Royal York Mill, Leek, Staffs.

One from the archive recently released for public consumption

History

One of the textile mills of Brough Nicholson & Hall. York Mill on Ashbourne Road, constructed in 1898 and named to commemorate a visit to Leek by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1900.

The business was founded by John Brough, a silk manufacturer in about 1812. After his early efforts, his sons, Joshua, James and John took over the mantle. The brothers had a factory built on Union Street in 1844 and later took on partners, Joshua Nicholson and B.B. Nixon to became J. and J. Brough, Nicholson & Co. in 1863. 

Soon after a warehouse was built on Cross Street in about 1865, close to Hope Mill on Fountain Street. In less than ten years this mill had been acquired and extended to twice its original size. The partnership was employing 630 workers in 1891. 

Following a series of changes in the partnership due to deaths and retirements, the firm became Brough, Nicholson & Hall in 1891. The partners soon embarked on a new scheme of development involving the extension of the Cross Street building, and the building of a new mill on Well Street (known from 1900 as Royal York Mill). Around this time the firm also took over the Cecily Mills in Cheadle. 

In 1968 many of the firms' buildings were demolished, and in 1983 Brough, Nicholson & Hall sold their only remaining premises, Cross Street Mill, to Berisfords, the Congleton ribbon firm.

Source:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/york-silk-mill-leek-jan-20.125735/

Esoteric Eric

R.A.F. Lindholme Control Tower, Doncaster, S. Yorks

One from the archive recently released for public consumption

History

RAF Lindholme is a former Royal Air Force station located in South Yorkshire. It opened in June 1940 as RAF Hatfield Woodhouse and was primarily used by Bomber Command during World War II. Post-war, the station transitioned into a radar station and then later In the 1960s and 70s, Lindholme briefly served as a gliding centre.

By 1985, the site was converted into a prison and many of the original buildings were converted into prison accommodation, offices and workshops. The Officers’ Mess building was originally used as a Category D prison wing and was later converted into an Immigration Removal Centre. Presently, the prison serves as a Category C site for male prisoners only.

Source:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/raf-lindholme-control-tower-south-yorkshire-december-2024.139157/

Esoteric Eric

North Midlands Regional Seat of Government - Region 3 War Room Bunker, Nottingham

One from the archive recently released for public consumption

History

Nottingham’s War Room was built during the early 1950’s to the standard design, consisting of two levels, one below ground and one above with the main control room spanning both levels. The network of 13 Regional War Rooms was quickly redundant being replaced in the early 1960’s by the Regional Seats of Government (RSG). Most of the war rooms did not fit into this scheme and were put to other uses, three however were retained and enlarged, those at Kirknewton and Cambridge were extend by adding another larger block at one end of the building.

That at Nottingham was enlarged in a bizarre manner as there was insufficient land available on the tightly packed government estate for a large extension on one end, a three-level extension was built with two short storeys (the lower slightly sunken below ground) butting on to the southern end of the war room and a longer third storey across the top of the new extension and the existing war room. This floor was cantilevered, jutting out at one end and the two sides. This overlapping floor is supported along the sides on concrete stilts and the two side stairwells and at the northern end by an emergency staircase from the top floor directly down to ground level. This stairway has been added onto the outside of the north face of the war room.

The building was re-designated RSG3 and remained in use until 1965 when the RSG network was abolished. It was probably used as an SRHQ until 1969 (telephone directories found date from that year). It’s unclear why it did not continue as the East Midlands SRHQ or SRC, as no replacement site was found until Loughborough in 1984. Skendleby became a subordinate SRC to Nottingham about 1966. There is some evidence that it may have been an RSG until 1969 as there was an overlap in decision making in the mid 60’s, nobody seemed sure what to call Regional Controls although RSG’s and area /sub area controls were officially abolished in 1965. The issue of dates is further confused by a document in PRO about the use of Brancepeth Castle (Region 1) as a dispersal location for RSG staff in 1967.

Since 1969 it has been used by MAFF (now DEFRA), in part, for furniture storage although most of the rooms are now empty and unused. Mains water has been disconnected although the power is still on and most of the rooms are lit. The building has ben surrounded by a high fence as it contains asbestos and is considered a health hazard. The future of the building is unclear although following a survey by English Heritage in May 2002 it is now under consideration for listing.

Source:

https://www.subbrit.org.uk/sites/nottingham-regional-war-room-and-rsg/

Esoteric Eric

CWS Bank, Manchester

One from the archive recently released for public consumption

History

In 1872, the Co-operative Bank was established, initially as the CWS Loan and Deposit Department, registered as a separate wholly-owned subsidiary of CWS in 1971. By a couple of years later, CWS entered manufacturing and later became substantially involved in importing, ship owning and in many overseas ventures, including joint CWS/SCWS tea estates. This building dates back to 1928, comprising of a Grade II listed building of sandstone construction over six floors, that was the home to Co-operative businesses for over 100 years. Since closure, it has been used as different exhibition centres and art studios, and is now set to align with a modern development beside it.

Source:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/cws-bank-manchester-may-22.133387/

Esoteric Eric