Britannia Mill Darwen 002

Britannia Mill, Darwen.rnA co-operative spinning mill, erected in 1874-75 by the Darwen Spinning Company Ltd. The factory was known locally as Number One Mill, possibly because it was the first of three such ventures started in the 1870's. Amongst the promoters were James Aspden, James Watson, George Brindle and John Isherwood. The mill contained 36.500 mule spindles driven by a Clayton, Goodfellow and Comapny Ltd horizontal engine. In 1895-96 a weaving shed of 624 looms was added. The mill closed in 1930 and in 1932 the spinning plant was sold. In 1933-34 an attemp was made to form a co-operative weaving company to run the shed, but this failed. Following its purchase by Darwen Corporation the mill was used for various non-textile uses. In 1946 the site was taken over by ICI plastics. The spinning mill was demolished, rnMike Rothwell.