Islington Mill is a Grade II-listed, six-storey Georgian mill building located on James Street, in Ordsall, Salford, Greater Manchester, England.
Islington Mill lends its name to the two organisations that reside here: Islington Mill Arts Club, and Islington Mill Foundation.
The history of Islington Mill closely reflects the wider social and economic history of the North of England.
We are one of the longest standing mills of our kind, purpose-built in 1823 to spin imported cotton that was farmed and cultivated by enslaved people overseas, and then processed by exploited workers here in Salford.
Islington Mill was part of the explosive industrialisation of England. In the following centuries as many types of British manufacturing were dismantled, the uses of the mill gradually changed from intense manufacturing to storage, retail, clerical and eventually into partial disuse.
As with many abandoned buildings around the country, artists began to occupy the property, making and sharing their work and ideas. Over time, this process saw us galvanise into the dynamic arts organisation that we are today.
With generous funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are now able to commit to a thorough exploration / reflection of this long, complicated and fascinating history and to share it with you.
As we progress through our research we will build upon our digital Heritage Timeline, as well as providing accompanying artistic responses and opportunities, and downloadable historical materials for schools, historians and anyone interested in our incredible story.
