The Factory/ Silk Mill

The Factory was established as a cotton spinning mill in the 1790s by John Haigh who, along with his brothers Thomas and Samuel had a number of mills in the village. He is perhaps best known for bringing 108 children from poor houses in London and Essex to Marsden to work in the Factory.

Read more about Children in the Mills

In 1795 John Haigh insured the 'Cotton Factory' for £1000 with its machinery for £1500. In 1803 he mortgaged his machinery for £1000 (at 5% interest) including 'looms, jennies, billeys, slubbers, carders utensils and machinery in and about the said cotton mill or factory'.

The Factory and Upper End Mill are shown on the 1801 Marsden-in-Huddersfield Township map joined together as an L-shaped building next to a large mill pond which, today, is a car park that is still known as Waterside.

In 1802 Almondbury Parish registers record the burial of John Marsden of Scout 'who was accidentally shot in Mr Haigh's factory'.

The cotton industry in Yorkshire was short-lived and John Haigh became bankrupt in 1809. The Factory was put up for auction along with Upper End Mill.

After the sale the factory was converted to spin silk yarn and became known locally as the 'Silk Mill'. Jones's Trade Directory of Halifax and Huddersfield (1863) lists Firth J. & S., Warehouse Hill Mill, Marsden as Silk Spinners.

Silk manufacturing relied heavily on women and children, especially in mills. Wages were often low, and employment could be unstable because silk was a luxury product whose demand fluctuated. Products included silk dress fabrics, ribbons and trimmings, silk-and-wool mixed cloth and decorative textiles aimed at the fashion and luxury clothing markets.

Silk production ceased in 1880 and woollen production may have continued. The Silk Mill was demolished in 1938.