Geograph - photograph every grid square

Built in 1908 for the Croal Spinning Company to the design of Bradshaw and Gass, who designed a number of mills in the area and who are still in business. Link
The mill closed as a spinning mill in 1967 but is now in use as a mail order warehouse as part of the Littlewoods group. It is a fine example of a mill form this period with interesting decorative relief, and many of the ancillary buildings still survive.
It is Listed Grade II, and the following is a quote from the listing details: "A striking detailed early C20 mill, by a notable specialist architectural practice, which survives almost intact, and which shows how the manufacturing processes were separated on different storeys of the building."
An unusual feature of the mill is the use of a grey terracotta as relief to the brickwork which gives the impression of stone, which is how it was described in the listing at the time of my visit. However, careful inspection on my visit showed that the material is definitely ceramic and not stone, and the listing details have since been modified to reflect this. The light coloured bricks would almost certainly have been manufactured from the same material as the more ornamental features such as window surrounds and the volutes on the tower.

Listed buildings and structures are officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance. There are over half a million listed structures in the United Kingdom.
Listed status is more commonly associated with buildings or groups of buildings, however it can cover many other structures, including bridges, headstones, steps, ponds, monuments, walls, phone boxes, wrecks, parks, and heritage sites.

There are three main listing designations;
Grade I (2.5%) - exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.
Grade II* (5.5%) - particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II (92%) - nationally important and of special interest.

There are also locally listed structures using A, B and C designations.

…read more at wikipedia Link