The team behind Leigh Spinners Mill have announced that they now completed the acquisition of Mill One on a 125 year lease. The agreement retains Leigh Spinners Ltd in all of their current spaces but allows Leigh Building Preservation Trust to begin to seek funding to complete the restoration of the complex - much like the progress being made on Mill Two.
Located in the Bedford area, the mill already provides the community with a hub that offers support to community groups, creates more employment opportunities, and provides training and education places. Members of the community will be able to use more of the space available as funding will be used to create new sports and leisure facilities alongside an area for creative arts whilst protecting access to heritage in the building.
The project is a partnership between Leigh Building Preservation Trust and Leigh Spinners Ltd, which originally developed the mill and which remains in occupation manufacturing carpets and artificial turf but now occupies part of the available space.
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The Government's Community Ownership Fund has granted Leigh Spinners Mill £250,000 of funding to continue the mill's restoration. This investment will unlock more of the space, making it available for commercial, community and heritage features that will welcome all members of the community to the mill for generations to come.
Director of Leigh Building Preservation Trust, Peter Rowlinson, said: “Leigh Building Preservation Trust is delighted at the support from Government to allow the further development of Leigh Spinners Mill by acquiring the second mill on the site and securing a range of restoration works, enabling the Trust to complete the current phase of works. We believe this project is a true example of Levelling Up by being a community partnership restoring the heritage of the town of Leigh whilst also creating new jobs and community facilities.
“The restoration of Leigh Spinners Mill would not have been possible without the Community Ownership Fund assistance.”
The fund gives communities the opportunity and funding they need to take ownership of much-loved local assets as part of the government’s commitment to level up every corner of the United Kingdom. Leigh Spinners mill is a Grade II* Listed Building, and described as the ‘finest late era mill in the UK’ by the trust.
It is the largest building in Leigh, much of which has been vacant for many years and is on the Historic England Buildings at Risk register. The community are celebrating after successfully securing funding through the Government’s Community Ownership Fund to help restore the mill and save this historic building for future generations.
Nick Horrocks, chairman of Leigh Spinners Ltd said: “Leigh Spinners Ltd is delighted to support the partnership with Leigh Building Preservation Trust. The success of the partnership, so ably led by the Trust’s Executive Committee, Peter Rowlinson and Jo Platt, to date has been able to develop and support a fantastic historic building to be enjoyed by the whole community.
“As custodians of the building for the past century, we are pleased to see its future secured and for members of the community to be able to enjoy this landmark building. Whilst the funding will secure the structure of the building, we are most excited by the many projects that continue to take place within its fabric and will benefit future generations of local residents.
“With the building’s future secured, it allows Leigh Spinners Ltd to focus on its strategic goals, on investment, growth and to better support the requirements of our customers in a dynamic global economy. Founded in 1913 by local resident John Horrocks as a cotton spinning mill, Leigh Spinners has transformed itself to be a world leading manufacturer of tufted and non-woven floor coverings, artificial grass and sports pitches.
“Generations of our employees come from the local community but our business is wholly international. Leigh Spinners products can be found in North America, Europe and as far afield as Australia.
“We remain committed to this success story and hope that both our employees and the Leigh community have both a building and a business of which we can all be proud.”
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