Crumbling brick walls. That’s the first thing you notice about India United Mills no 1. This imposing structure stands as a silent testament to Mumbai’s industrial past. India United Mills no 1 isn’t just a building. It’s a piece of history. It’s a story etched in stone and rust.
India United Mills no 1 was once the largest textile factory in the city. Part of the vast Sassoon empire it played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s transformation into the “Manchester of the East”. The mills were known for their advanced technology and high output. They employed thousands. They supplied cloth across India and beyond.
This wasn’t just any mill. It started life as Alexandra Spinning and Weaving Mills in 1869. Jamshedji Tata an entrepreneurial giant himself played a part in its early life. Tata bought and expanded the site installing imported machinery. He named it for the Princess of Wales. The Alexandra Mills name only lasted a few years. It was later acquired by Elias David Sassoon. The Sassoon family built the Alexandra Mills into a giant. They took the mill to new heights of technological innovation. Their empire expanded as they acquired more mills. They rebranded them all as United Mills. The name change reflected the growing industrial power.
Sir Victor Sassoon took over in the 1920s. He modernized and expanded the mills significantly. He even fully electrified the mills replacing steam power. He took the company public. By World War II India United Mills no 1 was the city’s biggest private employer. It produced an incredible amount of cloth daily.
After World War II the fortunes of India United Mills no 1 changed. The company was eventually nationalized. It struggled for years. Production ceased. Today the mill stands mostly empty. It is slowly crumbling. A majestic relic of a bygone era. Its silent presence reminds us of Mumbai’s incredible past. India United Mills no 1 continues its silent watch over Lalbaug.