Weaving by steam

Queen Street Mill at Harle Syke, Burnley, was built in 1894 for the Queen Street Manufacturing Company for weaving plain cotton fabric. The business saw little modernisation up to closure in 1982 since when the mill has been run as a museum, still operated by the 500 hp steam engine. The weaving shed once housed nearly 1,000 Lancashire looms and even today there are 300 looms. When running the noise is deafening. Sadly Lancashire County Council have announced closure of the museum and there is little future for the looms and engine which will surely be subject to the depredations of scrap thieves and vandals.