The incredible £60m transformation of historic mill into 'vibrant' new neighbourhood

Amazing newly unearthed pictures show Stockport’s iconic viaduct being built over a historic mill which is set to become the heart of a ‘buzzing new neighbourhood.’

Weir Mill, on the banks of the River Mersey in the town centre, is currently the subject of a huge renovation project. The mill buildings are being restored and transformed into new homes. Two new-build blocks, including a 14-storey tower, have also been erected on the site.

Once complete, they will see the creation of 253 apartments, 87 in the historic mill buildings and 166 in the new builds. It will also boast new independent bars, eateries, coffee shops and stores as well as two new public squares and green space in what bosses and council chiefs say will become a ‘vibrant’ new area.

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The original mill, sometimes referred to as Wear Mill, dates back to 1790 when it was built by cotton manufacturer John Collier was deemed to be a ‘local icon of the industrial revolution.’

It was water-powered, standing just 500 metres from source of the Mersey, at the confluence on the River Tame and River Goyt. Very little is documented about the original 1790 building, which was destroyed in a devastating fire in 1831, started by a spark from the boiler house alighting some nearby hessian.

A picture taken between 1888 and 1889 from the Mersey Bridge and shows the construction of the final two stone and brick viaduct ‘piers’ of the viaduct extension. To the right you can see the upper floors of the mill being taken down to make way for the new arches

The dramatic night saw the fire quickly engulf the building, with the six-storey high wall collapsing into the river with a thunderous crash.

Despite best efforts to dampen the flames, firefighters eventually focused efforts on protecting neighbouring properties from imminent danger. The fire gutted the original mill, with reports that not a single item of machinery salvaged.

A neighbouring building, described as the ‘New Mill’, built just a few years previously in 1828 was salvaged. The fire tragically claimed the life of 16-year-old James Henshall, who is reported to have re-entered the cellar of a burning building but was buried in the ruins, sadly dying in hospital.

Weir Mill was rebuilt, water power having ceased in favor of steam by 1834. However, the new mill incorporated parts of the 1790s foundations, including the now redundant wheelhouse.

Workers in another picture taken in 1888 or 18889 stood atop the timber formers, which acted as templates for the Viaduct arches. Weir Mill below is being partially demolished in preperation for the extension.

It later suffered a further (although less extensive) fire in 1843, needing a partial rebuild and extension. As part of this the architect George Woodhouse taksed with coming with an innovative ‘fireproof’ design in 1883.

The mill pre-dates the Stockport Viaduct, which was built over the mill’s engine house in 1840. The following decades saw a slew of alterations and additions, including the demolition of part of the building’s upper floors in between 1888 and 1889 to accommodate the construction of an extension of the Viaduct.

And amazing new pictures from this time, from Stockport Council’s local image archive, show the reality of this huge project. One shows workers dressed in Victorian clothes, stood without harnesses on the top of towering timber formers that would help shape the iconic brick arches.

Stockport’s landscape has changed significantly since the Victoria era

Another shows temporary wooden bridges that were built across the river to enable workers to install stone and brick pillars that would extend the viaduct to create more capacity.

This image clearly shows how a portion of the upper floors of Weir Mill had to be demolished – lowering the building to make way for the wooden formers and subsequent arches.

At the peak of production in 1892, Weir Mill was home to 900 looms and 60,000 spindles. The 1900s saw modern additions, some demolition and changes of use, including addition of an air raid shelter in the 1940s and the demolition of the mill owner’s house in 1950.

The mill dates back to 1790

This left two spinning mills, a weaving shed, a warehouse offices and a towering chimney. The chimney was demolished in 1995.

The built of Stockport’s textile mills had ceased production by the 1970s and since then has been home to a mix of businesses, from urban airsoft to recording studios. After decades without any TLC, the mill was, according to bosses at Capital and Centric (C&C), who took it on and came up with the redevelopment plans, ‘at risk of being lost forever.’

The plans were approved before work began at the site in the summer of 2022. C&C say they are ‘orking meticulously to preserve all the original features of the buildings and incorporate it into Weir Mill’s next chapter.’

An aerial shot showing the Weir Mill site as it undergoes redevelopment

In virtually all the buildings, the upper floors will be apartments, which those overseeing the prioject say will be ‘packed with original character and charm.’

The ground floor will be home to indie operators and new leisure spaces, from cafes and bars, to shops and workspaces – all surrounded by new gardens and courtyards for example Weaver’s Square, which will sit underneath the Viaduct with the cast iron columns of the former Weavers’ Shed being home to al fresco eating and drinking and be a space for street markets and pop-ups.

The former Wheelhouse, the oldest part of the mill, is being turned into a ‘cool hangout space for residents’, with a residents lounge with river views, exposed brick and timber roof trusses. Additional floors will be home to co-working spaces and a gym.

A CGI image of how the completed redevelopment will look

C&C say it has been one of the most difficult areas to restore. There’s no direct access or doorway from the adjoining mill. Whilst there is only one access door from the west mill, but this access has been condemned.

It means workers have had to be winched over the river from the bridge to restore the building. The process has seen the original roof beams removed and taken off site to be restored.

Staff have then been lowered into the building by crane to carry out work to make the building sound again. Once complete, the original beams will be brought back to site and feature as part of an exposed featuring ceiling. The project is due to be completed this summer.

A CGI of what will become Weaver’s Square – around the former Weaver’s Shed

Its proximity to the Viaduct meant the development was controversial when it was going through the public consultation process. The town’s MP Nav Mishra spoke out against the tower element of the scheme, which was also objected to by the Victoria Society and Historic England. A petition titled ‘Don’t hide our viaduct’ was signed more than 4,500 times.

However, C&C co-founder Adam Higgins told the Manchester Evening News, last month that he hoped views of the tower, the topping out ceremony for which was held in December, would ‘soften’ now it was up and part of the town’s landscape.

John Moffat, joint managing director at C&C, said this week: “Stockport’s centre was once a patchwork of mills, factories and chimneys as it played its part in the Industrial Revolution.

Workers being winched into the forrmer Wheelhouse – the oldest part of the mill

“Despite massive change over the decades, Weir Mill has stood the test of time and is a prominent symbol of the town’s industrious past. We’re breathing new life into the site in a way that makes the historic buildings the heroes of the new neighbourhood … but we’re surrounding it with lush green spaces and courtyards where people can meet up and soak up the site’s heritage.

“People see the hoardings and cranes, but it’s brilliant to let people in on the lengths the team are going to preserve, restore and repurpose these buildings into something fit for Stockport’s future. At the same time, we love a good origin story.

“So digging out the old archive pictures and telling the site’s fascinating story so far is all part of the fun of taking on a project of this scale and significance. From the red-brick walls, to the vaulted ceilings, iron columns, wooden beams and stone detailing, we’re keeping every charming bit of original history and incorporating it into the site’s next chapter.

Work on the Wheelhouse has been painstaking the developer says

“The views from up high show the sheer scale of change underway at pace in the town centre around the station and viaduct. The Stockport buzz is palpable and we’re sure Weir Mill will be the jewel in the crown as its centre grows.

“The Council and the Mayoral Development Corporation have been instrumental in driving the place forward and bringing together a cluster of exciting projects that, together, will be greater than the sum of their parts and make Stockport’s town centre a real force to be reckoned with

“Things are progressing well on site and we’ve now started the hunt for some amazing independent operators who want to call the neighbourhood home, whether that’s existing businesses that want to expand or ambitious start-ups looking to set up a permanent base. From café bars to retail spaces, we want an eclectic mix of operators here to draw people into the community.”