Knoll Spinning Co.

Knoll Spinning was founded in 1946 when William Oddy from Shipley created the business and moved production to the New Wellington Mill on the outskirts of Oldham.

The Mill itself dates back further than that but not much can be found on its history? the site is split into three main sections and sits beside a wharf.

Knoll Closed down around 2001 and has been derelict ever since, Tesco have propsed to turn the site into another one of its super markets which has been granted, so the Mills time is limited.

At some point a few years back the front section of the mill was occupied by believe it or not a Funeral Directors, although some what on the small side it does still have the freezer that stored the bodies in still in situ.

A strange sight indeed and the first time we have ever encountered such a thing in a disused mill, but still a very interesting addition to the old place.

Despite being empty for going on seven years the place is still in relativley good condition inside with plenty of fixtures and interesting items still in place including a rather cool shoot.

The most stunning area has to be the main factory floor where the looms use to sit, sadly they are long gone but the huge pits they sat in are still there and illustrate how big these things would of been.

We have always discounted this place on the basis that the reports we had seen never really seemed to do the place justice and made it look very dull and uninteresting, but being in the area we finally decided to get it ticked off the list.

The exterior is actually quite nice and being split over three sections it does add to the appeal of the place rather than just a standard square building that mills usually tend to be.

Inside is another story though with plenty too see and lots of little features even though the majority of the upper floors are empty they do have character and in parts the lighting is fantastic.

It was not what we expecting at all and turned out to be very enjoyable and very photogenic in parts, just goes to show though, some places need to be seen to be believed.

A thoroughly enjoyable site with plenty to see and do, and one definatley worth seeing in person, and with Tesco about to convert the place it seems we got in just in time, as certain sections are already being prepped for conversion.