Mill set to be beating heartbeat

ONE OF the oldest buildings in the Calder Valley will soon reverberate to the sound of cabaret nights and drumming workshops when a landmark mill conversion is completed.

Parts of Callis Mill in Hebden Bridge are nearly 700 years old, and in its operational life it was a Victorian cotton spinning mill owned by the Lacey brothers. In the 1970s, it was an aluminium manufacturing site, but by the 1980s it was derelict and the remaining buildings - which were once weaving sheds - began to crumble.

The renaissance of this fascinating industrial relic owes itself to an alliance between the site’s current owners - the Wade family, who use the land to store sewage and water pipes for their business - and a newly-formed Community Interest Company who have now agreed to rent the entire building and run it as an arts and performance venue.

Completion is expected in May, although it could be a further two years before the entire space is accessible, depending on funding grants.

Former Bradford Playhouse director Adrian Todd admits he is ‘breathing and sleeping’ the project as it approaches its opening date, having first become aware of Gina Wade’s restoration work when he was looking for a new home for his 40-piece band, Drum Machine, who are regulars on the festival circuit and had been forced to leave their former rehearsal space.

What is Drum, having been formed at the end of 2020, has now signed the first part of a lease to fully manage the site which will include three large open-plan rooms and four smaller office spaces.

Gina Wade turned down reliable offers from local businesses interested in renting the units to support Adrian’s vision instead.

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