Bedford

Settlement in Lancashire

England

Bedford

Leigh Spinners Mills, Leigh A double mill built for cotton spinning and latterly used for carpet manufacture. No. 2 Mill is on the left and contains a large preserved steam engine. This view is now largely obscured by tree growth. — Leigh Spinners Mills, Leigh Credit: Chris Allen

Bedford is a small town located in the county of Lancashire, in the northwestern region of England. Situated near the River Irwell, it is part of the metropolitan borough of Bury. With a population of around 10,000 residents, it offers a close-knit community feel.

One of the town's notable features is its rich industrial history, which dates back to the 19th century. Bedford was once a thriving center for cotton mills and textile manufacturing, contributing significantly to Lancashire's prominence during the Industrial Revolution. Today, remnants of this industrial past can still be seen in the town's architecture, with several former mill buildings repurposed for residential or commercial use.

Bedford enjoys a picturesque setting, surrounded by rolling green hills and countryside. The nearby Irwell Valley provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and fishing. The town is also home to several parks and green spaces, including the popular Nuttall Park, where residents can relax and enjoy nature.

In terms of amenities, Bedford offers a range of local shops, cafes, and pubs, providing residents with everyday necessities. For more extensive shopping and entertainment options, the larger town of Bury is just a short distance away.

Transport links in Bedford are convenient, with regular bus services connecting the town to surrounding areas. The nearby M66 motorway provides easy access to Manchester and other major cities in the region.

Overall, Bedford offers a tranquil and friendly environment, ideal for those seeking a peaceful small-town lifestyle with access to nearby urban amenities.

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Bedford Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.482382/-2.491073 or Grid Reference SJ6798. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Leigh Spinners Mills, Leigh

A double mill built for cotton spinning and latterly used for carpet manufacture. No. 2 Mill is on the left and contains a large preserved steam engine. This view is now largely obscured by tree growth.

Chris Allen

Chieftain Tank at Boomers and Swingers Golf Range

One of three Chieftain Tanks at the driving range which starred in the James Bond Film “Goldeneye”

Anthony Parkes

Boomers and Swingers Golf Driving Range

Anthony Parkes

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left with the low pressure on the right. The piston tail rod on the low pressure operates the triangular levers operating the air pump below the floor. The cylinders have Corliss valves to let the steam in and out. The flywheel still had some ropes that had driven an alternator in the basement. This had been used during the miners' strikes of 1974. The No. 1 mill engine had suffered a mechanical failure and had been scrapped.

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This view was from up the rope race. Originally ropes would have been seen heading up towards and above the photographer to drive the various floors of the mill. By 1980 the only ropes left were driving down to an alternator in the basement. The high pressure cylinder is on the right and the low pressure on the left from this viewpoint. When I visited the mill later the staircases up the rope race had been damaged and there was no longer any access. These have been reinstated more recently but I do not know if I would be allowed up there these days.

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This is a view from the crank end on the high pressure side of the engine. This includes the shrunk on crank, box type big-end, trunk crosshead guide, the Corliss valve cylinder and the centrifugal governor. The wooden boarding top left is on the flywheel and prevents the spokes stirring up a gale in the engine house.

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left and the low pressure on the right. Both have Corliss valve gear and the governor adjusts the high pressure cut-off to keep the speed near constant.

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This shows the barring engine that engages with teeth in the flywheel rim to slowly rotate the main engine. The boarding behind is on the flywheel. The barring engine would be used to put the engine in the right position for starting, for slowly rotating it to clear water from the cylinders and during maintenance and adjustments. The little vertical device on the right behind the hand rail is an electrical overspeed governor that is a last line of defence in an overspeed if the main governor has failed to stop the engine.

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This is the high pressure side from the crank end with the view dominated by the flywheel and its wooden boarding. The boarding stops the spokes stirring up a gale in the engine house. Part of the barring engine is seen on the left. We are very lucky that this engine survives and is now being restored. I hope to see it in steam one day.

Chris Allen

Farmland

N Chadwick

Grazing and woodland, Windy Bank

JThomas

Haulage yard, Glazebury

JThomas

Dinosaurs and Mini-Golf at Bent's Garden Centre

Anthony Parkes

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

The largest cross compound mill engine surviving in England. Built by Yates & Thom of Blackburn. It is currently being restored following a long period out of use and out of the public view. The cylinders have had their asbestos lagging removed and are currently missing the blued steel cladding. They do look better for a coat of green paint. This is one engine that is better on a dull day and the sun had just gone in briefly.

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

This shows the electrical overspeed governor. It is driven from the crankshaft and if the main governor fails and the engine overspeeds an electrical contact is made as the balls fly out and raise the flat topped 'table'. The creation of a circuit activates the electric stop motion and closes the main steam valve. The wood boarding behind covers in the spokes of the flywheel.

Chris Allen

Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine

This shows the centre of the flywheel where the crankshaft passes through it. The flywheel consists of two 24' diameter wheels rim to rim and grooved for cotton driving ropes. Each wheel has sets of 8 spokes held into the hub by the large keys arranged radially. The spokes are covered by wooden boarding to prevent them stirring up a gale in the engine house. The wheels are centred on the shaft by hand-fitted 'stakes'. There are four of these sitting on flats on the centre swell of the crankshaft. Fitting these was a skilled and very physical job.

Chris Allen