A Real Success Story

Nutclough Mill was built in the 1700s and was purchased in 1873 by the Hebden Bridge Fustian Manufacturing Society, a worker’s cooperative where each worker had an ownership stake in both the business and the building.  

This made Nutclough Mill the first worker’s cooperative textile mill in the world!

The mill was extended twice in the 1880s and 1890s and during the Industrial Revolution it played a huge role in the vibrant manufacturing economy of the area.
Unfortunately the textile industry disappeared during the 1960’s and the mill was abandoned and left to rot.

Scheduled for demolition in the 1980’s it was purchased by Pennine Heritage Trust for £1.00 (though a further £1.2m had to be raised for its renovation and conversion).  This was done by a 1980’s job creation scheme to find work and on-the-job training for unemployed young people.

In 1989 Calrec Audio moved in and developed the building. They added a state-of-the-art production facility for their world leading audio equipment (see my extra). It’s where all their audio equipment is designed, prototyped, built, tested, sold and supported thus not only safeguarding an important heritage building, but also providing over 150 local high-tech jobs.
A real success story ...