Historic spinning mule hall on risk list

INVENTION PAVED WAY FOR TOWN'S COTTON BOOM

- NEAL KEELING

A HISTORIC hall where the spinning mule was invented, paving the way for a revolution in yarn, has been declared 'at risk.'

The machine turned Bolton into a boomtown. The mule was used to spin cotton fibres into yarn, which can then be woven into a variety of textile goods including the highly desired muslin.

Crompton and his family were renting rooms at Hall'i'th'Wood, Bolton, in 1779 when he created a machine which would change history. But he could not afford a patent. He revealed the machine's potential to manufacturers on condition they would pay him.