Clough Mill and the adjacent Clough Bank or Bankside Mill

​

the mil or mills is generally known as Clough Mill which is believed to date from the late19th Century, It was operating as Henry Travis' Woollen Mill between 1840 to 1869. In 1860 the 3 storey Clough Mill was totally destroyed by Fire. even though it was attended by Town House Mill's Fire Engine. Estimated loss of £4,000. The mill returned to operation but in 1969 Henry Travis Senior and his sons Edward, Joseph and Samuel were were declared Bankrupt with all relevant parties requested to list of all liabilities and debts and statement of property and credits to be left at the Office of Registrar of the court of Bankruptcy. Whilst this proceeded his son Henry Travis (Jnr) in partnership with Edmund Bamford operated the mill with little success as they too became bankrupt in 1870. Perhaps feeling that all was not well both conveyed & assigned their joint & separate estates to trustees. Subsequently, the stone built Clough Bank Mill, plus other buildings, water rights plus all machinery including 86 Power Looms & six sets of carding engine mules containing 4125 spindles were advertised for sale but then the sale was cancelled. Two years later Littlewood and Heape's were selling a 31 inch Carding Engine with 2 cylinders so perhaps it was their interest which avoided the Sale.

​

A decade later(1884), there was another Fire, this time recorded at Simpson's Clough Mill resulting in £10,000 worth of damage. Over the next 30 years the mill was up for sale as different owners came and went before other fires affected the mills. What is unclear is whether Clough Mill and Clough Bank Mill were both operated by the same company or by different companies as occurred at Dearnley and also at Drydock Mills. This may have been the case in 1906 when two large fires ravaged the mills

​

in July 1906 Clough Mill, which consisted of 2 stone built buildings, the one called Clough Mill was 4 storeys high separated internally and the later one was called Bankside which was 2 storeys high. The fire occurred in the 2nd floor in the part used for making up and dyeing goods which caused the roof to fall in. However, the manufacturing part saved.  Estimated damage was £10,000 See picture below left,. Just a month later, Bankside mill, possibly the most valuable part, and occupied by the Clough Mills Calico Printing Co was severely damaged by another fire with damage estimated between £15,000 and £23,000. This, plus last months, fire completely destroyed the mill except for the Finishing & Bleaching section resulting in approx 80 to 100 people put of employment. Subsequently, fire damaged equipment was offered for sale,