Historian Chris Aspin described the historical significance of Kirk Mill, stating, 'To anyone interested in the Lancashire cotton trade, the survival at Chipping of one of the world's first factories is a matter of no little wonder.
However, in 2010, the company went into administration, the factory closed,[2] and on 7 March 2011, the works were bought by SCPi Bowland Ltd.[3] Significant refurbishment works including a full re-roof, stone cleaning, re-pointing with lime mortar, removal of incongruous late additions and the introduction of structural steelwork were completed in spring 2017.
The advertised mill, described as 23 by 9 yards, featured a water-wheel of 19.5 by 5.5 feet and was claimed to be in full working condition.
[6] On 25 March 1790, Houlgrave insured the mill with the Sun Fire Office for £400, covering the contents for an additional £600.
[7] An advertisement in the Manchester Mercury of 6 April 1790, sought ‘about forty hands to work at the branches of carding, roving, spinning, and reeling’.
[8] While Houlgrave held the official titles of proprietor and occupier, his father-in-law, the inventor and cotton machinery manufacturer Peter Atherton appears to have played a role in financing and equipping the mill.
On 24 June 1792, Houlgrave entered into an agreement with Thomas Weld, owner of the Bowland-with-Leagram and Stonyhurst estates, to dam a third stream (Leagram Brook) and construct a weir and channel.
[12] With Houlgrave in failing health, ownership of Kirk Mill passed to his father-in-law Peter Atherton.
In neighbouring Grove Square, the partners constructed a new building, consisting of stables on the ground floor and a warehouse and reeling rooms above.
The water wheel stopped being the prime mover in 1923 but drove an electricity generator proving power and light to adjoining houses.
[2] On 7 March 2011 the works were bought by SCPi Bowland Ltd.[3] They are restoring the wheel and the factory and introducing new usages onto the rest of the site.
In searching for a reliable source of power Arkwright set up his first factory on Cromford, on the River Derwent in Derbyshire.
In 1775, he filed a patents for powered preparatory machines that would card and scutch the roving needed by the waterframe.
A typical Arkwright type mill was 27 feet (8.2 m) wide internally, which provided space for two 48 spindle frames, while being narrow enough to support the wooden floor beams without the need of a central pillar.
An overhead shaft running the length of the building turned wooded drums at floor level, which by means of leather belts powered the frames.
The site was bought by SCPi Bowland Ltd. who have put in detailed planning permission, which includes restoration of the 1785 mill and the waterwheel.