Spotland Mill

This cotton-weaving mill was started 1855 by Samuel Turner. He and his three sons, John, Samuel II and Robert traded as Turner Bros and diversified into the manufacture of cotton packings for valves and glands. In 1879 they started spinning and weaving asbestos which by then was being imported from Canada and proved a better material for packings. By 1900 they were making asbestos yarns, cloth, and hair belting as well as packings. In 1920 they formed a new copmany Turner & Newall with the Washington Chemical Co. in County Durham, Newall's Insulation Co. and J. W. Roberts of Leeds. In 1925 they acquired Ferodo of Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, manufacturers of brake linings. At one time this was the largest asbestos factory in the world, equipped with modern asbestos carding, spinning and doubling machines and looms, plaiting machines.

Subsequent legislation against asbestos due to its disastrous effect on health of workers and anyone coming into contact with its fibres has seen the industry collapse and the lodging of massive compensation claims. Large sections of the mill have been demolished although some parts remain in other industrial use.