Grade II listed Old Lane Mills in Halifax is to be auctioned off by Savills agents this week after years of decay and neglect.
A far cry from its beginnings in the 1820s, when seedy entrepreneur James Akroyd built one of the largest complexes in the neighborhood in a reputedly fireproof steam building.
It was the first to have stone floors to support the new trades it imported and even had a penny bank branch inside.
He then moved on to the Rawson banking family, whose clients included the Shibden Hall Listers and who appear in the BBC period drama Gentleman Jack. It was known as Rawson’s Mill during their tenure.
It was a dyeworks for a period before a fire in 1905 when occupied by Allen North & Company.
Read more
Read more
Interior designer and Instagram star Sally Worts has over 75,000 followers thanks to…
Historic England now cites it as the oldest and largest surviving example of a multi-storey – it has six stories – steam-powered, iron-framed textile mill in Halifax.
The mill, which is privately owned, has been abandoned and empty for decades, and the adjoining boiler room and chimney, also listed, are also in poor condition.
It is believed that two property development companies owned the mill in recent years and although planning permission was obtained for the conversion into 56 apartments, work never started.
Savills’ listing for sale reads: “An impressive historic Grade II* listed former mill arranged over a ground floor and five upper floors forming part of an almost rectangular shaped site.
“The mill is notable as the oldest and largest example of a multi-storey, steam-powered, iron-framed textile mill in the important textile center of Halifax. There is an old boiler room adjacent .
“The mill has potential for residential development as well as alternative uses such as office/commercial, care home etc, subject to required permissions
“Permission was granted by Calderdale Council in 2013 for the conversion of the mill and boiler room to form 56 accommodation. This permission has now lapsed.”
The auction takes place on June 14 at 9 a.m. and the mill is lot 112A.
