Minshull Mill, Manchester
Shown on the 1849 O.S. map as a cotton mill, located about 200 yds south west of the entrance to London Road (now Piccadilly) Station. It was bounded by Pump Street, Commerce Street, Acton Street, and Cobourg Street. The 1915 O.S. map shows that the first three streets had become, respectively, Whitworth Street, Minshull Street, and Granby Row.
The same buildings are shown on Bancks's 1831 map, but not on Green's 1787/1794 map. However, the latter may explain why the otherwise rectangular plot has its northern end cut off at an angle. The map shows that the meandering Shooter's Brook had carved a small valley here, but it had been culverted before 1831.
1844 Advertisement: Sales by Auction: 'Valuable Freehold Cotton Mill, in Manchester. Mr. THOMAS MAKIN FISHER, at the Albion Hotel, Manchester, on Wednesday, the 19th day of June, 1844, at four o'clock in the afternoon, subject to such conditions of sale as shall be then and there produced: ALL that Freehold PLOT of LAND, situate In Pump-street, in Manchester, bounded on the north such street, on the east Commerce-street, on the south by Acton-street, and on the west by Cobourg-street, and containing 1728 superficial square yards of land or thereabouts; and also the Cotton Mill or Factory, Warehouses, Mechanics' Shop, Lodge, and other Buildings erected on the said Plot of Land, and now in the occupation of James Guest, as tenant. The Mill is well and substantially built and is six stories high exclusively of the attic, is twenty four yards long by fifteen yards wide. The adjoining building is three stories high exclusively of the attic, has separate communication, and Is used for preparing cotton. The warehouses, reeling rooms, cotton store rooms, mechanics' shop, and lodge, are well arranged, and amply sufficient for the wants of an extensive establishment requiring an engine of sixty horses' power. The present engine (made by Peel) is of eighteen horses' power, and the same, and the boilers, which have stoppers attached, are in good condition. The Duke of Bridgewater's Canal runs within fifty yards of the Mill, and the streets abutting the premises have been recently laid down, paved, and lighted, at the expense of £300 and upwards. This property will he sold subject to an annual ground rent of £44 14s. 4d. Further particulars may be had applying to T. M. Fisher, the Auctioneer, Princess-street. Manchester; or at the office of Messrs. LINGARD, VAUGHAN. and VAUGHAN, Solicitors, Stockport.'[1]
1846 Advertisement: 'Excellent Cotton Spinning Machinery. By T. M. FISHER, Wednesday, the 4th of November, 1846, the mill, Minshull street and Pump-street, Manchester, in consequence of the occupier's term being out; sale to commence at eleven o'clock in the forenoon : The Whole of the Capital MACHINERY, for Preparing Cotton, consisting of cylinder willow, opener, blower with two beaters and lap attached for 36in. cards, seven carding engines, each 36in. on the wire, with licker-in, nine rollers, eight clearers, and Hulme's railway drawing head, Sharrocks and Birch; seventeen ditto, each 39in. on the wire, with one roller, one clearer, and thirteen flats; one ditto, 40in. on the wire, by Crighton; grinding frame for 36in. cards, with circular brush: three drawing frames, each four double heads, three rows of rollers; three ditto, each three double heads, all by Jenkinson: Dyer's frame, 24 tubes; five ditto, each 20 tubes; two pairs self actor mules, Potter's patent, each 348 spindles, loin, 15in. rollers, 14in. spindles, 1¼inch guage, by Jenkinson; four pairs of mules, each 360 spindles, 15½in rollers, 14½in. spindles, 1¼in. guage; four pair of ditto, (decked.) each 344 spindles, 22in. rollers, I3½in. spindles, l 3/8in. guage; making-up press for 5lb. bundles, two single speed lathes, and joiners' tools, cans, spools, driving straps, shafting, and mill gearing, steam and gas pipes, and other effects. ....'[2]