Digley Mill

A heavy loss of property by the flood occurred at this point. What ruins remain to-day give but a faint idea of what Digley was in 1852, before the flood swept it away. 

Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey

The property, which belonged to the executors of the late Mr George Hirst, consisted of a stone built mill, 30 yards square, besides a large weaving shed, containing 34 power looms and other machinery, two good dwelling houses, seven cottages, farm, and other out buildings, altogether making a compact little village. 

Adjacent to it, in the valley and on the hill side, were several fields of rich and fertile land; the whole forming a secluded and compact estate, variously estimated to be worth from £15,000 to £20,000. 

In one of the houses, built on the river side, dwelt Mrs. George Hirst, widow of its late owner, and in another house lived Mr. Henry Beardsell, son in law of Mrs. Hirst. 
The cottages were in the occupation of various workpeople. 

The factory, which was filled with various machinery and cloth, was driven by a steam engine and water wheel, and the mill, being built directly across the valley, was in a position to receive the full force of the flood as it dashed along between the rocks on wither side. 

On the left of Digley Stream some extensive dyeworks were erected.

  As we have said, the buildings formed a mass of solid stonework, but the torrent swept it away like straw; carrying its ponderous machinery down the valley, and tossed its boilers about with the greatest ease, one of them, weighing ten or twelve tons, being carried down the valley nearly to Hinchliffe Mill. 

Part of the engine was also carried down from its place, and became embedded in the mud lower down the valley. 

The Halifax Guardian of February 7^th, in describing the wreck at this place, says: -
“ The whole of this extensive property, with the exception of the mill chimney, was swept away.  Such a complete and utter wreck we have never before witnessed.  One can conceive of a single building being gutted, but to be held that only the day previous the property that we have briefly described was situated upon either bank of the river, appeared a marvel. 

Of the cottages scarcely a vestige remains; but embedded in the river are unmistakeable tokens of extensive works having recently been planted there. 

THE RIVER HOLME RUNNING THROUGH DIGLEY VALLEY BELOW THE DAM

No pen can describe this terrible wreck of property.  Some of the dye-pans remain, but all the machinery and valuable store of goods are gone – all swept away. 

We have heard the loss at this place variously estimated, and should think that £20,000 was under rather than over the mark. 

During the whole of Thursday, Digley Mill was visited by thousands of spectators, and certainly such a terrible scene has seldom been witnessed by man. 

Fortunately, Mrs. George Hirst and family were saved, having been made aware of the extreme probablility of the bursting during the night. 

We had an opportunity of hearing the evidence of two of the tenants occupying the cottages on the right-hand side of river, and shall give it in much their own words."