Mills in Skipton

High Corn Mill (or the Soke-Mill), on Chapel Hill, Skipton, was used to mill corn as early as 1310. Tenants within Skipton were not allowed to buy their corn from elsewhere, and were forced to pay a toll. This only stopped in the 19th century.

High Mill

The first industrial Mill built in Skipton was High Mill, in 1785. Built at the entrance to Skipton Woods, it was a cotton spinning mill powered by water. In 1825 an annex was added with steam power.

High Mill was built by Peter Garforth, John Blackburn and James B Sidgwick. By all accounts Mr Sidgwick was very much in favour of corporal punishment being applied in his premises whenever necessary.

High Mill was abandoned when the lease fell in and could not be re-negotiated.

Belle Vue Mills

Built 1828 by John Dewhurst, Belle Vue Mills on Broughton Road in Skipton was built and opened as a spinning and weaving mill, but burned down two years later, and was imediately rebuilt, this time as a cotton mill. Don't know how many looms there were to start with, but in 1852 an extension was added to allow another 385 looms to be housed. In 1870 a further extension was added. In 1882 Dewhurt's had a floor area of 20,000 square yards spread over 5 storeys, and employed over 800 workers. In 1886 electric lighting was installed.

The Belle Vue Mills did spinning, weaving, making of sewing cotton (Sylko) and dyeing.

Belle Vue Mill is now the home of Kingsley Cards.

Low Mill / Sackville Mill

Built in 1839 by John Benson Sidgwick for weft spinning and weaving, on Sackville Street, Skipton. It became known as the Silk Mill after it's sale in 1892 to Rickards of Airton, who used it in silk making. The mill burned down to the ground in 1908, resulting in the loss of 300 jobs in the town. A new mill called Sackville Mill was erected on the same site, and later became occupied by Yorkshire Water Authority.

Firth Shed

Built 1877, by Samuel Farey, housing 300 looms. Extended in 1906 to add another 200 looms. Manufactured dyed cotton goods and winceys. Farey didn't make it through the slump of the twenties, and sold up to Nutter Ltd of Nelson. Weaving stopped in 1970, and Firth Shed now houses Merrit and Fryers, the builders merchants and timber yard.

Victoria Mill

International Textile Co Ltd. Now an apartment building.

Park Shed / Wilkinsons Mill

Built 1889 by Thomas Wilkinson, and often known as Wilkinsons Mill. Wilkinsons Mill is uncommon in that it is the only mill in Skipton not to be built right next to the canal. Sited on the corner of Shortbank road and Brougham Street.

Park Shed is now home to Castle Acoustics, the hi-fi speaker manufacturer.

Union Mill

Cotton weaving mill, built 1867 by Skipton Land and Building Company, run by Skipton Mill Co Ltd., designed by J Whitehead of Nelson. 800 looms manufacturing winceys, stripes and checks. Steam powered, one storey shed with attached warehouse. Extension added 1872, dyehouse added 1875.

Union Mill is now a housing development.

Broughton Road Mill

Built 1897 by the Skipton Room and Power Co Ltd. Burned down (levelled) 1958.

Alexandra Mill

On Keighley Road, Skipton, built 1887 by George Walton, with a weaving shed holding 500 looms, manufacturing dress goods, skirtings and shirtings. Later taken over by Walton Hainsworth and Co.

Most of the information on this page was taken from R. Geoffrey Rowley - The Book of Skipton 1983, Barracuda books Ltd - ISBN 0860231771.

If you are looking to research this stuff, Rowley often quotes from WH Dawson - History of Skipton (1882)

There's also some stuff in Yorkshire Textile Mills 1770-1930 ISBN 0113000383.

If you are a local historian and have any information to add to this page, or to this Skipton history section in general, please e-mail us.