Sploreybank Mills, Leeds -. May 2013.

[jST]

OMMMGGG DID SOMEONE JUST SAY SPLORE???????

Following on from my previous permission visit to this vast Mill just up the road from me I happened to call in as due to the Farsley Festival the established artspace was showing an exhibition of some local artworks with a nice band playing etc...

On a brief meander to the loo to flush some of the Erdinger from my system I accidentally happened to have a look behind one of the big slidey doors that I'd not seen before. One thing led to another... “as you do”.



There was a largeish mill space that I hadn’t seen on my prior sanctioned visit, which currently stands where the entrance to the new development is proposed, hence this will more than likely be demolished.

A shame if it is, as there was a mega bonus downstairs, an E. Mills & Son heavy duty hydraulic worsted "paper press" complete with original steam pump engine and belts still in situ, lovely stuff! I've since found out post visiting that the press would compress worsted between layers of thick card to give it that lovely sheen... SPLOREBONUSSSSOMGGGG - It even had a little chain handle driven dolly on rails... see below for an operating demonstration by yours truly.

Lift shaft top and looking down to the lift platform at the bottom.





Newspaper clip from the opening of the nearby Bramley Baths (still open) from 22/10/1904 taped inside a ledger desk.









Downstairs: Ancient switchgear



E Mills & Son engine powering the hydraulic lift, similar to that in the ad below.







Hand driven railed dolly.



little Santon immersion hot water heater presumably for teas etc.



Let's roll...



Top quality "splore" or whatever cool kids say

[birdinanaviary]

Proper splorin boss
Bostin

[mr beardy]

Proper cool this wouldn't mind a gander here myself. Was the permission visit part of the heritage open day things

[myke]

Really nice explore cracking machinery deffo my kind of place



but the fat bloke turning the handle scared me

[jST]

Was the permission visit part of the heritage open day things

No I missed it because I was on holiday so I asked the bloke if I could bimble round and splore it.

[fenrir]

Bostin bimble. Very nice!

[Clough]

Frightening GIF. Bostin place

[the kwan]

Lovely photography, lovely place, luverrly Splore

[mr beardy]

No I missed it because I was on holiday so I asked the bloke if I could bimble round and splore it.

do you have a email or was it a case of turning up ?

[jST]

I went in and introduced myself to the owner as they had a public consultation exhibition on displaying their plans for conversion, which I was interested in. Then arranged a visit for a couple of weeks after and offered the photos for him to use on his local area blog.

Be proactive and do things.