Flax mill

John Kendrew (an optician) and Thomas Porthouse (a clockmaker), both of Darlington developed the process from Richard Arkwright's water frame, and patented it in 1787.

The first machine was set up in Low Mill on the River Skerne at Darlington, which Kendrew used to grind glass.

Matthew Murray moved from Darlington to set up a mill at Adel near Leeds, where he built an improved spinning machine for John Marshall.

[3] Ditherington Flax Mill in Shrewsbury, built in 1797, is the world's first iron-framed building, and hence a forerunner of all skyscrapers.

[4] In 1805, Malleny Mill was built on the eastern edge of Balerno to process Flax.