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The first mill was built in the early 1700's as a woollen mill. It was a long narrow building, by the river Irwell and was destroyed by fire. It was then replaced by a two storey building, with a very tall two storey building next to it which had all flagged floors and iron roof trusses which were fire proof. Next to this building was built a huge five storey mill. Across the yard was built a weaving shed built with a upper storey and boiler house. This building was attacked by the Plug Drawers during the power loom riots of 1826. The owners of the mill at that time were the Ormerods, who lived at Edgeside Hall, where the park now is. They bough Brandwood Farm just above Waterbarn Chapel, and made the meadow into a big lodge, building the large single storey building that went with the railway.
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The lodge was fed by the river Irwell fed by the weir at Iron Bridge, with a goit lower down to empty the lodge. All this before 1820. The road we know today through the Glenn was not built until 1826. Following several owners such as Rostron, Disleys the mill was bought by Antrobus Plastics. The 21st January 1983 saw the demoliton of the mill chimney built in 1837. The chimney was demolished stone by stone each one pushed down on the outside of the stack the debris being used to fill in a old mill pond nearby. It is said the chimney was about 130ft high.
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