Todmorden is a market town and civil parish,[2] within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England.

The historic county boundary between Yorkshire and Lancashire was marked by the River Calder and its tributary the Walsden Water, which runs through the centre of the town.

For hundreds of years streams from the surrounding hills provided water for corn and fulling mills.

Todmorden grew to relative prosperity by combining farming with the production of woollen textiles.

During the years 1800–45 great changes took place in the communications and transport of the town which were to have a crucial effect on promoting industrial growth.

A second railway, from Todmorden to Burnley, opened as a single line in 1849, being doubled to meet demand in 1860.

It had cost £218,285 to build, and there were financial and boardroom problems and the mill finally opened in August 1912.

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

Seven-storied steam-powered cotton-spinning mill built for the Hare Spinning Company Limited.

Stott's design utilised rolled steel columns and reinforced concrete, and was unpopular when it was first proposed.

The mill was originally powered by an engine built by Carels of Belgium which drove about 73 belts.