top of page
RL
Brownfield
The former cotton mill site is located in Middleton, 4.5 miles north-east of Manchester City Centre.
One vegetation typology has been selected at this site >>>>>>>
GALLERY
FORMER COTTON MILL
Middleton (middle town) derives its name from its location between four other towns: Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester. It owes much of its history to the Industrial Revolution, when it was a significant mill town, with links to the silk industry stretching back to the 19th century (Doreen's Genealogy, 2015). The cotton mill, Rex Mill, opened in 1899 and occupied a site by the railway. Since its closure and demolition, the site has remained derelict.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
LOCATION
Image 1: The former cotton mill
(Manchester Postcards, 2015)
​
Image 2 and 3: The fire in August 2000
(Manchester History, 2001)
​
Image 4: The now derelict site, production continues at the neighbouring Vitafoam factory
​
Image 5: The brownfield site (West facing)
​
Image 6: The brownfield site (East facing)
​
​
Contour Map (Ordnance Survey, 2015d)
1890 1900 1920 1950 2010
Geology: The bedrock is the The Pennine Lower Coal Measures Formation, which is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. The superficial geology is alluvium - clay, silt, sand and gravel, surrounding the River Irk. As these are coarse textured, the porosity of the site is relatively low. (British Geological Survey, 2015b).
​
Topography: The height of land is 95m and is relatively flat. The majority of surface water will drain to the River Irk (see image).
​
Soil: Heaton Park is located on freely draining and slightly acid sandy soils. They have a low fertility and carbon content, and drainage is directed to the groundwater. Habitats associated with this soil include: acid dry pastures, acid deciduous and coniferous woodland and the potential for lowland heath (Cranfield University, 2015).
​
Climate: Average temperatures range from 1°C in winter to 20°C in summer, there is less sunlight than the UK average. Average monthly rainfall varies from 60mm in summer to 120mm in winter, slightly higher than the UK average (Met Office, 2015).
​​
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
The cotton mill, Rex Mill, was built in 1899 in a prominent mill town. It was located on the north bank of the River Irk, by the Soudan and Rex Cotton Mills and the Manchester-Leeds railway.
​
Production at Rex mill continued until the mid/late 20th century. The cotton mill was eventually destroyed by a fire in August 2000.
Since then, the site has remained derelict. It is currently being advertised as potential land for redevelopment.
​
(Ordnance Survey, 2015c)
​
​
bottom of page