Greencroft Mill Hyde Mill

Greencroft Mill was located on Manchester Rd between Robert St to the west and Water St to the east. It was built in 1802/03 for John Ashton (1780-1846) and it was the first purpose-built cotton mill in Hyde to be steam powered. By 1879 the mill was being worked by Hibbert and Aspland (Edward Hibbert and Arthur Palmer Aspland) but in Dec 1893 Arthur Palmer Aspland stepped down and Edward Hibbert continued the business styled as Edward Hibbert & Co.

In 1879/80 a new mill range was built at Greencroft Mill for Hibbert and Aspland and the architect was Edward Potts of Clegg St, Oldham, one of the greatest mill architects of Victorian Lancashire.

By 1891 the mill had 26,668 mule spindles and 1,480 ring spindles, 141/341 twist (warp) and 161/421 weft, as well as 541 looms, showing that the business was fully integrated for both spinning and weaving. The above twist (warp) and weft values show the range of spinning that the mill could produce.

141/341 twist (warp) is re-written as 14/1 to 34/1. The first value equates to 1 strand of Yarn Count Size 14 cotton and the second value equates to 1 strand of Yarn Count Size 34 cotton. 161/421 weft is re-written as 16/1 to 42/1. The first value equates to 1 strand of Yarn Count Size 16 cotton and the second value equates to 1 strand of Yarn Count Size 42 cotton. For both the warp and weft yarns, the lower Count Size numbers represent thicker heavier yarn, while the higher Count Size numbers represent finer, thinner yarn.

The company specialised in weaving twill and drill fabrics. Cotton twill is a type of weave characterised by its diagonal ribbing and soft texture. Cotton drill is very similar but it is stronger and more resistant to wear and tear, making it more suitable for heavy-duty applications.

Greencroft Mill had a wide-ranging history. Gas lighting was introduced there in 1812 and between 1836 and 1845 it was used as a temporary barracks for the 10th, 20th and 38th Regiment of Foot (Thomas Middleton, 1899) before returning to cotton production under new ownership. Their presence was due to the Chartist Movement (1838-1857). Cotton production ceased in 1932 and in 1938 it was occupied by Crossley Motors Ltd of Gorton, Manchester, for the manufacture of buses. Subsequently, sections of the mill were demolished but the 3-storey and 5-storey ranges fronting Manchester Rd survived until 1987 when they too were demolished.

The former Hyde Mill was located off the north-east side of Ashton Rd, between Gregory Street and Cotton Mills Drive, in the Newton District of Hyde, close to the Dukinfield border. It was built in 1905/06 for the Hyde Spinning Co Ltd on land acquired from the trustees of the late Charles James Ashton (1830-91). It was the last mill to be built in Hyde. The architect for the design was Sir Philip Sidney Stott, a prominent Oldham-based architect known for designing approximately 77 cotton mills across Lancashire according to architectural records.

The mill was 4-storeys high by 47-bays long and it was built of red engineering brick. A notable feature was the Italianate-style water tower in the south-western corner, which was square and crowned with a cupola. Internally, the mill utilised triple brick arches supported by steel beams.

When the mill opened it had 116,532 spindles using spinning mule frames powered by a 2,000 horse power inverted triple expansion steam engine. The mule frames were provided by Platt Brothers & Co Ltd of Oldham and the steam engine was provided by George Saxon & Co Ltd of Openshaw, Manchester.

In 1919 the company name was changed to Hyde Spinning Co (1919) Ltd. This change was brought about when the company became part of the Amalgamated Cotton Mills Trust Ltd, which was a major textile conglomerate formed in 1919 during a period of consolidation in the Lancashire cotton industry. This company grew through a series of mergers and acquisitions, eventually controlling many mills before the cotton industry's decline led to its eventual dissolution.

Hyde Mill closed in 1958 and in 1960 it was bought by J A Pattreiouex Ltd. It was demolished in 2009 and the site was re-developed for housing.