Irk Mill, Manchester
in Manchester
1844 Advertisement: 'Important to Cotton Spinners, Power-loom Manufacturers, &c—Extensive Sale of exceedingly Valuable Machinery for spinning and manufacturing by power; Capital Mechanics’ and Smiths' Tools; various stores, &c., &c.; at the Irk Mills, situate Long Millgate, Manchester.
'By Mr. W. SHAW, without reserve, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 15th, 16th and 17th days of May, 1844, at the Mills, situate as above :
'THE Entire of the Extensive and very Valuable MACHINERY, &c, for Spinning and Manufacturing by power; the whole in the best possible working condition, nearly new, and of the most modern and approved make, comprising four very superior double scutchers, nearly new, with lapping-up motion, &c. on the newest principle, by Crighton; and one single do. or opener do.; 19 single carding engines, with 40-in. patent cylinders, Crighton, in iron sides; do. 40-in. cylinders do. Hewes and Wren, all fitted up with patent plunge motions; six Jenkinson and Bow: two do. six single heads each, Hewes and Wren; eight nearly now, Dyers' roving frames, 16 tubes each; four do. 24 do; three slubbing frames, 48 spindles each, 9-inch lift; and seven roving frames, 48 spindles each, 7-inch lift, by Hewes and Wren; 21 throstles, 192 spindles each. 2-inch lift, by Hewes and Wren; 22 nearly new do, on the newest and best principle, 2-inch lift, by Hetherington and Co.; most excellent and nearly new mules, with from 360 to 560 spindles each, with Sharp, Roberts, and Co's self-actors, 50 bobbin and cop reels; three winding engines, 76 spindles each; three beaming frames, five 12-yard warping mills, &c. &c; 240 7-8, and 84 9-8, power looms, by Sharp, Roberts, and Co. and other makers; counter, shafting, and pullies; the whole of the doffin tins and cans, skips, bobbins, extra beams and geers; two making-up presses, for 51b. and 10lb. bundles; very excellent mechanics' and smiths' tools; quantity of various stores and old metal, excellent warehouse and counting house fixtures, and a considerable quantity of other articles incidental to the business. Catalogues are in preparation, and will be ready for distribution five days prior to the sale, which may be had on the premises; or on application to the Auctioneer, 29, Princess street.' [1]
1845 Sale notice: 'All those capital PREMISES, situate in Long Millgate, in Manchester, called the Irk Mills, suitable for the spinning and weaving of cotton, consisting of three mills, comprising in the whole 3,598 square yards, thereabouts, of land, viz.:—One strong-built fire-proof mill, eight stories high, with excellent lights and warehousing complete, one side of which fronts the river Irk, and another portion thereof extends to Long .Millgate. There is a steam engine for working this mill of eighty horses' power, nearly new, and in excellent condition, made by Galloway, Bowman and Glasgow, geered in the very best manner by Wren and Bennett; together with all requisite steam and gas piping for working the mill. And two other mills, one called the Old Mill, situate in a line with the New Mill, on the hanks of the river Irk, and connected with another mill adjoining it, which fronts to Long Millgate, in which there are a pair independent portable steam engines, of 72 horses' power, for working these mills, geered in the very best manner by Wren and Bennett; together with all requisite steam and gas piping necessary for working the mills. There are two hoists to those mills. There are Four Shops fronting Long Millgate, and Eleven Cottages adjoining the mills. The engines and millwork are the very best condition, and ready to be put to immediate work. The premises are within 450 yards of the Exchange, and admirably situated for conducting a large and profitable business. There is a never-failing supply water from the Irk ; coals are laid down at the cheapest rate in Manchester, and abundance of hands may be had in the immediate neighbourhood. [2]