They focus on a year at Prospect Mill on Victoria Road in Morley in 1965 and showcase the work of different departments which came together to produce the finished cloth. The gallery kicks off with a wonderful image of staff on a mid-morning break and capture different roles such as loom tuners, weavers, dyers, twisters, packers and finishers. Prospect was owned by J. & S. Rhodes. The firm had at one time owned three in the town. Valley Mills was first to close in the 1950s. Queens Mill closed about 1960. It was located immediately behind Morley Town Hall and was affected by the disastrous fire in August 1961 at its neighbouring mill, Albert Mills, when the dome of the Town Hall was also damaged. Both were demolished by 1962. These images are published courtesy of the David Atkinson Archive, whose collection is housed on photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 12 photo gems take you back to Morley in 1968 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
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Manager Henry Atkinson and head dyer Bob Goodall exam a selection of pattern books, used to send to potential customers, in the weaving office. Photo: Prospect Mills
8. Prospect Mills
Morning break-time for the workers in the weaving department. Photo: David Atkinson Archive, Leeds Libraries
9. Prospect Mills
Mules spinning the yarn for red ladies' coating. These mules were on the top (third) floor of the 1934 red brick building because they were much less weighty than 'sets' and looms. A full length mule for spinning weft yarn could accommodate 480 bobbins. The spinning process required very good light so that running repairs to any broken threads could be made on the spot, and also that the broken threads could easily be seen. The spinner here is Tom Marshall. Photo: David Atkinson Archive, Leeds Libraries
10. Prospect Mills
Racks of cloth in the warehouse. The warehouse where finished cloth was awaiting transport to a customer also kept a stock of pattern books and sample lengths. Cloth for the pattern books was cut to the same dimensions and given saw tooth edges to prevent fraying. If a customer wanted to see a garment made up from the cloth before placing an order they were sent a longer length of cloth as seen on the right. Sometimes valued customers sent in suggestions as to the type of pattern they would like and the firm made special sample lengths to try to fit the specifications, but this only occurred if trade was slack. Photo: David Atkinson Archive, Leeds Libraries
11. Prospect Mills
Ladies' coating material is being woven on Dobcross looms (semi-automatic). The weaver is filling the loom's magazine with weft bobbins from the store on the side of the loom. Rapidly moving machinery is seen in the bottom left hand corner. Photo: David Atkinson Archive, Leeds Libraries
12. Prospect Mills
Bales of cloth with destination and sales in the packing department. Fred Sadler, who was manager of this department, used a variety of stencils to mark the hessian packing material - some on the rack behind and another on the floor in front. The cloth was compressed in a special machine to make it fit into a smaller space. At this time it was usual to pack cloth into containers at the factory as many of the orders were small and for different countries. This was generally done at other assembly points. The person standing by watching is the lorry driver. Photo: David Atkinson Archive, Leeds Libraries