Dating back to 1772
The Saddleworth woollen industry experienced rapid growth from the mid 1700's, with new purpose-built mills being commissioned to replace traditional domestic production. Brownhill Bridge Mill is thought to be one of the earliest mills in the area to survive from this era.
In July of 1772, Lord of the manor James Farrer granted permission for 3 businessmen to build the mill site. It predominantly operated in its early days as a scribbling mill, preparing raw fibres for the spinning process.
In 1790 the mill was acquired by John and Robert Winterbottom who leased it to various tenants. The use of the mill had diversified into cotton spinning by this point, all powered by water likely from Diggle Brook.
New owners in the 1800's
By the 1840's the mill appears to have been owned by a Benjamin Wrigley - a cotton spinner and merchant. However, some 3 years later he went bankrupt and the site was acquired by Ammon Platt, a cloth finisher who also worked at Court Mill, Diggle.
By the late 1870's the mill became the shawl manufactory of D Cooke. By the late 1880's, however, the building had become a tannery, as identified on an 1889 Ordinance Survey map.
The building was occupied around this time by tanner James Young, who was declared bankrupt in 1898 due to losses connected with a loan taken for improvements to machinery.
All change in 20th Century
Following the failure of Young's business, the mill was used until the 1940's for processing woollen waste. Various outbuildings, extensions and alterations were made during the early-mid 20th century.
A shed, now gone, was built to the front in 1910, and a ramp to the front door was later added. In the 1920's gas was added replacing the water wheel.
By the 1970's the mill had ceased to be used for textiles and had become a fibreglass works, with the original 1700's portion of the building converted into a house. Today, the mill hasn't been used for over a decade and so is ready for a new lease of life!
