You’ve heard of Saltaire and you’ve probably been to the Piece Hall.
Well, here’s another imposing, historical complex dedicated to business and pleasure – don’t worry; we’ll focus on the pleasure bit – within a stone’s throw of the latter.
How Dean Clough Mills remained firmly off my radar is as much due to location as it is to my ignorance. You see, I’ve never really had cause to venture north of Halifax town centre.
It’s nothing personal, it’s just always been in the opposite direction from where I’ve wanted to go. Anyway, how do you ‘hide’ a beefy, 22-acre complex with a 297ft (90m) chimney?
Firstly, it’s in a ravine. Clough is an ancient dialect word for ravine. Secondly, it’s masked by three substantial bridges: two concrete postwar flyovers and the Victorian North Bridge.
Dean Clough Mills, Halifax
I will have doubtlessly seen it numerous times but I probably assumed it was ‘another depressing, old mill’. How wrong I realised I was when Mrs Dave suggested we eat at True North, Dean Clough’s fine dining establishment.
As we drove under said bridges and into Mill D where most of the fun stuff is, I remarked: “How the **** did I miss this?”
Early Victorian monoliths bearing brushed metal signs greet you as you enter the courtyard of Mill D. There are bright lights from the sprawling art gallery, restaurants and bars.
Dean Clough Mills, Halifax: Next Level bar
There are outdoor seating areas dotted with funky furniture and sculptures linked to the mill’s textile origins. Hebble Brook, which once powered the mill, merrily splashes through the complex.
It’s a case study in post-post-industrial regeneration. Even on a freezing Wednesday in January, it feels overwhelmingly positive. The last carpet rolled off Dean Clough’s production line in 1982 but the site has seldom been dormant.
The mill complex was promptly bought by Sir Ernest Hall, his business partner Jonathan Silver and their business advisor Maurice Miller. Four years later, the late Silver would buy Salt’s Mill, Saltaire, and lead its transformation from a defunct textile mill to a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Dean Clough Mills, Halifax: Crossley Gallery
Back at Dean Clough, Hall Sr, who died in August, passed the reins to his eldest son Jeremy, who is today Dean Clough MD. Dean Clough has offered more than office space, since Hall Sr, Silver and Miller began redeveloping it piecemeal in 1983. The first art gallery opened circa 1984 and the first bona fide restaurant The Design House followed in 1994.
The mill opened its first theatre and live events venue in 1996. But as eating, drinking and being entertained are concerned…
“It’s in the last five years when things have really gathered pace,” says Jeremy. The regeneration of Dean Clough precedes the regeneration of the Piece Hall and the ‘Sally Wainwright effect’ by several decades. But in its present form Dean Clough feels like a major part of the new Halifax.
Jeremy: “Dean Clough is notable for some very specific things. Firstly, it’s home for a wonderful array of businesses, people and organisations.
“It’s about creating a place to attract those creative people. As a result the energy, dynamism and creativity from that whole cohort is sustained, retained and nurtured within Calderdale.
Dean Clough Mills, Halifax: Social Media & Events Co-ordinator Isaac Brierley (left) and MD Jeremy Hall
“The Dean Clough offering is very much complementary to the whole [regeneration of Halifax] and it resonates with the Piece Hall and Sally Wainwright.”
So could Dean Clough rival the Piece Hall? Apples and oranges, Dave. Although apples and oranges taste pretty good together in a fruit salad.
“They’re incredibly complementary,” says Jeremy. He explains how the Piece Hall’s regeneration and ability to attract top-tier touring bands has changed people’s perception of Halifax. It’s no longer seen as a backwater between Leeds and Manchester.
And has there been a positive knock-on effect for Dean Clough? They are, after all, only 15 minutes walk from each other.
Jeremy: “Absolutely. It’s changed people’s perception of the area.”
Do
Eat/Drink
True North: fine dining for a special occasion in airy, contemporary setting
The Engine Room: breakfast and lunch spot with full English breakfasts, burgers and coffee
Next Level: video games bar with comfort food
Stod Fold: craft beer, classic pub grub and burgers
Thai Corner: informal dine-in and takeaway serving classic Thai dishes
Hubb: minimalist coffee bar with US diner food
Babar Khan: curries, kebabs, biryanis and more
Lucy’s Little Bake House: coffee, cakes and afternoon teas
Buy
Alyona Malai: bespoke women’s couture
Design Shop: gifts, crafts, books and games
Dot the Jewellers: bespoke jewellery
DR Bespoke: bespoke suits
Refinery by Kelly Jones: furniture and homewares
Prestige Flowers: flowers and gifts
Look
Crossley Gallery: a sprawling multilevel gallery with an array of collections from established international to local nascent artists.
Viaduct Theatre: 300-seater, modern, no-frills theatre and home of Northern Broadsides touring theatre company
History
Dean Clough Mills was built between 1841 to 1869 by the Crossley family.
At its peak, in the second half of the 19 th century, Dean Clough Mills was the largest carpet factory in the world. The company, John Crossley and Sons, employed up to 6,000 people.
Changing market forces, including cheaper imports, led to the eventual closure of John Crossley and Sons, in 1982.
As well as entrepreneurs, the Crossleys were known for their philanthropy, particularly that of Sir Francis Crossley (1817-1872). Frank, as he was known to his contemporaries, opened the 12-acre People’s Park in Halifax, in 1857.
Frank and his brothers John and Joseph opened an orphanage in 1864. The building is today part of Crossley Heath grammar school.
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