Situated at the very edge of Clitheroe’s retail centre, Holmes Mill had been empty since 2010. There was concern that despite its Grade II listing, it could gradually fall into disrepair and be demolished for retail development or housing to capitalise on the site’s considerable land value.
Due to its long continuous family ownership the mill retained many of its original industrial features including the only known surviving steam engine made by local engineers, Clayton, Goodfellow & Co of Blackburn.
Emporia Leisure, who have a track record of turning underused heritage structures into vibrant commercial entities, saw the potential of the site which would fall into 3 phases. 1) Create a food manufacturing facility. 2) Develop a leisure destination around a bar and eatery. 3) Convert the remainder of the site into a designer hotel.
Growth Lancashire and partners Chamber of Commerce East Lancashire, were approached to assist with funding for Phase 1 of the scheme to convert the weaving shed and warehouse from a textile manufacturing facility into an artisan food production centre including micro- brewery, artisan bakery, smokehouse and coffee roasting facility to supply high quality produce to Lancashire hotels, restaurants and bars. This phase was funded through the capital investment scheme, Regional Growth Fund.
The development of the mill has retained much of the historic fabric of the original buildings and has preserved an important piece of Clitheroe’s industrial heritage for future generations.
Having been hidden for decades, the steam engine now proudly provides the centrepiece for the development’s bar and eatery.
The funding that Growth Lancashire secured for the food production element of this complex multi-phased project was critical for it proceeding and the owners are clear that the mill would not have redeveloped without Growth Lancashire’s input.
Holmes Mill was recently used in a Historic England video on saving our industrial heritage:
https://historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/protect/mills-of-the-north/
Read more about Growth Lancashire’s Regeneration and Heritage service
