Who remembers working at the Overbridge and Springfield Mills in Salford?

Sometimes you just get drawn into a picture and from it begins a story.

So a few days ago Andy Robertson was on his way back from leaving his car serviced when in a side street he saw the tall brick tower of the Overbridge and Springfield Mills.

There is something very impressive about this relic of a once proud mill caught in the fast fading sunlight of a winter afternoon.

Now there will be people who can tell me much more about the mill.

It was a listed building, appears as one of the 51 Salford mills and in time I will discover its history.

I know that in 1951 it was owned by Halls Threads Ltd because I have come across an advert for the firm and the Mill.

But that is at present all I have until I start digging deeper.

That said I did come across this from Greater Manchester Fire Service from April 2011*

"Salford firefighters tackle empty mill blaze

Just before 10pm on Thursday, April 7 fire crews from Manchester Central, Salford and Broughton Fire Stations attended a fire in a two storey empty building 100m by 20m at Overbridge and Springfield Mill, Sherbourne St West, Strangeways, Manchester.

At the height of the blaze approximately 50 firefighters tackled an intense fire that engulfed both floors of the two storey building. Firefighters used 5 jets, assisted by a high reach aerial monitor jet to successfully extinguish the fire. 

The building was severely damaged by fire and part of the roof structure collapsed, it is expected that firefighters will be at the scene throughout the night and into tomorrow morning damping down and making the scene safe."

Which is a shame.

The building dated from 1845 and was a cotton spinning or doubling mill which by 1996 like so many old mills was in multiple occupation.

The site comprised a spinning mill with external engine house, warehouse, office and stable range across a courtyard, and various ancillary buildings to the rear of the site.

The mill was made of brick with cast iron columns supporting cast iron beams and timber beams on upper floors.

To the south west of the building there was a circular stair tower with a main entrance at its base.

The office and warehouse buildings also  dated from around 1845.  The office faced the street with the warehouse at the rear and there is a suggestion that there was a former staling building at the rear

The engine house was probably built in the 20th century and according to English Heritage was a “good example of an 1840s mill with typical courtyard layout and surviving substantially intact."**

Alas no more.

All of which makes Andy’s picture a timely reminder of what we have lost, but maybe there will be people who can tell me more.

Picture; from the collection of Andy Robertson

*Greater Manchester Fire, http://www.salfordonline.com/gmfnews_page/27244-salford_firefighters_tackle_empty_mill_blaze.html

** British Listed Buildings, http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-471591-springfield-and-overbridge-mills-