SD9105 : Anchor Mill
taken 14 years ago, near to Oldham, England
One of the older mills in the area and one of the few to have listed building status, Listed Grade II. The following is taken from the English Heritage listing:
"Cotton spinning mill. 1881. By J.Stott, for the Anchor
Spinning Company. Iron framed and brick construction, with
brick arched fireproof ceilings. Welsh slate over timber roof, comprising 5 longitudinal aisles. Steam powered, with internal engine house and upright shaft transmission.
5-storey main block with projecting stair tower and office
range. Main block of 18 bays by 6 bays, lit from each side by segmentally arched windows with stone sills (some now blocked in rear elevations).
Two rows of original taking-in doors in west elevation, inserted doors to north. Corners stressed with pilasters with narrow full-height recessed panels and moulded stone cornices.
Integral engine house in north-west corner, with round arched window partially blocked but retaining original ornate glazing. 4 semi-circular windows to north. External boiler house adjacent to the engine house to the north, modified with addition of upper storey. Original chimney also to north, probably lowered in height, but retaining lettering and anchor motif in white brick.
Major internal division separating preparation and spinning
areas corresponds externally with position of stair and
sprinkler tower projecting to south, with angle pilasters with recessed full-height panels and tall windows with round arched stone heads in the upper storey.
Office block in south-west angle with tower: 5 round-arched
windows and doorway in angle with tower. Upper storey a C20
addition. Additional single-storeyed range to east of main
block probably original.
Internal construction of cast-iron columns supporting
longitudinal and transverse primary beams. Two transverse
brick arches sprung between secondary beams in each bay."
The chimney unusually carries the date rather than the name, but displays an anchor to represent the latter. The mill has been recently refurbished and houses various community facilities as well as retail and business activity.
Listed buildings and structures are officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance. There are over half a million listed structures in the United Kingdom, covered by around 375,000 listings.
Listed status is more commonly associated with buildings or groups of buildings, however it can cover many other structures, including bridges, headstones, steps, ponds, monuments, walls, phone boxes, wrecks, parks, and heritage sites, and in more recent times a road crossing (Abbey Road) and graffiti art (Banksy 'Spy-booth') have been included.
In England and Wales there are three main listing designations;
Grade I (2.5%) - exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.
Grade II* (5.5%) - particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II (92%) - nationally important and of special interest.
There are also locally listed structures (at the discretion of local authorities) using A, B and C designations.
In Scotland three classifications are also used but the criteria are different. There are around 47,500 Listed buildings.
Category A (8%)- generally equivalent to Grade I and II* in England and Wales
Category B (51%)- this appears generally to cover the ground of Grade II, recognising national importance.
Category C (41%)- buildings of local importance, probably with some overlap with English Grade II.
In Northern Ireland the criteria are similar to Scotland, but the classifications are:
Grade A (2.3%)
Grade B+ (4.7%)
Grade B (93%)
Read more at Wikipedia Link