1982 sunny view, through trees, from the footbridge over the Clifton Beck at Thornhills Beck Lane, to the former 5-storey Woodvale Cotton Spinning Mill, opened in the 1870s, closing in the early1930s and demolished in 1986, as a result of fire damage, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, UK
1982 view, through trees, towards the Woodvale Cotton Spinning Mill from the footbridge over the Clifton Beck, Thornhills Beck Lane, Brighouse, West Yorkshire. The 5-storey mill was owned by the Camm Family in the 19th century, William and Alfred Camm starting operations there in 1874. and Sons Ltd took over the mill in 1900 and the mill was locally known as 'Smith's' in the 20th century. Cotton spinning, with the use of mules, took place in the top storey. The spinners (men here) worked in bare feet, considered the safest way to operate on greasy floors. Women operated noisy carding machines in the lower storeys. Half-timers (children aged 11 or 12, attending school half the day, attending work half the day) also worked here, as in other textile mills, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cotton spinning ended here in the early 1930s. The mill, suffering damage when the adjoining Woodvale Silk Mill (out of shot behind the mill) caught fire in December 1985, was demolished with the silk mill in 1986. Only a few small buildings remain, which are now part of the Woodvale Business Park. Motor vehicles travelling along Thornhills Beck Lane cross the Clifton Beck ('beck' being the local name for a stream or brook) by way of a shallow ford, on the other side of the footbridge.
Size: 2085px × 1390px
Location: Clifton Beck, towards Woodvale Cotton Mill, Thornhills Beck Lane, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, UK
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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