Manningham/Lister Mills, May 2011

[Nicola]

Long been on my list to do and finally managed it today - visited with Boxerheaven.


Lister's Mill (otherwise known as Manningham Mills) was the largest silk factory in the world. It is located in the Manningham district of Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK and was built by Samuel Cunliffe Lister to replace the original Manningham Mills that were destroyed by fire in 1871. The mill is a Grade II* listed building, built in the Italianate style of Victorian architecture.
At its height, Lister's employed 11,000 men, women and children - manufacturing high-quality textiles such as velvet and silk. It supplied 1,000 yards (910 m) of velvet for King George V's coronation and in 1976 new velvet curtains for the President Ford White House. The 1890-91 strike at the mill was important in the establishment of the Independent Labour Party which later helped found the modern-day Labour Party. On completion in 1873, Lister's Mill was the largest textile mill in North England. Floor space in the mill amounts to 27 acres (109,000 m²), and its imposing shape remains a dominant feature of the Bradford skyline. The chimney of the mill is 255 feet (78 m) high, and can be seen from just about anywhere in Bradford.
Powering all the machinery switched over to electricity in 1934. Before that huge steam boilers drove the mill. Every week the boilers consumed 1,000 tons of coal brought in on company rail wagons from the company collieries near Pontefract. Water was also vital in the process and the company had its own supply network including a large covered reservoir on-site (now in 2006 that area is a piazza and underground car park).
During World War II Lister's produced 1,330 miles (2,140 km) of real parachute silk, 284 miles (457 km) of flame-proof wool, 50 miles (80 km) of khaki battledress and 4,430 miles (7,130 km) of parachute cord. The Lister's business decreased considerably during the 1980s. Stiff foreign competition and changing textile trends such as increased use of artificial fibres were the reasons. In 1992 the mills were essentially abandoned.

It was bough by Urban Splash who converted part of the mill and turned them into luxury flats and offices. Due to the current economic climate the second phase of the building is currently on hold....

On with the pictures....

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/167.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/165.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/162.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/155.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/152.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/141.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/135.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/130.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/124.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/116.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/108.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/106.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/096.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/051.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/049.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/047.jpg

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/017.jpg

And was even lucky enough to find these!

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc499/Nicolaiona/Lister/1742.jpg

Thanks for having a wee ganders! :thumb

[jST]

Nicely done, B&W suits this place down to the ground.

[MJS]

Ace Nic!! Didn't realise there was still stuff to do here

[Nicola]

There is still plenty to do - I'm going again if you fancy it? I never took my tripod so need to revisit a few rooms....DOH!

[blueink]

very very nice nicola absolutly love this set :)

[Clough]

Totally wicked boss!

[Mutilated_Pixie]

I thought this place was fully converted If you do a revisit would you please give me a heads up, I wouldn't mind having a nose around here.

[MJS]

Anytime after Thursday when I hand my work in, let's av it :D

[Canonite]

Nice work, sorry I couldn't make it (now back home). I too thought the redevelopment was much more advanced than this. If you're heading back let me know.

[SilentHill]

Excellent Nicola. That roof collapse shot is pure win :thumb Wouldn't mind a mooch in here.

[ROYALBOB]

Loving the b&w's here, top notch!

[BB]

Belting pics Nic!!! :thumb

[boxerheaven]

great pics nic was a good day :)

[The Littlest Jellyfish]

Top job, Nicklr!

[scrappy]

great report there Nicola, really have to head over this way again soon! :)

[hiddenshadow]

That does indeed look good, nice work.

[converse1]

Top drawer me dear! I've had an eye on this for years (that's as far as it got unfortunately!) well done. :thumb

[captain cave man]

well nice pic's I could go to town in this place.....bet there's more to come from this place....cheers for posting.

[Nicola]

Cheers everyone :thumb

[chauffeur]

Oh wow! this has made me want to jump in the car now! really nice set of images there. Planning a visit as i type.

[JEP27]

Wow! Beautiful pics, gorgeous building :thumb

[Rochester]

You know this is sweet girl... You are making some good moves.

[nelly]

That's great, that sunlight shot, the one before the last is just quality :)

[yorkietommo]

Cool place. Another one on the list.

Nice pics. :thumb