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Spinning
is the act of twisting fibres into thread or yarn. Early mechanisation
was on an entirely domestic scale and had no influence on the form of
buildings. Spinning however is a slow laborious business and it needed
4 to 5 spinsters to keep a weaver supplied with yarn, therefore it was
the first part of textile processing to head towards mass production.
The first attempted mechanisation of spinning and yarn preparation was
by the Lombe brothers at their silk mill in Derby in 1717 a building
which is now considered to be the first factory.
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Multiple spinning machines were developed, with Arkwrights waterframe in 1768 and later Crompton's spinning mule in 1779, taking the work out of the home into the factory. These machines were powered originally by water (hence Arkwrights water frame), shortly afterwards by steam engines. At this time the need for good natural light was very important. Spinning mills were therefore tall and narrow composed of repeated regular spaces with access to good natural light and a power source. Old Lane Mill is a good example of an early steam powered spinning mill. |
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This huge three storey beam engine house which stands below the spinning mill at Bowling Dyke Mill gives some idea of the power needed for spinning machinery. The adjacent boilerhouse appears to have housed five boilers. |
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A major problem with all mill buildings of the late 18th century was their susceptibility to fire. The introduction of cast iron helped this as iron beams spanning between the columns replaced wooden joists and timber floors were replace by brick arches and flagstone floors. This also allowed the construction of bigger mills to house bigger an more powerful machinery. It is interesting to note though that the introduction of "fireproof" construction did not totally displace more traditional timber flooring until the 1860s. |
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Black Dyke Mill, Queensbury |
