Grade II
Pagefield Building of Wigan College of Technology (Gidlow Mill)
Bridgeman Terrace, Wigan
Description
The Building
Built in 1865 at a reputed cost of £150,000, the design was reproduced in the USA.
Originally, Gidlow Mill, located to the north of Mesnes Park, was built in 1865 to designs by George Woodhouse for John Rylands and served as the centre of his extensive business. It replaced an earlier mill. The complex includes the spinning mill, weaving sheds, engine house, and chimney.
The mill is built of red brick, featuring details in blue and white brick, which was unusual for its time. Its roof has multiple ridges clad in Welsh slate. The floors were supported by cast iron columns. The mill was constructed to be fireproof. Cotton was delivered to the upper levels of the spinning mill and progressed downwards, in contrast to other mills.
People
John Rylands passed away at his home, Longford Hall, on 11 December 1888, at the age of 87. He was survived by his third wife, Enriqueta, who inherited the majority of his estate, valued at £2,574,922, which was greater than that left by any other cotton manufacturer of the era.
Rylands's widow established a lasting memorial for her husband in the John Rylands Library in Manchester. In 1901, Mrs Rylands paid £155,000 for over 6,000 manuscripts belonging to James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford of Haigh Hall.
Notes
October 2016. The building has been vandalised and is in a very poor state, negotiations between Wigan Council and the owners are currently taking place to establish a long term solution.
Wigan Building Preservation Trust Video Link
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For more information:
Gidlow Mill - Excellent document with a comprehensive history with lots of images.
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In 1865, the Earl of Derby, travelling north by train through Wigan, praised the Mill :-
"a new mill of vast extent ...not as usual an eyesore but a pleasure to the eye to rest on, so well has architectural effect has been studied in its construction".
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Enriqueta Augustus Rylands (1843-1908)
The Life of John Rylands 3rd wife - responsible for the John Rylands Library in memory of her husband. Link
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Images of the Dereliction Link
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A Historic Building Appraisal and Impact Statement was produced as part of a planning application in 2008.
Link
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See Also
Unlisted
