During the Middle Ages, Middleton was a centre of domestic flannel and woollen cloth production.

[2] Rochdale rose to prominence during the 19th century as a major mill town and centre for textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution.

[3] The Rochdale Canal—one of the major navigable broad canals of the United Kingdom—was a highway of commerce during this time used for the haulage of cotton, wool, coal to and from the area.

[3] In 1882, Rochdale the home of industrial co-operatives, embraced the joint stock limited company and new mills were financed and built.

The Bank of England set up the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1929 to attempt to rationalise and save the industry.

[6] Malta Mill still stands in 2010 and is used by many businesses; including for document storage and as a bonded warehouse.

Driven by a 1200 hp vertical triple expansion engine by Buckley & Taylor, 1904.