I originally visited these mills back in March 2011, having drove past them a few times in recent months I decided a revisit was long overdue.
Balne Mills were owned by Harold Holdsworth & Company Ltd after 1930, I have been unable to trace the owners prior to that.
In the 1970’s the mills were the premises of a cash and carry before they were bought by Saville Cabinet Maker’s in 1979, they later became Greenwood & Wood.
Greenwood & Wood soon established themselves market leaders in the woodworking industry. Their work focused on banks and building societies. The then Halifax Building Society was their biggest client. By the mid 1980s the company had complete monopoly on their clients. This resulted in Greenwood & Wood having two sites, Balne Mills was used for assembly, whereas their other premises at Ossett housed their large machine shop.
The good times were not to last, Halifax Building Society became a bank, almost instantly Greenwood & Wood lost their biggest contract, forcing the company into administration in 1997.
The company survived, it diversified and would once again come together under one roof at Balne Mills. The original mills were largely extended to accommodate all departments, making the site at Balne Mills an impressive 112,000 square ft.
Sadly the good days would never return, the company changed hands again, the workers did not receive a pay rise for seven years prior to the company finally closing its doors in 2009.
Thanks for looking
Balne Mills were owned by Harold Holdsworth & Company Ltd after 1930, I have been unable to trace the owners prior to that.
In the 1970’s the mills were the premises of a cash and carry before they were bought by Saville Cabinet Maker’s in 1979, they later became Greenwood & Wood.
Greenwood & Wood soon established themselves market leaders in the woodworking industry. Their work focused on banks and building societies. The then Halifax Building Society was their biggest client. By the mid 1980s the company had complete monopoly on their clients. This resulted in Greenwood & Wood having two sites, Balne Mills was used for assembly, whereas their other premises at Ossett housed their large machine shop.
The good times were not to last, Halifax Building Society became a bank, almost instantly Greenwood & Wood lost their biggest contract, forcing the company into administration in 1997.
The company survived, it diversified and would once again come together under one roof at Balne Mills. The original mills were largely extended to accommodate all departments, making the site at Balne Mills an impressive 112,000 square ft.
Sadly the good days would never return, the company changed hands again, the workers did not receive a pay rise for seven years prior to the company finally closing its doors in 2009.
Thanks for looking
