I don’t know what other people see when they look at a mill that’s outlived its working life. Some people call these buildings ‘derelict’, ‘abandoned’ or ‘empty’. But I don’t think that Newsome Mills is any of these things. I think that this place is full of history, full of life, and full of promise for the future.
Newsome Mills stands right at the heart of the village of Newsome (in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England). Newsome grew up around it. The main four storey mill building towers over Newsome and its residents. It can be seen on the hillside from all over Huddersfield. I grew up in the shadow of this mill. Every day it looks down on us from its great height, through the broken faces of its landmark clock tower. It stands silent, waiting for something to change.
I can’t imagine Newsome without this mill. And I need your help to save it.
Diane
How you can help
We need your help to keep these important buildings safe. The owner still intends to convert the mill into apartments, and to build new houses behind the mill.
Whilst we are waiting for the building work to start, you can help by reporting all trespassers, vandalism and any other suspicious activity to the Police.
- For emergencies: dial 999.
- To report trespassers or thieves call: 0845 6060606.
- To call anonymously, ring Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111.
If you see any suspicious vehicles near the mill, please write down the date, the time and the registration details, then tell the Police.
The aims of the Newsome Mills campaign:
- To make sure that no further damage is done to the buildings at Newsome Mills.
- To encourage Kirklees Council to work closely with Royalle Estates to help them submit their new plans, and for these plans to be sensitive to the mill buildings.
- To campaign for some heritage protection measures for the mill ponds and the coach house buildings.
- To raise the profile of Newsome Mills.
- To get the damaged war memorial restored and make sure that it is returned to its rightful place on the mill site.
- To make sure that the mill clock is sensitively restored and working again.
- To oppose any further planning applications that involve the destruction of the mill ponds, or any of the other buildings at Newsome Mills.
- To get the mill ponds and the land at Hart Street returned to public or community ownership, so that the site can be managed by the local community.
- To develop a business plan for the community use of the mill pond site.
- To gather information about the history of the mill site, including plans, records and people’s memories of the working life of the mill.
