Westwood Mill, Linthwaite, Feb '09 11 picutres.

Westwood Mill is a Grade II listed building is privately owned by Michael Wilson Restorations. Permission was given in October 2005 for it to be redeveloped in a similar scheme to the nearby Titanic Mills. Today it is derelict and ruined.
Not much time was spent in here. Large blocks of snow were falling from the roof.


Inside a boiler.


Westwood Mill is believed to be the earliest surviving woollen mill in the Colne Valley and shows different phases of construction over a long period. It was originally powered by water from the adjacent mill pond. The earliest part of the building was a scribbling mill (preparation of raw fleece), powered by water from it's own (now filled in) mill pond. It was built in 1798 while the canal itself was being built.

The mill floors are silent now.


The waterwheel that powered the mill was replaced in 1920 by an 85hp water turbine manufactured by William Gunther and Sons, Oldham.


I loved this room. Beams of light cut through the gloom.


Access to much of the upper floors was not on.


Doors have gone, and no glass remains in the windows. Where there would have been looms and other machinery, there is now nothing. The mill was used in the production of textiles, with clothierJohn Shaw leasing the mill in 1824.


A ruined house is on the site


These stairs led up to the toilet block.


In the final building, a twisting spiral stone staircase led up two floors.


The top floor was accessed by a rickety and rotten wooden staircase. Melting snow dripped and splashed on wet wood. The remains of plastic bags, used by glue sniffers littered one side of the floor.


I loved this peaceful mill. A great place to visit, yet one that will fall down soon if nothing is done to prevent it which will be a shame.
For reference, this mill was not named after hiphop wallah Tim Westwood.