Were you aware that the Royal Mill wasn’t always called that? Today, we’re standing before the impressive Royal Mills Buildings. This structure has a rich history deeply intertwined with Manchester’s industrial past.
The Royal Mill, located at the corner of Redhill Street and Henry Street in Ancoats, is a relic of the early 20th century. It represents one of the last internationally significant cotton-spinning mills in East Manchester.
Originally known as New Old Mill, construction finished in 1912. The name changed after a visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1942. A plaque commemorates this royal occasion.
Ancoats was the place for mills. They collectively represent the best surviving examples of early large-scale factories in one area. Redhill Street was home to two large spinning companies A&G Murray Ltd and McConnells. The waters of the Shooters Brook once powered waterwheels nearby. The Rochdale Canal runs alongside the street, providing water for the steam engines.
McConnells joined Fine Spinners and Doublers Association Ltd in 1898. Around 1910, the company invested in rebuilding mills and experimenting with electricity.
Architect H. S. Porter designed the New Old Mill in the Edwardian Baroque style. Accrington brick and terracotta were used. The building has cast iron columns, transverse steel beams and reinforced concrete floors. Initially planned as five stories, it eventually rose to six. Electrical group-driven machines were powered by the corporation. A new substation was built in 1915.
Since November 11, 1988, the Royal Mill has been a Grade II* listed building. It along with Paragon Mill, is a six-storey building designed for electrically-powered mules.
After years of neglect, a restoration scheme began in 2003. It cost £65 million. The building was converted into flats, offices and shops. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors gave the work an award in 2007. By 2008, people began occupying the building. Some original features were kept, including the exposed brickwork and mill machinery.
The Manchester Royal Exchange was at the heart of the Lancashire cotton industry. Raw cotton was traded in Liverpool. Spun yarn and woven fabrics were traded in Manchester. These cotton goods were exported across the world.
In the 1700s, such goods were sold to countries in Africa. This was part of the triangular slave trade. Enslaved Africans grew and harvested the cotton. It was then carried back across the Atlantic to supply Lancashire’s mills.
Adam and George Murray opened Murray’s Mills in Ancoats in 1798. They are the oldest surviving mill buildings in Manchester. At the end of the 18th century, James McConnel and John Kennedy opened what are now known as Royal Mills. This was next to Murray’s Mills on Redhill Street in Ancoats.
In 1797, they installed the world’s first steam-powered cotton spinning mule. They soon overtook nearby Murray’s as the biggest cotton-spinning firm in the area. By 1835, they employed 1,500 workers.
Royal Mill stands as a testament to Manchester’s industrial heritage. It shows how the city shaped the world’s cotton industry. The Royal Mills Buildings have transformed but it still echoes the stories of innovation. It also reminds us of the workers who powered Manchester’s rise.