I'm taking many shoots of this local landmark mill 0n Ashton Road, Hyde.. before it is pulled down for housing. Originally it was a cotton mill built at the turn of the 1900s and completed in 1905. Cotton was worked here until 1958, when the factory was sold to a Cigarette making company called J. A. Pattrieouoex. This company made the Senior Service brand of cigarettes, very popular in the 1950s 60s, and 70s and still being made elsewhere today. A good quality cigarette that I remember being smoked mostly by men in the building trade.... a working mans smoke along with the likes of 'Park Drive' which my dad smoked and 'Woodbine' which my mother smoked.
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On the top of this factory in what must have been 10-15 foot blue florescent lights were the words 'SENIOR SERVICE'. These could be seen from miles around, and made the mill a landmark. The Gallaher group purchased the building in 1959 and continued making cigarettes there for over 40 years. The factory was closed in 1999 and production was transferred to Northern Ireland. The building is now home to Findel Education, a supplier of educational products. I for one will be sad to see this building pulled down and houses being built in its place.
