[carabeener]

Had a mooch up to the Hyde Mill, also known as Senior Service for the remainder of it's years.

Some pilfered history.

The Hyde Mill was the first cotton mill to be built on a new site in Hyde in 30 years. The site had been acquired by The Hyde Spinning Co Ltd from the trustees of CJ Ashton at a rent of £10 per annum, with free water rights. A speech given by Sidney Scott the architect said that he believed that the structure would be the equal of any mill ever put up.

‘Perhaps it would not be so ornate; but it would at any rate have a certain amount of appearance; and even if it had no ornamentation its size would be quite sufficient to make it noteworthy object in the district.’

By 1906 the construction of the mill was completed. The Mill was four storeys in height and 47 bays in length and was faced with bright red brick with an Italianate water tower at its south western corner. When the mill was fully furnished with all the machinery it contained 116,532 mule spindles.

Hyde Mill closed in 1958 with 250 jobs being lost, in the mean time however the Mill was sold to J. A. Pattrieouoex, manufacturers of Senior Service cigarettes. The Gallaher group purchased the mill for £110,000 in 1959 from the Hyde Spinning Company. The Mill continued to be used as a cigarette factory for over 40 years with considerable extensions being carried out. In 1999 the factory was closed by the Gallaher’s as production was transferred to Northern Ireland.



Demolition started




About the only reference to Senior Service I could find in the place.


Entrance to the offices. Very nice wood panelling.


Last date in the diary




Even time for a bit of roof topping.


They are ripping up all the nice flooring back the the origonal floor boards. Pretty much the same on every floor.


Piles of the flooring wood are everywhere.


Looking up...


Looking down...


Quite a good solo explore, though not too much to see as most of it has been ripped out prior to demolition.
Not much there indicating it's uses, till you go into one of the many air extraction/filtration rooms and they STINK of cigs! Made even worse when you realise you have forgotten your cigs...