Piccadilly Mill, Piccadilly, Manchester- Post Excavation Assessment

During December 2004, Oxford Archaeology North commenced a programme of archaeological investigation that was focused within the Piccadilly area of Manchester, centred at NGR SJ 8459 9799. The work was commissioned by Gleeds Management
Services, acting on behalf of City Inn, who have submitted a proposal to Manchester City Council to redevelop the site.
The study area formed part of a focus for industrial development during the late 18th century, following the application of steam power to textile manufacturing. In
particular, the study area was occupied formerly by Piccadilly Mill, also known as Drinkwater’s Mill, which was completed in 1789 and represented the first cotton
factory in the region to have been designed specifically to accommodate a rotative steam engine.
During the late 18th century, some of the region’s most significant pioneers of the textile industry were associated directly with the mill, including Peter Drinkwater, George Lee, Robert Owen and homas Lowe. The mill underwent several phases of expansion through the 19th century, and continued to function as a cotton spinning mill until the late years of that century, when it was converted for use as a lithographic printing and engraving works. By 1932, however, the printing works had been demolished, and the site was redeveloped.