India Mill: History

When the grandiose vision of India Mill first formed in the mind of Eccles Shorrock, he could have had no idea that world events were conspiring to frustrate his ambitions.

It has been described as the most important textile building in North East Lancashire and was constructed during the period 1859 to 1871. The actual building was completed by the mid 1860s, but all the machinery was not installed until 1871.

Civil war in America was Eccles Shorrock's downfall. A blockade of the Southern states meant no cotton coming out, which meant no work in Lancashire, which meant famine.  

Eccles Shorrock was punished for his grand ambitions, he went bankrupt and died of ill health in Edinburgh. India Mills continued as the Darwen Cotton Spinning Company Ltd. until 1933 when it became India Mills (Darwen Ltd.). In 1954 William Baird acquired the company and in 1974 Carrington Viyella took it over. The mill closed in 1991. Click here for a detailed history of India Mill.

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