Primrose Mill Darwen 004

Primrose Mill, DarwenrnBuilt in 1882-83 by the Reverend P Graham of Turncroft. After standing empty for some time the mill was leased to John Wardleworth. In 1905 the mill was extended. during 1914 Wardleworth's son Joseph, registered John Wardleworth (Darwen) Ltd to run the buisness. The mill closed in 1932 and in 1934 the buildings were taken by a firm of wholsale grocers for canning and food packaging. Weaving was reintroduced in 1951, when Hindle, Warburton and Company Ltd of Blackburn, installed 221 automatic looms to produce surgical fabrics. The busimess was later purchased by Smith and Nephew, and was closed in 1959. Since the end of textile activity the mill has been used by wallpaper and paint manufacturers and from 1983 has beenn occupied by Woodside Products. rnMike Rothwell.