History
The business was founded by John Brough, a silk manufacturer, around 1812. His sons, Joshua, James, and John, took over and built a factory on Union Street in 1844. They partnered with Joshua Nicholson and B.B. Nixon, becoming J. and J. Brough, Nicholson & Co. in 1863. A warehouse was built on Cross Street around 1865, and Hope Mill on Fountain Street was acquired and expanded. By 1891, the partnership employed 630 workers. After several changes, the firm became Brough, Nicholson & Hall in 1891. They extended the Cross Street building and built Royal York Mill on Well Street in 1900. They also took over Cecily Mills in Cheadle. Many buildings were demolished in 1968, and in 1983, Brough, Nicholson & Hall sold their last premises, Cross Street Mill, to Berisfords.
The Royal York Mill, constructed in 1898 and renamed after a visit from the Duke of York in 1890, changed hands as the B N & Hall empire declined. It housed various companies, including York Mill Silk Knitters Ltd, Carina Sportswear Ltd, and Italiana Neckwear Limited, which operated until the early 1990s. The top floor has been unused since the 1970s and used for storage. The ground floor has an inaccessible annex, formerly an engineer’s store and later a stock room. The basement contains old machinery components and a tunnel to London Mill, which is partially filled and boarded over.
