Rylands Mill which has been lying derelict since the early 2000s now needs a new owner to secure its future
Grade II-listed, 1866, George Woodhouse
The former Gidlow Mill was commissioned in 1865, possibly to take advantage of the resurgence in the cotton industry following the conclusion of the American civil war and associated ‘cotton famine’ in Lancashire. The mill was designed as an integrated cotton spinning and weaving mill to maximise cost efficiencies, and is distinguished by its polychromatic brickwork, which was unusual for industrial buildings at the time. The mill closed with the deindustrialisation of northern England in the post-war period and was occupied by Wigan and Leigh College until 2000, at which point it was abandoned, but it remains significant for the completeness of its features, which include spinning and weaving blocks, power transmission features, and historic finishes such as lath-and-plaster ceilings and lime-washed walls. It is therefore concerning that the building remains vacant, with only very limited security provision. The mill has suffered regular fires in recent months, resulting in the demolition of a twentieth century extension, and locals remain concerned about the lack of vision for the site where young people risk their lives trespassing. Ideally located next to a public park, the mill is currently being marketed at a sum of £2,500,000, but the owners must be certain that a sale at this price is possible and, in the meantime, properly secure the site before someone is seriously hurt.
The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘Lancashire and the north west has more buildings on our Top Ten than anywhere else in the country. But for the first time we have no entries for London or the South East. We simply got far more nominations from areas like Lancashire. This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason, I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur local authorities and owners to urgently find a way to bring these buildings back into use. At a time when there has been much discussion of creating a northern power house this is more important than ever. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.’
Status Update / March 2026
The issues with securing the site were confirmed by a 2023 report in the local media, which suggested fire crews were called out every three or four days to respond to arson attacks. A redevelopment was proposed in 2018, which involved the construction of new houses and the conversion of the main building for residential use, and this has provided some reassurance that a transfer of ownership is possible, but nothing has come of this as yet. Recently the local council had to remove ironwork from the top of the chimneys citing a heightened risk of injury from falling objects.