Description and History of Site:-
High Mill was on the north bank of the River Wenning, which provided the power supply. During the c200 years of operation it developed into a significant building in the town. The site has been redeveloped for housing. High Bentham Mill was established as a corn water mill in the 1750s, becoming a cotton mill in the 1790s. The mill worked in tandem with Low Bentham Mill, to the west, also on the River Wenning. Spinning was undertaken at High Mill, weaving mostly at Low Mill. The mills later switched to flax spinning and weaving and a bleach works for linen bleaching was built at High Mill. The 25" OS map of 1893 describes it as a hemp mill.

An advertisement in the Leeds Mercury of February 8th 1845 offered: "To be SOLD or LET by PRIVATE TREATY,
all that extensive and valuable FLAX and TOW MILL, situate at Upper Bentham, in the West Riding of the County of York, with the Water Power, Steam-Engine, Boilers, and Gearing, and with or without the Machinery, at present in good Working Order Within the Mill. Also the several capital Warehouses, Counting-Houses, Heckling Shops, Mechanics' Shops, and Calender Shops, Gas Works, Stables, Cart Houses, and all the other Offices and Appurtenances with which the Property is amply provided. And also 77 excellent DWELLING-HOUSES, suitable for the Occupation of Persons employed in Factory Labour; and, if required, several Closes of rich Meadow and Pasture Land. The whole is at present in the Occupation of the Owners, Messrs. HORNBY and ROUGHSEDGE, of Bentham aforesaid, to whom Applications for further Particulars may he addressed."

In 1904 George Angus & Co bought High Mill producing firstly cotton (the 25" OS map of 1907 notes "cotton"), later switching to artificial silk. High Mill closed in the 1970s, the site was subsequently demolished and housing built there. In 1908 Angus built new premises to the north of High Mill and adjacent to the station, described on the 1909 OS map as Bentham Hose & Belting Works. Angus developed the production of fire-hoses, becoming one of the world's leading producers. Angus Fire continue (2017) to produce fire-hoses and other equipment at Bentham.

Further Reading and References:-
Leeds Mercury 8th February, 1845.
Leeds Mercury 26th January, 1850.
Ingle, G. Yorkshire cotton: Yorkshire's cotton industry, 1780-1835. Carnegie, 1997.
Hudson, P. Take a closer look at Wennington mills. 2000. (Booklet with full information and maps).
Mills of Bentham http://stonecarve.com/heritage/Mills.html

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- water textile mill cotton flax linen silk spinning fire hoses

Address :- Millholme Drive / Wenning Avenue, Bentham, North Yorkshire, LA2 7NE
Grid Ref :- SD 66628 68760
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.113623 , Long -2.511984
Local Authority :- Craven District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to residential housing
Site Dates :- 1795 -
Record Date :- 23 June 2017

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © George Ingle