Brookhouse Mill 018

Former Hornby Rifle Range dated 1909, Freeme Street. This building forms the nucleus of the paper works.rnBrookhouse Mills. Established in 1828 at Derrikins Fields by Hornby and Birley, calico merchants and manufacturers of Clayton Street. The business has 18th century associations with Kirkham and Scorton, where the partnership was Fielden, Birley, Cardwell and Swainson. John Hornby founded the Blackburn branch in 1779. By 1833 the Blackburn firm was W.H Hornby, John Newsham and William Kenworthy. Power loom weaving started in 1830.rnA settlement of over 140 houses were built 1828-50 between the mill and Whalley New Road. Opposite was a gymnasium for the employees and cotton warehouse. W.H Hornby and Co (1900) Ltd went into voluntary liquidation 1927-8 and Hornby's Blackburn Mill Ltd was formed by John Whittaker of Rishton, to continue running the mill. This Company was wound up in 1930. Whittaker Automatic Loom Company ran a few looms but this venture collapsed in 1932. From 1934 the mills were used by a great variety of non-textile firms. The last of the houses on Whalley New Road were demolished mid 1985.