Description and History of Site:-
The site originally comprised a large single storey weaving shed, supported along one side by the railway station retaining wall, a four storey warehouse alongside the Hebble Brook (SE 09800 24878) a second, Italianate style warehouse, at the southern end of the site near to Lilly Mill dam (SE 09774 24795), and a small dye house occupying the site of the former entrance to the baths (SE 09756 24773). The whole site has been cleared and landscaped, a new footpath being created alongside the foot of the railway retaining wall. The only surviving remains are two stone vats which may have been used in the dye house; these have been retained as decorative planters. The land on which Albion Mill was built was formerly occupied by a late eighteenth century private subscription baths, which provided both outdoor and indoor bathing facilities together with a bowling green, quoits ground and extensive pleasure gardens. The extension of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway line northwards from Shaw Syke, not only changed the physical surroundings of the baths, but also severed their spring water supply and brought about their closure. The site was purchased by Robert Crossley, second son of John Crossley, founder of Dean Clough carpet factory, who erected his own carpet weaving shed on part of the site in 1854. A four-storey warehouse followed in 1859. A decade later Robert Crossley retired from business owing to declining health, and the concern was absorbed into that at Dean Clough. A further warehouse was added in 1870 as well as a small dye works at the bottom of the site near Lilly Lane Bridge. Albion Mills and the Dean Clough factories were the first two mills in Halifax to be lit by electricity, supplied from Central Works (WYK00764). In 1883, part of the premises were let to Blackburn Smith and Co. who were engaged in the cotton trade, whilst the remainder continued to be used by John Crossley & Sons Ltd. until 1899, latterly operating under the style of J.W. & C. Ward, manufacturers of tapestries, damasks, reps of silk, wool and cotton and other furnishing fabrics. In 1899, the premises were purchased by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, whereupon J.W. & C. Ward re-located to Brunswick Mills, Wellington Street. During 1909, John Mackintosh & Sons Ltd. toffee manufacturers took on the tenancy of Albion Mills. Mackintosh's business at this time relied heavily on the railways for distribution of its products, and as the company expanded its factory eventually grew to occupy the whole of the valley bottom adjacent to Albion Mill; eventually the company purchased the mill from the railway company in 1965. Changes in production methods led to the demolition of Albion Mill in the 1990s. A display of artefacts relating to the Mackintosh concern, including a toffee boiling pan and sweet wrapping machine are on display at the Calderdale Industrial Museum (WYK00163).

Further Reading and References:-
P. W. Robinson, 'Lilly Lane Baths and Albion Mill', Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society, 1991, pp. 61-95.

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Key Words :- subscription baths textiles wool carpet weaving cotton silk toffee manufacture

Viewing the Site :- The site can be examined from either of two footpaths connecting Waterside or Lilly Lane and Bailey Hall Road, which effectively ring the site.

Address :- Navigation Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1QU
Grid Ref :- SE 09771 24879
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.720231 , Long -1.853411
Local Authority :- Calderdale Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site cleared - no above ground remains visible
Site Dates :- 1854 - 1990s
Record Date :- 19 April 2017

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Peter Robinson