Dean Clough
Encyclopedia
Dean Clough in Halifax
, Calderdale
, West Yorkshire
, England is a group of large factory buildings built in the 1840s–60s for Crossley
's Carpets, becoming one of the world's largest carpet
factories (half a mile long with 1250000 square feet (116,128.8 m²) of floorspace). After years of declining production it closed in 1983, when it was bought by a consortium led by Sir Ernest Hall which developed the Grade II listed site for various commercial and cultural uses. It is now seen as a leading example of successful urban regeneration. Dean Clough is located on the north side of Halifax near the Victorian
North Bridge
and the modern flyover sections of the Burdock Way relief road system. The converted mills now house about 150 large and small businesses and arts venues including Crossley Gallery and several other art galleries and the Viaduct Theatre, home base for the Northern Broadsides
theatre company. Phoenix Radio 96.7 FM has its studios in D Mill.
and had warehouses in London and Manchester. During the two world wars production changed fron carpets to military supplies such as webbing, blankets and khaki yarn for uniforms. When Chairman Patrick Crossley retired in 1970 the company moved its headquarters to Kidderminster, and it was decided in 1982 to close the Dean Clough site. One of the Crossley family is still involved in carpet making on a much smaller scale at neighbouring Haley Hill.
Following the closure of the mills in 1983 the site was bought by a consortium led by chairman Sir Ernest Hall. As managing director, his son Jeremy, has gradually refurbished the buildings for office and cultural uses by a large number of companies.
but G Mill stands on the steep bank to the south of Dean Clough Road, reducing from nine storeys at the road to five at the top of the bank. The first mill built on the site by the Crossley family in 1841 was A mill, followed by six storey B Mill in 1844. They are likely to have originally contained spinning and some weaving equipment. The first weaving shed, Old Shed, was built in 1849. These were followed by C Mill in 1850, New Shed in 1853, E Mill in 1857, F Mill in 1858, G Mill in 1867, and H Mill in 1869. Other smaller buildings were also built on the site.
close to the eastern end of the factory. This was connected by a viaduct to the Caldervale Line
at the main Halifax railway station
, and entered Old Lane Tunnel
alongside the mills, to connect via the Queensbury Lines
to Bradford
and Keighley
. Following the closure of that railway in 1955 and the demolition of North Bridge Station in 1960 Dean Clough relies on road transport on the A58, A629, A6036 and A646 roads. These roads are linked by the Burdock Way road system which was carved through Halifax in the early 1970s with high curving flyovers overlooking the mills.
The mills now provide office space for some 150 companies, art galleries, restaurants and the viaduct theatre where the Northern Broadsides theatre company is based.
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, Calderdale
Calderdale
The Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England, through which the upper part of the River Calder flows, and from which it takes its name...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England is a group of large factory buildings built in the 1840s–60s for Crossley
Francis Crossley
Sir Francis Crossley, 1st Baronet, of Halifax , was a British carpet manufacturer, philanthropist and Liberal Party politician.-Life:...
's Carpets, becoming one of the world's largest carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
factories (half a mile long with 1250000 square feet (116,128.8 m²) of floorspace). After years of declining production it closed in 1983, when it was bought by a consortium led by Sir Ernest Hall which developed the Grade II listed site for various commercial and cultural uses. It is now seen as a leading example of successful urban regeneration. Dean Clough is located on the north side of Halifax near the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
North Bridge
North Bridge, Halifax
North Bridge, Halifax is a Victorian iron and stone bridge at Halifax, West Yorkshire in northern England. It crosses the valley of the River Hebble, connecting the town to roads to Bradford and Leeds. Replacing an earlier six arch stone bridge it was raised to allow the subsequent construction of...
and the modern flyover sections of the Burdock Way relief road system. The converted mills now house about 150 large and small businesses and arts venues including Crossley Gallery and several other art galleries and the Viaduct Theatre, home base for the Northern Broadsides
Northern Broadsides
Northern Broadsides is a theatre company formed in 1992 and based at Dean Clough Mill in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. The founder and artistic director is Barrie Rutter. The company performs in Halifax and on tour, a mix of Shakespeare and other productions. Music is specially written for...
theatre company. Phoenix Radio 96.7 FM has its studios in D Mill.
History
John Crossley, with his brother Thomas, and James Travis first leased Dean Clough Mills in 1802. When this lease expired after twenty years John Crossley took on a new lease in his own name. After his death in 1837, at which time three hundred people were employed, his three sons, John, Joseph and Francis, continued the business as John Crossley and Sons. They formed a joint stock company in 1864, becoming one of the first limited liability companies in Britain. It was this company that built the very large mills on the site between 1841 and 1869, together with large sheds which have now been demolished. Around 1855 the alphabetical naming system was introduced for the mills. There were also other premises in Halifax, employing five thousand people by 1900. The company also operated at KidderminsterKidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
and had warehouses in London and Manchester. During the two world wars production changed fron carpets to military supplies such as webbing, blankets and khaki yarn for uniforms. When Chairman Patrick Crossley retired in 1970 the company moved its headquarters to Kidderminster, and it was decided in 1982 to close the Dean Clough site. One of the Crossley family is still involved in carpet making on a much smaller scale at neighbouring Haley Hill.
Following the closure of the mills in 1983 the site was bought by a consortium led by chairman Sir Ernest Hall. As managing director, his son Jeremy, has gradually refurbished the buildings for office and cultural uses by a large number of companies.
Mill buildings
There are a number of mill buildings, some very large, mostly named with letters of the alphabet. Most of them are in the bottom of the steep sided Hebble ValleyRiver Hebble
Hebble Brook is the body of water passing from Ogden Reservoir south, at Ogden, Halifax. The reservoir itself is sourced from water draining off Skirden Edge, through Skirden Clough, to the west and from the north the reservoir takes in water from Deep Gulf and Spa Flat, above the now disused Fly...
but G Mill stands on the steep bank to the south of Dean Clough Road, reducing from nine storeys at the road to five at the top of the bank. The first mill built on the site by the Crossley family in 1841 was A mill, followed by six storey B Mill in 1844. They are likely to have originally contained spinning and some weaving equipment. The first weaving shed, Old Shed, was built in 1849. These were followed by C Mill in 1850, New Shed in 1853, E Mill in 1857, F Mill in 1858, G Mill in 1867, and H Mill in 1869. Other smaller buildings were also built on the site.
Transport infrastructure
The factory had railway sidings connected to the Halifax High Level Railway at North Bridge railway stationNorth Bridge railway station
North Bridge railway station served on the Halifax and Ovenden Junction Railway in West Yorkshire, England. The North bridge itself had to be rebuilt higher by the L&YR and the GNR to clear the tracks...
close to the eastern end of the factory. This was connected by a viaduct to the Caldervale Line
Caldervale Line
The Caldervale Line is a railway route in Northern England between the cities of Leeds and Manchester as well as the seaside resort of Blackpool...
at the main Halifax railway station
Halifax railway station
Halifax railway station serves the town of Halifax in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the Caldervale Line and is west from .The station at Halifax is an example of a single island platform acting as two platforms. Platform 2 heads eastbound, towards Bradford while Platform 1 heads westbound...
, and entered Old Lane Tunnel
Woodside (Old Lane) Tunnel
Old Lane Tunnel in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England was long and was between Woodside Viaduct and North Bridge railway station. The Southern Portal of the Tunnel can be seen from the Iron Footbridge at the top end of the car park at North Bridge leisure centre....
alongside the mills, to connect via the Queensbury Lines
The Queensbury Lines
The Queensbury Lines were part of the Great Northern Railway in West Yorkshire, England. They opened in 1882 and closed in 1955, however goods trains continued to run until 1974 between Bradford Exchange and Horton Park Station....
to Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
and Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
. Following the closure of that railway in 1955 and the demolition of North Bridge Station in 1960 Dean Clough relies on road transport on the A58, A629, A6036 and A646 roads. These roads are linked by the Burdock Way road system which was carved through Halifax in the early 1970s with high curving flyovers overlooking the mills.
Redevelopment
A private consortium chaired by Sir Ernest Hall bought the site in 1983 and opted to develop flexibly rather than to enmesh themselves in grant aided regeneration schemes. The large sheds on the south western part of the site were demolished to open it up and provide car parking space. A Travelodge and an NHS facility now use buildings at the western end. The refurbishment of G Mill has been ongoing over twenty years, working floor by floor. Stone facades have been cleaned of the industrial blackening which affected all of the area's older buildings and exterior changes have been kept to a minimum, while interiors have been adapted to new uses. This has sometimes involved removing floors and cast iron pillars and installing lifts.The mills now provide office space for some 150 companies, art galleries, restaurants and the viaduct theatre where the Northern Broadsides theatre company is based.