The Pear Spinning Company, Lower Bredbury, was registered in 1907, with the intention of erecting a large double mill.

Work began in 1908, but the demand for cotton ended and it was difficult to raise capital.

With £55,000 spent, the shell of the mill had been completed when the company was put into liquidation in January 1912.

Production started in July 1913 and the mill was fully equipped for spinning medium and fine counts by November.

The war had taken its toll on the Lancashire cotton industry and former markets such as India, China and Japan had built up their own spinning capacity.

The mill has seven storeys if the cellar is counted, and attached are two-storey extensions for carding.

Ornate terracotta friezes over the main entrances continue the theme with bas-relief depictions of pear leaves and fruit.

The mill had 52 pairs of spinning mules with a total of 137,312 spindles, and employed approximately 300 people.

The building was modernised in the late 1950s, when electrically driven ring frames were installed, and in 1965 it was taken over by Carrington Viyella.

[3] Originally it was designed to spin best Egyptian cottons, in what was technically termed "combed" and "super carded yarns."