in Manchester
In 1789 merchant Peter Drinkwater built Piccadilly Mill, also known as the Bank Top Mill, the first cotton mill in Manchester to use Samuel Crompton's new mules (as distinct from water-frames) with 144 spindle hand-mules, and carding engines driven by a Boulton and Watt steam engine. Drinkwater was the first in Manchester to apply the Boulton and Watt. The millwork was undertaken by Thomas Lowe of Nottingham.
The mill, employing 500 people, had four storeys. The 8HP Boulton and Watt engine was running by 1 May 1790. The mill was demolished long ago, but a fragment of the S.E. brick wall, 13 courses high, was unearthed in 2004 during archaeological excavations [1]
1792 Robert Owen managed Piccadilly Mill.
1855 'The Proposed Erection of a Statue to Watt. .... Mr. THOMAS BAZLEY, president of the Chamber of Commerce seconded the resolution. He said the benefits which he had derived from the invention of the steam engine were patent to all. The people, not only in this country, hut in every region of the world, had derived physical and mental benefits from the application of steam as a motive power. Watt, though strictly not the inventor, was the great improver of the steam engine, and practically he might be regarded as the inventor. He alluded to the benefit which steam had conferred upon the press, and said that perhaps it might not be uninteresting to his fellow-citizens to know that at the present time the first rotary steam engine which Watt constructed for the cotton trade was now in existence in Manchester. He had the peculiar satisfaction of stating that that engine was still an efficient and excellent machine, and it was in the possession and worked by his son, in the Piccadilly Mills, in this city. ....'[2]
1883 Advert: 'Piccadilly Mills, Manchester.— To Engineers, Millwrights, Brokers, and others.
WILLIAM GRUNDY & SON have instructions to SELL BY AUCTION, on Thursday, July 19, 1883, commencing at eleven o'clock in the forenoon prompt, on the premises, Piccadilly Mills, London-road, Manchester, late in the occupation of Messrs. Vernon nnd Freemantle, the Whole of the Valuable POWER, Millwright's Work, Pipes, Mechanics' Effects; comprising two cylindrical steam boilers, each 6ft. 6in. with 2ft. 8in. flues, dome, and mountings, by Musgrave and Son; horizontal compound steam cylinders, 14in. and 25in. diameter, 3ft. 6in. stroke, wrought iron crank shaft, fly wheel 12ft. 6in. diameter, cast cistern, 11ft, by 2ft. 6in. by 5ft. 3in. deep; the whole of the wrought polished shafting, from 5 1/2in. to 1 1/2in; fixings ; cast aud wrought iron steam and water piping. Kennedy's water meters, three gas meters and fittings; counter shafting, cart weighing machine, &c.; the contents of a well-fitted mechanics' shop, including 7in. geared sliding aud screw-cutting lathe, on iron bed, 10ft long, by Collier and Co. ; vertical drilling machine, by Muir and Co. ; bench ditto hand lathes, on wood gantries; grindstone, glazer, circular saw bench, vices and benches, screwing tackle, mechanics' and joiners' loose tools and appliances, anvil and block, castings, useable wrought-iron, wrought and cast scrap, new timber, and other effects. On view Monday and Tuesday, July 16 and 17, from ten to four. — For catalogues apply to Messrs. BROOME, MURRAY, accountants, 104, King-street; Messrs. Orford, solicitors, 87, Fountain-street; or the Auctioneers, 54, John Dalton-street, Manchester.'[3]
Location
Green's map of 1787-1794 shows 'Mr. Drinkwaters Cotton Works on the south east side of Auburn Street, which branched off Shooter's Row (now Piccadilly/London Road). The building measured approx 210 by 40 ft. It backed on to Upton Street. 100 yds to the south east was a small depression carved by the diminutive Shooter's Brook. This stream was presumably the hard-pressed source of water for the mill engine's condenser, but help was at hand in the form of the Rochdale Canal, which would soon be dug immediately alongside Auburn Street. It is not clear whether Drinkwater was prescient or lucky in the siting of his mill.
Bancks's map of 1831 shows that a considerable amount of building had taken place around the mill, and Shooter's Brook had been consigned to a culvert. The mill was now identified as Plants Cotton Mill.
The 1849 O.S. 60" map shows the mill as Piccadilly Mill. The boiler house is an extension on the south east side, and an extension 40 ft square had been added to the N.E. end of the building. There was a smaller separate L-shaped building on the site. The mill chimney is shown as being built in to the back wall of the main building, halfway along. Another cotton mill, the London Road Mill, had been built alongside, very close to the S.W. corner of Piccadilly Mill.
Adshead's 1851 map identifies the occupiers as Plant and Son. London Road Mill was identified as 'Lewis Williams Cotton Mill'. The Shipley Street Mill of Robert Ogden and Sons was to the south east, and the St. George's Foundry of Richard Ormerod and Sons was to the south west, across Minshull Street.
The 1915/1922 O.S. map shows that the site was now almost entirely filled by buildings. It is identified as the Piccadilly Printing Works.
Goad's Insurance Plans show the mill in 1893. The building on Auburn Street is shown as having 4 1/2 floors plus basement. Behind the main building is a single storey extension with a glazed roof. The boiler house has gone, and there is now a 100 ft high chimney at the back of the building, alongside Upton Street. The main occupant was R. H. and J. Sharp Ltd. (Piccadilly Printing Works), while several floors were used as a shirt factory by W. Perceval.
This photograph shows the mill in 1902. It is difficult to reconcile the architecture of the building with 1789, and this, together with the changes indicated by the 1893 Goad's plan, may suggest that the mill was rebuilt at some point.