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Brierfield

Settlement in Lancashire Pendle

England

Brierfield

Queen Street Mill - engine running William Roberts of Nelson horizontal tandem compound mill engine running at 68 rpm. This explains the blurring of the crank and flywheel. The governor's balls can also seen to be in the 'out' position indicating that the engine is running. The yellow and black marking on the floor is for the public to stay behind. The engine driver is always present and the public are well behaved. Queen Street was the last Lancashire weaving shed to run under steam power and is now a working textile museum operated by Lancashire County Council. On this occasion this was the engine's penultimate run before the engine tenter retired ahead of a hiatus of unknown length. We obviously hope that a replacement will be found and the engine back in steam as soon as possible. The mesh guarding below the handrail is an addition since my last visit in 2013.
Queen Street Mill - engine running Credit: Chris Allen

Brierfield is a small town located in the county of Lancashire, in the northwestern part of England. Situated on the southern edge of Pendle Hill, it lies approximately 3 miles north of Burnley and 1 mile south of Nelson. Brierfield is part of the borough of Pendle and has a population of around 9,300 residents.

Historically, Brierfield was built around the cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution, with several cotton mills being established in the area. However, like many towns in the region, Brierfield experienced a decline in its textile industry in the late 20th century. Today, the town has transitioned into a more diverse economic base, including manufacturing, engineering, and service sectors.

Brierfield is known for its rich cultural heritage, with a strong South Asian community that has contributed to the town's multicultural character. The town features several places of worship, including mosques and churches, reflecting the diverse religious makeup of its population.

Nature enthusiasts can enjoy the nearby countryside, with Pendle Hill offering stunning views and opportunities for hiking and outdoor activities. The town also benefits from its proximity to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which provides scenic walking and cycling routes.

Brierfield offers a range of amenities including shops, supermarkets, schools, and healthcare facilities. It benefits from good transport links, with easy access to the M65 motorway and regular bus services connecting it to neighboring towns and cities.

Overall, Brierfield is a small, multicultural town in Lancashire that combines its industrial heritage with a diverse community and access to beautiful countryside.

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Brierfield Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.824125/-2.215687 or Grid Reference SD8536. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Queen Street Mill - engine running William Roberts of Nelson horizontal tandem compound mill engine running at 68 rpm. This explains the blurring of the crank and flywheel. The governor's balls can also seen to be in the 'out' position indicating that the engine is running. The yellow and black marking on the floor is for the public to stay behind. The engine driver is always present and the public are well behaved. Queen Street was the last Lancashire weaving shed to run under steam power and is now a working textile museum operated by Lancashire County Council. On this occasion this was the engine's penultimate run before the engine tenter retired ahead of a hiatus of unknown length. We obviously hope that a replacement will be found and the engine back in steam as soon as possible. The mesh guarding below the handrail is an addition since my last visit in 2013.
Queen Street Mill - engine running
William Roberts of Nelson horizontal tandem compound mill engine running at 68 rpm. This explains the blurring of the crank and flywheel. The governor's balls can also seen to be in the 'out' position indicating that the engine is running. The yellow and black marking on the floor is for the public to stay behind. The engine driver is always present and the public are well behaved. Queen Street was the last Lancashire weaving shed to run under steam power and is now a working textile museum operated by Lancashire County Council. On this occasion this was the engine's penultimate run before the engine tenter retired ahead of a hiatus of unknown length. We obviously hope that a replacement will be found and the engine back in steam as soon as possible. The mesh guarding below the handrail is an addition since my last visit in 2013.
Queen Street Mill - the weaving shed This mill is now a museum and still demonstrates its steam engine turning the line shafting and operating a few looms only. There would be 800-1200 Lancashire looms in a typical shed, each taking about 0.5 horsepower of steam engine power and producing an incredible din. The mill girls communicated by lip reading a skill called mee-mawing (somebody will correct the spelling). This view was taken with the permission of the collections manager who was taking us through the shed to see some items in store. It gives a good impression of the forest of belts driving the Lancashire looms.
Queen Street Mill - the weaving shed
This mill is now a museum and still demonstrates its steam engine turning the line shafting and operating a few looms only. There would be 800-1200 Lancashire looms in a typical shed, each taking about 0.5 horsepower of steam engine power and producing an incredible din. The mill girls communicated by lip reading a skill called mee-mawing (somebody will correct the spelling). This view was taken with the permission of the collections manager who was taking us through the shed to see some items in store. It gives a good impression of the forest of belts driving the Lancashire looms.
Queen Street Mill - Engineering Heritage Award This former cotton weaving shed is now a museum and the original steam engine - Peace - can still run and has been honoured with this award. The Institution has an excellent strap line - Improving the world through engineering. I always intend to photograph these plaques but often forget while distracted by what they are celebrating.
Queen Street Mill - Engineering Heritage Award
This former cotton weaving shed is now a museum and the original steam engine - Peace - can still run and has been honoured with this award. The Institution has an excellent strap line - Improving the world through engineering. I always intend to photograph these plaques but often forget while distracted by what they are celebrating.
Queen Street Mill - pressure gauges These gauges on the engine house wall let the driver know that all is well with the tandem compound mill engine - Peace - that powered the mill. A glance will tell you that the engine is running, which should come as no surprise unless you are unconscious as the sight and sound of it is quite spectacular enough. The left hand gauge is the steam pressure in the main from the boiler house. This is just a shade under 45 psi, which is adequate for running the engine essentially off load apart from the friction of the gearing and lineshafts. The middle gauge is the vacuum in the condenser and is around 24 inches of mercury (one atmosphere being 30"). The gauge on the right is a combination pressure and vacuum gauge that measures the pressure between the high and low pressure cylinders. Because the engine is working on so little load this is subatmospheric at about 7" of mercury. With the engine on full load it would have been above atmospheric pressure. The red pipe on the right transfers steam between the two cylinders.
Queen Street Mill - pressure gauges
These gauges on the engine house wall let the driver know that all is well with the tandem compound mill engine - Peace - that powered the mill. A glance will tell you that the engine is running, which should come as no surprise unless you are unconscious as the sight and sound of it is quite spectacular enough. The left hand gauge is the steam pressure in the main from the boiler house. This is just a shade under 45 psi, which is adequate for running the engine essentially off load apart from the friction of the gearing and lineshafts. The middle gauge is the vacuum in the condenser and is around 24 inches of mercury (one atmosphere being 30"). The gauge on the right is a combination pressure and vacuum gauge that measures the pressure between the high and low pressure cylinders. Because the engine is working on so little load this is subatmospheric at about 7" of mercury. With the engine on full load it would have been above atmospheric pressure. The red pipe on the right transfers steam between the two cylinders.
QueenStreet Mill - steam engine electric vacuum breaker This on the horizontal tandem compound mill engine by William Roberts of Nelson. There is an electromagnet at the top and when an emergency stop button is pressed the governor is disconnected and this weight is dropped on to the levers below that lift a valve to admit air down the black pipe. This breaks the vacuum in the condenser and helps slow the engine quicker. It is not instantaneous though. Without the vacuum breaker the engine stops in 28 revolutions and with it in 18 revolutions. There is a lot of momentum in the flywheel. Apparently the air rushing in makes quite a racket.
QueenStreet Mill - steam engine electric vacuum breaker
This on the horizontal tandem compound mill engine by William Roberts of Nelson. There is an electromagnet at the top and when an emergency stop button is pressed the governor is disconnected and this weight is dropped on to the levers below that lift a valve to admit air down the black pipe. This breaks the vacuum in the condenser and helps slow the engine quicker. It is not instantaneous though. Without the vacuum breaker the engine stops in 28 revolutions and with it in 18 revolutions. There is a lot of momentum in the flywheel. Apparently the air rushing in makes quite a racket.
Queen Street Mill - the governor's ghostly balls This former weaving shed is now a museum and the horizontal tandem compound engine still runs to demonstrate the noise and motion of a large weaving shed. Its speed is controlled by this Whitehead governor that adjusts the amount of steam entering the engine to keep the speed close to constant. The linkage on the right includes underspeed and overspeed trips that will stop the engine if it goes out a specified speed range. The rectangular box on the governor stand is an electric stop motion that will close the steam valves if an emergency stop button is pushed. The same button also simultaneously breaks the vacuum in the engine's condenser, thus helping it to coast to a halt in a shorter time. We were witness to an unexpected underspeed trip earlier in the afternoon when the vacuum fell due to some unauthorised fiddling with the injection valve. The two balls are ghostly because the shot is of the engine running with 50:50 time and flash. That everything else is sharp is testament to the steady running of the engine because if the speed had shifted during the exposure there would be more blurring. The flash has also stopped the motion of the gib and cotter (bottom to the left of the handrail stanchion) in the little end of the connecting rod.
Queen Street Mill - the governor's ghostly balls
This former weaving shed is now a museum and the horizontal tandem compound engine still runs to demonstrate the noise and motion of a large weaving shed. Its speed is controlled by this Whitehead governor that adjusts the amount of steam entering the engine to keep the speed close to constant. The linkage on the right includes underspeed and overspeed trips that will stop the engine if it goes out a specified speed range. The rectangular box on the governor stand is an electric stop motion that will close the steam valves if an emergency stop button is pushed. The same button also simultaneously breaks the vacuum in the engine's condenser, thus helping it to coast to a halt in a shorter time. We were witness to an unexpected underspeed trip earlier in the afternoon when the vacuum fell due to some unauthorised fiddling with the injection valve. The two balls are ghostly because the shot is of the engine running with 50:50 time and flash. That everything else is sharp is testament to the steady running of the engine because if the speed had shifted during the exposure there would be more blurring. The flash has also stopped the motion of the gib and cotter (bottom to the left of the handrail stanchion) in the little end of the connecting rod.
Queen Street Mill - the big wheel goes round and round! This is the flywheel of the horizontal tandem compound steam engine driving Queen Street Mill as a museum of the Lancashire weaving industry. The flywheel is 14' diameter and the engine drives directly onto the mill's main shaft to operate the looms. The engine was built in 1895 with new cylinders in 1918/19 and developed up to 500 horsepower. This is a 50:50 time and flash shot.
Queen Street Mill - the big wheel goes round and round!
This is the flywheel of the horizontal tandem compound steam engine driving Queen Street Mill as a museum of the Lancashire weaving industry. The flywheel is 14' diameter and the engine drives directly onto the mill's main shaft to operate the looms. The engine was built in 1895 with new cylinders in 1918/19 and developed up to 500 horsepower. This is a 50:50 time and flash shot.
Queen Street Mill - sizing machines These treat the warp for the looms with a starch based mixture that improves the strength and handling. These are now electrically powered but I believe they were originally steam powered with a 'donkey' engine and the museum has acquired a suitable engine to display alongside. These machines are no longer used.
Queen Street Mill - sizing machines
These treat the warp for the looms with a starch based mixture that improves the strength and handling. These are now electrically powered but I believe they were originally steam powered with a 'donkey' engine and the museum has acquired a suitable engine to display alongside. These machines are no longer used.
Queen Street Mill - Peace This is the 500 horsepower horizontal tandem compound mill engine that drove this weaving shed that is now a museum. It was built by William Roberts of Nelson in 1895 and rebuilt after a fire in 1918-19, which is when it gained its current name following the armistice. This was a running day and probably the penultimate one for some time due to the impending retirement of the engine driver.
Queen Street Mill - Peace
This is the 500 horsepower horizontal tandem compound mill engine that drove this weaving shed that is now a museum. It was built by William Roberts of Nelson in 1895 and rebuilt after a fire in 1918-19, which is when it gained its current name following the armistice. This was a running day and probably the penultimate one for some time due to the impending retirement of the engine driver.
Queen Street Mill - clickety-clack This shows the Corliss valve gear on the horizontal tandem compound mill engine that still runs at this museum in a former weaving shed. You can make out some blurring due to the motion but unfortunately you can't enjoy the lovely sound as the engine runs along at 68 rpm. Unfortunately this was the penultimate running day before the engine driver's retirement and it is not known when he will be replaced and we can once again enjoy the sounds and sight of this lovely machine.
Queen Street Mill - clickety-clack
This shows the Corliss valve gear on the horizontal tandem compound mill engine that still runs at this museum in a former weaving shed. You can make out some blurring due to the motion but unfortunately you can't enjoy the lovely sound as the engine runs along at 68 rpm. Unfortunately this was the penultimate running day before the engine driver's retirement and it is not known when he will be replaced and we can once again enjoy the sounds and sight of this lovely machine.
Queen Street Mill - notice to employees This former cotton weaving shed is now an excellent museum and it is to be hoped that it stays open for years to come.
Queen Street Mill - notice to employees
This former cotton weaving shed is now an excellent museum and it is to be hoped that it stays open for years to come.
Queen Street Mill - warp beam preparation Loading the thread onto the warp beam that goes onto the loom. Sets of healds and reeds hang from the roof. In the same part of the mill is a pirn winding display where the weft is prepared for loading into the shuttles.
Queen Street Mill - warp beam preparation
Loading the thread onto the warp beam that goes onto the loom. Sets of healds and reeds hang from the roof. In the same part of the mill is a pirn winding display where the weft is prepared for loading into the shuttles.
An aquarium with no fish! At Queen Street Mill that is now a museum based on a former cotton weaving shed. This 'aquarium' feeds oil to the main bearing of the 500 horsepower steam engine that drove the shed. The oil is recirculated by pumps driven off the crankshaft. The glass in the lower part of the case allows the driver to check that the oil is flowing.
An aquarium with no fish!
At Queen Street Mill that is now a museum based on a former cotton weaving shed. This 'aquarium' feeds oil to the main bearing of the 500 horsepower steam engine that drove the shed. The oil is recirculated by pumps driven off the crankshaft. The glass in the lower part of the case allows the driver to check that the oil is flowing.
Queen Street Mill - switchgear This former steam driven cotton weaving shed seemed to have quite an appetite for three-phase as well as coal. The notice states that it is a non-smoking building. I am pleased to hear it - smoking is bad for the health of buildings.
Queen Street Mill - switchgear
This former steam driven cotton weaving shed seemed to have quite an appetite for three-phase as well as coal. The notice states that it is a non-smoking building. I am pleased to hear it - smoking is bad for the health of buildings.
Queen Street Mill - firefighting equipment This former steam powered weaving shed is now a museum celebrating Lancashire's textile past. The little details are equally as important as the engine and looms in telling the story.
Queen Street Mill - firefighting equipment
This former steam powered weaving shed is now a museum celebrating Lancashire's textile past. The little details are equally as important as the engine and looms in telling the story.
Queen Street Mill - detail of engine This former weaving shed is now a museum and still operates this 500 horsepower tandem compound steam engine dating from 1895 and rebuilt in 1918-19. This view is now partly obscured by mesh guarding so I have chosen this older image to show the detail of this part. On the right is the front of the low pressure cylinder with the piston rod connecting to the single slipper crosshead guide. The crosshead connects to the little (!) end of the connecting rod and also drives two levers working through slots in the bed to operate the air pump in the basement.
Queen Street Mill - detail of engine
This former weaving shed is now a museum and still operates this 500 horsepower tandem compound steam engine dating from 1895 and rebuilt in 1918-19. This view is now partly obscured by mesh guarding so I have chosen this older image to show the detail of this part. On the right is the front of the low pressure cylinder with the piston rod connecting to the single slipper crosshead guide. The crosshead connects to the little (!) end of the connecting rod and also drives two levers working through slots in the bed to operate the air pump in the basement.
Queen Street Mill - barring engine This inverted vertical duplex engine engages with the flywheel of the main mill engine to slowly turn it round. It can be used to set the engine to the starting position, move it round to make sure there is no water in the cylinders and move it for maintenance. In earlier engines this was done manually with a long bar to gain leverage against the flywheel's spokes - hence barring engine.
Queen Street Mill - barring engine
This inverted vertical duplex engine engages with the flywheel of the main mill engine to slowly turn it round. It can be used to set the engine to the starting position, move it round to make sure there is no water in the cylinders and move it for maintenance. In earlier engines this was done manually with a long bar to gain leverage against the flywheel's spokes - hence barring engine.
Queen Street Mill - the engine tenter's bench In this former weaving shed that is now a museum. This bench is in one end of the mill engine house. In Lancashire a stationary engine driver was known as an engine tenter (probably a corruption of the word tender). Apart from the modern blue drinks container this is a timeless scene and could have been 1922 not 2022.
Queen Street Mill - the engine tenter's bench
In this former weaving shed that is now a museum. This bench is in one end of the mill engine house. In Lancashire a stationary engine driver was known as an engine tenter (probably a corruption of the word tender). Apart from the modern blue drinks container this is a timeless scene and could have been 1922 not 2022.
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Brierfield is located at Grid Ref: SD8536 (Lat: 53.824125, Lng: -2.215687)

Administrative County: Lancashire

District: Pendle

Police Authority: Lancashire

What 3 Words

///sticks.lifts.stow. Near Brierfield, Lancashire

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 53.824125,-2.215687
Turning Circle
Lat/Long: 53.8217943/-2.2143626
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Mini Roundabout
Lat/Long: 53.8248312/-2.2219915
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Halifax Road
Bus: yes
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500IMG2680
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Shelter: yes
Lat/Long: 53.826431/-2.2127559
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Halifax Road
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500LAA16343
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Lat/Long: 53.8263367/-2.2127495
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Springfield Road
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Lat/Long: 53.8271268/-2.2141841
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Springfield Road
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500IMG2690
Naptan NaptanCode: langdpwt
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Lat/Long: 53.8271027/-2.2140144
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Hill Place
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500IMG2691
Naptan NaptanCode: langdtad
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Lat/Long: 53.8280639/-2.2162729
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Hill Place
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500472
Naptan NaptanCode: lanawjmw
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Lat/Long: 53.8279515/-2.2162396
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Brier Crescent
Bus: yes
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Lat/Long: 53.8266604/-2.2186078
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Brier Crescent
Naptan AtcoCode: 250015574
Naptan NaptanCode: lanaptaw
Public Transport: platform
Lat/Long: 53.8264212/-2.2186601
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Halifax Road
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500IMG2637
Naptan NaptanCode: langdmwg
Public Transport: platform
Lat/Long: 53.8240302/-2.2201409
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Halifax Road
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Lat/Long: 53.8241832/-2.2199442
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St Paul's Road
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Lat/Long: 53.8284261/-2.215298
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St Paul's Road
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Lat/Long: 53.8284038/-2.2152109
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Bus Stop
Scholefield Avenue
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500IMG2688
Naptan NaptanCode: langdpwm
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Lat/Long: 53.8242497/-2.2090459
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Scholefield Avenue
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500DCL574
Naptan NaptanCode: landmpjg
Public Transport: platform
Lat/Long: 53.8243328/-2.2095441
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Bus Stop
Waidshouse Road
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500IMG2689
Naptan NaptanCode: langdpwp
Public Transport: platform
Lat/Long: 53.8255958/-2.2124141
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Bus Stop
Waidshouse Road
Naptan AtcoCode: 2500478
Naptan NaptanCode: lanawjpm
Public Transport: platform
Lat/Long: 53.8260521/-2.2129606
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Crossing
Crossing: marked
Lat/Long: 53.8242493/-2.221972
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Crossing
Crossing: marked
Lat/Long: 53.8242113/-2.2229949
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Crossing
Crossing: marked
Lat/Long: 53.8253987/-2.2201427
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Fixme: End of PRoW data route but does this path continue?
Lat/Long: 53.8227881/-2.2109336
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Crossing
Lat/Long: 53.8225457/-2.2105614
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Crossing
Lat/Long: 53.821896/-2.2188073
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Lat/Long: 53.8219037/-2.2187971
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The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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