Description and History of Site:-
Built, originally in the early part of the C19th, by a Mr Robert Ackroyd, Field Head Mill was acquired by Robert Smith in 1858. Robert Smith died in 1870 leaving the firm to his sons Isaac, Benjamin and Henry. Around that time considerable extensions to the mill were completed. Further extension was undertaking by Isaac Smith in 1878 resulting in Field Head becoming one of the largest mills in the area.

By 1893, 'The Century's Progress' were able to report that: "The machinery alone occupies some 21,283 square yards superficial, requiring a pair of engines of one thousand indicated horse power, and three smaller ones as motors. Over forty thousand spindles are kept in constant use to manipulate forty-eight thousand pounds of tops per week."

It was further reported that there were some 1,200 skilled operatives and that 1.5 million sheep were required to supply wool processed at the mill.

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Key Words :- textile mill woolcombing worsted spinning

Address :- Thornton Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD8 8JZ
Grid Ref :- SE 1514 3330
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.795791 , Long -1.771641
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- c 1850 -
Record Date :- 12 July 2019

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