Clarence Mill Bollington Macclesfield Canal

Clarence Mill, Bollington on the Macclesfield Canal

Clarence Mill in Bollington is an historic five-storey cotton mill on the Macclesfield Canal. It was built between 1834 and 1877 by the wealthy Swindells family who also constructed the nearby Adelphi Mill to the south in 1856.

The redeveloped building is now apartments. — The redeveloped building is now apartments

The original complex consisted of the spinning mills, a two-storey weaving shed and an engine house and detached chimney. The building we see today is the 1871 Stott mill.

Martin Swindells (1784-1843) was a proprietor of the Macclesfield Canal, which opened in 1831. His business was dependent on the canal to bring in coal and raw cotton and to take away the high-end finished cloth, which was used in lace. A Methodist, Martin built the Methodist church in Bollington and employed around 2,000 workers in his various mills.

The mill building has now been converted into apartments and also houses the Discovery Centre run by Bollington Civic Society (open on Wednesday and weekends).