Cotton Mill. Golden Cup, Lower Darwen (otherwise Moss Bridge Mill)

Golden Cup in the title is a reference to the Golden Cup Inn, on Blackburn Road south west of Lower Darwen, a local landmark shown on the earliest OS map when the district was still open fields. A four-storey cotton spinning mill was erected on the east side of Blackburn road. The OS map of 1891 also indicates a reservoir and workers housing adjacent. Assumed mill owner’s house to the east. The mill was totally destroyed by fire in 1903 (photo www.cotton town.org) and demolished along with a terrace of workers’ houses. It was later replaced by a cotton weaving mill on the west side of Blackburn Road, also now demolished. The M65 motorway now runs immediately to the north of the site, but the Golden Cup Inn survives.

Reference        Manchester Guardian Wednesday 21 March 1860 Page 4 (Contracts)
Reference        Manchester Guardian Saturday 24 March 1860 Page 2 (Contracts)
Reference        Manchester Guardian Tuesday 27 March 1860 Page 1 (Contracts) -readable