Trouble At Mill Traditional Cache

Your visit here places you facing Tardy Gate Manufacturing Company Limited (what a mouthful!) Construction of the red Accrington brick portion of the mill with its wonderful façade and engine house began in 1908 and was completed in 1912 – sadly the original three partners lost all their money in the venture and “blew their brains out” as a means of avoiding the shame, how times have changed.

The mill was bought out by the Thomas Moss Company in 1920 and it was they who expanded the building to include the white rendered sheds visible to the left of the original structure.

The mill continued to operate until early 1981 when it closed and the building was then sold to a company producing animal feeds before being taken over by the Todd family who changed from a running a garden centre to selling trailer tents and later motor homes. Like many former mills the structure has undergone changes in keeping with its new use – sadly the Crittall windows have long gone with many openings now bricked up, and what few remain replaced with uPVC items.

The former steam engine house is now home to a garage and the high chimney with its distinctive green band round the top was given a reprieve from demolition due to its deteriorating condition when a mobile phone company rented its space for the installation of a new transmitter in 1997. Sadly it lost its magnificent gold crown made out of the same stone as the name on the mill façade.

Good Luck and thank you for visiting the Mill at Tardy Gate.