Description and History of Site:-
The surviving Abbey Mills site was originally part of a much larger complex that included buildings on what is now the adjacent retail park. Located on the mill goit, near Kirkstall Bridge, just down from the Abbey. Currently (2018), part of a development initiative by Leeds City Council, owners of the site. Set up by the monks in the 16th century as a fulling mill, and later part of the estates of the Graham family. By 1738 there were 6 fulling stocks and 2 pairs of stones for grinding corn, all water-powered. Some time in the 18th century the function of scribbling was added. Burnt down in 1796 they were immediately rebuilt, and production of milled cloth reached 11,140 pieces in 1797, the mills being tenanted by Obadiah Willans, a prominent Kirkstall clothier. The corn mill was occupied by Snowden and Rhodes.

There was a 60 h.p. steam engine installed by 1829 as well as the water wheel which was also capable of yielding 60 h.p. Willans had 120 looms in the weaving rooms over a block of four cottages. Production had continued despite a fire in December, 1827, which caused £12,000 worth of damage. The corn mill retained its priority over the water supply, but was much smaller. By 1833 Willans had 513 workers and had installed Richard Morley, from Nottingham, as manager.

The corn mills were tenanted by Isaac and Ephraim Elsworth from the early 1820's onwards, and they added scribbling and later worsted spinning to their business. When Willans left for Britannia Mills in 1836, E. Elsworth took over the whole of the mills for worsted spinning, and then the corn mill was let to Brady and Rowntree. Their lease expired 1850.

About 1845 Elsworth gave way to A. Webster, woollen manufacturer, who had 265 hands in 1861. In 1888 J.Bradley & Son took the mills over for the manufacture of cloth, paying £2,000 p.a. rent in 1900. They were eventually allowed to buy the mills in 1919.

Further Reading and References:-
Ward M F, Industrial development and Location in Leeds North of the River Aire, 1775 to 1914. Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD, Department of Geography, University of Leeds, September 1972

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 :- corn mill textile mill fulling mill water powered steam powered

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public highway

Address :- Kirkstall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS5 3HP
Grid Ref :- SE 26226 35710
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.817014 , Long -1.603143
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1256706,
Site Condition :- Site disused - but otherwise substantially intact
Site Dates :- C16 -
Record Date :- 14 December 2017

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter