It is unusual because it is an example of a steam-powered mill in a rural location. In contrast, urban mills had better access to workers, transportation, markets and coal.

The mill forms part of the historic narrative about the dominance of cotton manufacturing in the north-west of England which overtook wool production in the greater Manchester area. However, Crimble Mill is of interest for its retention of woollen manufacturing, which helped the mill survive during the Cotton Famine of the 1860s.

Crimble Mill provides an example of an integrated mill, incorporating buildings from the early 19th century to the late 20th century, with conversion of the site in the late 19th century to an integrated woollen mill in response to the Cotton Famine. The site includes 17 structures, which include the original mill building, with a surviving (although infilled) water wheel housing, as well as an engine house, boiler house, chimney, sheds and warehouses, among other structures. The earlier buildings on the site are constructed of a red-brown brick with Welsh slate roofing. Later buildings feature those of modern brickwork, as well as steel framing and reinforced concrete.

Crimble Mill is a Grade II* listed building (List Entry No. 1187124). It has been listed on the national Heritage at Risk Register since the early 1990s and prior to this was on Rochdale Council’s own buildings at risk register. It is currently defined as a Category A (Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric: no solution agreed) building. The condition is recorded as “Very Bad”. It is, and has been, mostly vacant and deteriorating for many years.  PBP with instruction from Redwaters have commissioned a building survey which was produced early in 2021 and updated in April 2021.  

The recommendations in this included requirement for waterproofing parts of the exposed roof have been actioned by PBP in the short term in the interests of preventing further deterioration.  Irrespective of these efforts there is great pressure to progress with an application in interests of preserving this asset and hence the preparation of this application at this time.