Description and History of Site:-
Originally built as a cotton mill of three storeys by Turner and Bower in 1865, raised by two further storeys in 1867. Steam beam engine installed. Mill destroyed by fire in 1877 and cotton machinery sold off. Rebuilt as worsted mill by John Sykes by 1882 when electric lighting was installed. By 1912, Jos. Sykes and Co, Ltd, part of 'Huddersfield Fine Worsted's were running 8,000 spindles and 230 looms. Rock Mills finally closed in 1969 and the buildings demolished in 1975. Site now redeveloped and in mixed commercial and industrial uses.

The twin compound rotative beam engines, of the type patented by William McNaught in 1845 were capable of developing between them 600 horse power. The engines survived the fire of 1877 and continued to power the new mill from 1880 until just before the mill's closure. The original maker is unknown, but the engine was rebuilt by Schofield & Taylor of Huddersfield in 1901, when the pressure was increased from 60 psi, and speed increased from 40 rpm, and direction of rotation was reversed due to change to rope drive. The engine worked until 1966, and was being broken up when seen in 1969. (Peter Ellis).

Further Reading and References:-
http://colnevalley.blogspot.com/2014/04/rock-mills-brockholes.html
http://jalbum.net/en/browse/user/album/799870

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Key Words :- cotton worsted textile mill beam engine

Address :- New Mill Road, Brockholes, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 7AB
Grid Ref :- SE 1513 1081
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.593651 , Long -1.772882
Local Authority :- Kirklees Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1865 - 1969
Record Date :- 1 July 2019

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson