Lower Darwen MIll 002

b228201. This is the oldest surviving factory site in Blackburn being established in about 1774 as a water powerd carding Mill by Thomas Eccles. Further extensions and alterations took place to the mill in the nineteenth century. In the 1950's there were 544 looms. The mill closed in 1971. The photograph shows part of the nineteenth century mill in 1974. M. 31 Low.