Revolution Mill, built by Major John Cartwright, the radical reformer and brother of Rev E Cartwright, the inventor. The mill was at Spital Hill, and was completed in 1788 at a cost of £25,000. Its business was "breaking, combing, preparing, spinning, seizing, dressing and winding wool", and it was powered by a Boulton and Watt steam engine of 30 hp, one of the first and largest in the E Midlands. The mill was soon employing 600 people, but it failed, and was sold in 1798. It was pulled down long ago but Wellington Row, some of the houses built for the workers, survived until the 1950s. A drawing dated Feb 1787 in the Boulton and Watt collection suggests that the mill was 123ft long by 29ft wide and of four storeys (1)
Auctioned off at tremendous loss in 1806. Advertisement for the sale gives detailed information about the mill and associated buildings. (2)
Grid ref approx.

<1> Smith DM, 1965, The Industrial Archaeology of the East Midlands, p 95 (Published document). SNT1304.

<2> Jackson A, 1971, A History of Retford, pp 36-38 (Monograph). SNT1.