Structural Engineering in the Lancashire Cotton Spinning Mills 1850-1914: the example of Stott & Sons

Abstract

Stott & Sons were one of the major firms of mill architects in Lancashire, being responsible for some 20% of new cotton spinning mills built between 1880 and 1914. Their early mills were Fairbairn type mills with single brick arches supported by cast iron columns and beams. After 1870 they developed this system further in order to provide a floor of minimum thickness with maximum free floor space and window area. To do this the new materials of rolled iron and then steel were used to replace the cast iron beams, although cast iron columns were retained. They continued to use brick arches but after 1890 began to use reinforced concrete floors as well, although other architects had already made the change by this date. In making these advances Stott & Sons obtained two Patents, in 1871 and 1885.