| Description | In 2003, A. Woodhead and Dr. R.S. Fitzgerald made a site investigation and photographic record of Sterne Mills at the request of Calderdale, Planning Services, Regeneration and Development Directorship as a response to a specification for recording the site compiled by WYAS acting as consultant specialists to the Metropolitan Districts of the West Yorkshire area in matters of Industrial Archaeology. This was a consolation response regarding plans by Calderdale Council to purchase and demolish the buildings on this site.
The photographic record is held by WYAAS. The report, summarised below, is also held by WYAAS:
The earliest reference to a mill in this vicinity is from 1732 ('The Will of Richard Sterne of Woodhouse', 11/09/1732). It is likely that it was a water powered corn mill and possibly a fulling mill as well. 'Sterne corn and fulling mill. 2 water wheels' is a description of the mill made in 1758 (Watson, J. 1758. 'History and Antiquities of the Parish of Halifax 1758 List of Mills'. Page 69). The map, 'A Plan of the River Calder from Brooksmouth to Sowerby Bridge in the County of York', 1765 describes a mill and weir at this crossing point of the river. When the property was let in 1777, the site was described as a corn mill containing 'three pairs of stones and a fulling mill with 6 sets of stocks' (Advertisement in the Leeds Mercury, 28/01/1782. Letting description of Sterne Mill).
The first mention of the site producing cotton comes from the early 19th century; a counting house, kiln and warehouse were built in 1802, a new cotton mill was erected in 1804 and a scouring house was added in 1806 (Valuation of Skircoat Township, 1782. Folio 55). The site also contained a dwelling, barn and other outbuildings. Samuel Crompton's list of mills with spinning mules in operation lists Sterne Mill. The development of Sterne Mill as a cotton mill continued into the 19th century. An assessment for the tenancy of John Shaw lists a completely new building (No.2 Mill), an engine house, boiler house, chimney and the rebuilt No.1 Mill all dating to around 1874 (Skircoat Poor Rate 1876).
OS mapping of 1905 describes Sterne Mills as disused. In 1911 the tenancy was taken over by the Standard Wire Company who were to occupy the site throughout the 20th century. They made several major alterations during this time including the removal of corn milling machinery, the removal of power features, the installation of engineering machinery and the renewal and conversion of decayed structures with more modern materials. Standard Wire transferred their operations at Sterne Mill to the Carrington Wire premises in Elland in 1999 (Woodhead and Fitzgerald (2003)).
The report by Woodhead and Fitzgerald (2003) goes on to provide a detailed description of the standing remains of the buildings of Sterne Mill. Several key features were identified. They are summarised below:
No1 Mill. Built as a five bay, four storey stone built structure. Top floors were missing at the time of inspection with radical 20th century alterations to the fabric and fittings being evident. Where surviving, the main beams were timber with hollow cast iron pillar supports. The wheel house (later turbine house) was present at the south end. The negative features left by the removal of the water wheel machinery suggest that a total of sixteen 4' 6' diameter mill stones may have been in use at any one time. |