On my local walks, I often cross the Leeds-Liverpool canal by the narrow swing bridge adjacent to Hirst Lock. On the far side, an unmade road leads to Old Hirst Mill on the riverbank, once a water-powered corn mill and then a fulling mill, now converted to residential use. The old mill forms part of a crescent of residential buildings, quite a mish-mash of styles but all dating, it seems, to the mid 19th century. (The original mill buildings were rebuilt in the 19th century). The largest of them, Hirst House (right of my photo above) looks quite grand. The building on the left of the photo below, now two houses, was, it seems, a coach house for Hirst House, originally a long barn-like building. The single storey cottage (above left) is believed to have started life as a workshop or storage area for Hirst Mill.
I've been meaning to take photos there for ages but there are almost always several large cars and SUVs parked there. For once, I happened to be there when it was clear of vehicles!
The outlook to the front is currently very messy: a partially cleared and overgrown site where there used to be a small garden centre. It's been contentious for several years. The local council ordered the site to be cleared of broken glass and rubble as it was dangerous. The site's owners have been trying to get planning permission for housing there, which has been refused several times. The only access is over the single track swing bridge over the canal. I understand that planning permission has recently been granted for three houses there.
In case anyone is wondering, there was a 'New Hirst Mill', also a fulling mill, sited by the river at the far end of Hirst Woods. It was demolished and nature has largely reclaimed the area. See my blog post HERE. 'Fulling' was a process associated with the textile trade, where lengths of wool cloth were pounded in water (or urine) to remove oils and impurities, and to shrink them to make them smoother, thicker, warmer and more water-resistant. Such cloth was often used for coats (like duffel coats) and blankets.
