part of the eastern elevation of shed 3 had been demolished by this point in time.

By 1970 the mill complex had been bought by Berisfords Ltd who still occupy the building today. The 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1970 labels the southern part of the mill as ‘knitwear factory’ and the northern part as ‘engineering works’.