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The idea of a new cotton spinning mill came into being about 1906. The cost of transporting cotton yarn into Bacup from places such as Rochdale and Oldham was ever increasing. The new company was named the Ross Spinning Company Jand was registered in February 1907 with a capital of £60,000 in 12,000 shares at £5.00 each. The first shareholders were: Councillor J.Wilkinson, Peel House Shawforth, Mill Manager. J Rushton, 41 Dale Street, Bacup, Slate Merchant. E.A.Howarth, Shaw Lane, Hebden Bridge, Mill Manager. H.Sutcliffe, Rockliffe Cottage, Grocer. Councillor C.H.Greenhalgh. J.P. Rose Hill, Bacup, Dental Surgeon. J.J.Smithies, 72, Deeplish Rd, Rochdale, Iron Master. A Lord, Holly Bank, Stacksteads, Mill Manager. The registered office was Irwell Terrace Bacup.
The Bacup times of My 11th 1907 reported that a large wooden shed had been erected on the site of the new mill , a temporary road had been laid and a crane and powerful steam engine had been brought to the site. A good number of men were already at work on the site. At one time there were thirty three bricklayers working on the building, with eighteen horses and carts in use to transport the bricks. By November the 5th 1908 the chimney had been completed and to celebrate it being Guy Fawkes night as well the builders let off fireworks from the top of the chimney.
Rossendale Spinning Company bough the lodge and Old Corn Company that had previously been owned by Greenwoods along with the water rights and rail siding in June 1912. At 1pm on October ninth 1912 the engine was started for the first time christened by Mrs Taylor wife of Mr J.Taylor a director of the company.
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Accidents and Fires
Dec 12th 1914 - A boy named Arthur Shaw 14, of 14 Briar Street Bacup, was injured when he fell 73ft down a lift shaft. Feb 27th 1915 - A labourer named Hartley Burnie aged 38, pf 6 Cropper Street, Bacup was fatally injured while assisting in dismantling some machinery. A part fell 15ft taking Burnie and another man with it. Burnie suffered fractured ribs and internal injuries. Oct 20th 1917 - A fire broke out in the mule room the sprinklers were set off and the fire brigade were called, the fire was brought under control in about two hours. Oct 29th 1927 - Two steeplejacks fell from the chimney of Ross Mill. One man fell 36ft to the roof of the boiler house. The second man fell to the ground and suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Rochdale Infirmary. Mar 12th 1942 - Two men and a number of women escaped serious injury when a hoist crashed to the bottom of a shaft.
By 1980 the cotton industry in Bacup was holding on by a slim thread, finally in the early months of 1981 Joshua Hoyle and sons announced they had no choice but to reduce production levels at their Ross Mill firm. Joshua Hoyle announced the closure of Ross Mill. on the 6th February 1981.
By the 20th October 1981 slates had been removed from the boiler house roof and the office roof, confirming rumours that the mill had indeed been sold for demolition.
The boiler house, offices and loading bay had all been demolished by
24th January 1982, the maple flooring had been sold off and machinery
thrown out and scrapped.
Previous to the fire the floor had been covered with waste plastic and ignited floor by floor. The intense heat created, twisted the main steel joists causing great distortion which in turn caused a collapse of mills rear wall and the floors which fell through to the basement. Large volumes of smoke were emitted from the main building due to burning pitch which had covered the flat roof. Residents complained and the fire service was called out.
The damping down was carried out during the Sunday and Monday but smoke was still to be seen rising from the mass of twisted metal and rubble. The picture of the mill on the Monday evening was a large gap from front to rear of the mill dividing it into two parts.
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