Manchester Cotton Mills are the world famous producing grounds of spinning and weaving of cotton. A cotton mill is a textile-producing factory, working with the help of spinning and weaving machineries. Cotton has always been a leading sector in the economy of Manchester. Cotton spinning started to get mechanized in the large number of cotton mills in Manchester. Several settlements grew along the cotton mills and the workforce of these mills solved much of the problem of unemployment in Manchester. Cotton manufacturing in Manchester is considered to be the most vital domestic industry of the nation.
The textiles and cotton mills in Manchester are situated all across the city and also in its suburban areas. Much of 18th and 19th century wealth of Great Britain has been accumulated from the production of cotton in these mills. However, methods in spinning, weaving and dyeing transformed from manual processing to fully mechanized ones during the 19th century. The inventors like Samuel Crompton, Richard Arkwright and James Hargreave have contributed highly in the invention of various cotton mill machineries. Some of the major cotton mills in Manchester are as follows:
- Redhill Street Mills - This mill was owned by James McConnel and John Kennedy – the two Scottish businessmen and was constructed as a spinning mill in 1818. This cotton mill was 8 levels high and was the tallest iron cast
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building in the world during its time. During the 19th century, this mill was the largest cotton mill in Manchester.
- Cambridge Street Mill – This mill was built in 1814 by Hugh Birley on Medlock. The mill was made of 6 levels along with 2 basements and 20 loading bays. An additional block was built later in 1845.
- The Old Mill and The New Mill – It was built on Henry Street in 1799 for the businessmen James McConnel and John Kennedy. They were the leading textile manufacturers and mastered in methods of weaving in the region. This mill was renovated in 1912 and changed its name to the Royal Mill. This factory comprises 8 floors and encompasses an area of 650 square yards.
- The Sedgewick Mill – Located at the Union Street, Manchester, this mill is owned McConnel & Kennedy and was built in 1815. The factory was designed by James Lowe with 8 storeys facing the bay.
There are many more Manchester cotton mills, contributing largely to the national income. Some other cotton mills of Manchester include Victoria Mills, Brownsfield Mill, Beehive Mill, Brunswick Mill and The Soho Factory.
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