Description and History of Site:-
An early water-powered cotton mill built in 1791 on the site of a paper mill of 1770, and converted to flax spinning in 1811. In 1793 the mill's spinning machinery consisted of 26 spinning frames with 1,408 spindles between them. Built by John and Charles Lomas on the site of their paper mill with two other partners, John and Leonard Green. A fifth partner was Robert Thornton from Airton Mill who was brought in as an expert on spinning cotton. Water for the wheel was taken from the River Nidd. The Greens left the partnership after two years and the mill was for sale. The mill was then sold to Curtis, Driffield, Oliver, Dearlove & Co.

Castle Mills was converted to flax spinning for linen in 1811 and Walton and Company leased it in 1847 for yarn spinning and power loom weaving, which took place in other buildings on the site. A steam engine was installed c1847.

Linen production ceased in 1972 and Walton left the site in 1984. Castle Mill was developed and extended over the years.

The surviving buildings form an extensive complex of early industrial buildings in brick and stone pantile slab and stone. Long range of 10 bays of two builds, stone on the ground and first floor, brick 2nd floor. Another block of 7 bays in brick with hipped roof. Small paned windows. Large elaborate weir of stone and timber construction. Later weir added at slightly different angle.

Five buildings on the site are listed, all Grade II: Castle Mill, building to north 1149864; Castle Mill weaving shed 1149865; Castle Mill, central building at right angle to road 1191203; Name: Castle Mill central range parallel to and set back from road 1315621; Castle Mill wheelhouse block on river edge 1293434

Further Reading and References:-
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MNY23801&resourceID=1009
YAHS - Hatcher Card Index. Research funded by the Yorkshire Arts Association 1972.
Hatcher, J. The Industrial Architecture of Yorkshire. Phillimore, 1985.
Ingle, G. Yorkshire cotton: the Yorkshire Cotton Industry, 1780-1835. Carnegie, 1997.
Leach, P and Pevsner, N. Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North. The buildings of England,
Yale, 2009
Giles, C and Goodall I H. Yorkshire Textile Mills: The Buildings of the Yorkshire Textile Industry 1770-1930. HMSO, 1992.
Jennings, B (ed). A History of Harrogate and Knaresborough, written by the Harrogate W.E.A Local History Group. Huddersfield: Advertiser Press, 1970.

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Key Words :- paper mill textile mill water steam cotton flax linen weaving

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public road or footpath

Address :- Waterside, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8DE
Grid Ref :- SE 34761 56813
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.006177 , Long -1.471123
Local Authority :- Harrogate Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1149864, 1149865, 1191203, 1315621, 1293434,
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to residential housing
Site Dates :- 1770 -
Record Date :- 16 May 2015

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