Wilderswood Mill

It is believed that Wilderswood mill was developed by the Crowther and Wingfiled partnership who owned nearby Crowther fold mill. It is said that the mill was constructed to service the needs of the expanding Crowther fold mill which employed a number of children from the Standish Workhouse. In the early 1800's Crowther and Wingfield sold the mill to Mr. Wylde and his son William.

Mr. Henry Stones who was an engineer at Wilderswood mill had an acquaintanceship with non other than Samuel Crompton inventor of the spinning Mule who was also involved in the mills concern. Henry Stones suggested to Crompton that he should do away with the crude wooded rollers that he fitted to his 'Mule' and replace them with fluted metal ones to improve on reliability. After this modification 'the mule' became much more commercially viable and a number of them were installed in Wilderswood mill. An example of 'the Mule' was taken from the mill and was once preserved in the Chadwick museum in Bolton park before it closed and 'the Mule' was taken elsewhere.

The mill passed from the Wyle's to the Greenhaulgh family until it closed in 1898. Wilderswood mill was finally demolished in 1911 and the cottages in 1939.

Wilderswood mill

Wilderswood mill

Latitude: 53.60253

Longitude: -2.53733