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Victorian London Movie Set, England
This old English textile mill has been transformed into a Victorian London Movie Set! The original mill architecture appears alongside, and often included into, the imaginative set designs. I explored this location in 2021, almost exactly 1 year before it was destroyed by a fire.
History of Dalton Mills Keithly
Dalton Mills is a former textile mill that was built in 1869 by wealthy industrialist, Joseph Craven. The mills replaced an older mill that dated back to the 1780s. This huge mill complex once spanned over 4,000 square meters, making it one of (if not the) largest textile mills in Yorkshire. Over 2,000 employees worked here during the mills hayday spanning several decades.
Nowadays, those boom times are now a distant memory. The once booming textile industry of northern England began to decline in the late 20th Century. The mill shut down sometime in the 1980s.
A decade later, and after a few changes in ownership, things were looking up for the old mill; it was awarded Grade II* Listed status. Additionally, the clock tower was renovated, and part of the building was back in use as business/office space.
A new life as a Movie Set and tv filming location
Most of the ground floor of Dalton Mills is a bizarre mix of decor. One area features a red stage with golden pillars and gargoyles. Nearby there is what looks like an ancient prison, the walls are fabricated and sounded hollow when tapped upon. Other areas are decorated with vintage-style posters. These areas are actually all part of movie sets, used in the British horror-mystery film The Limehouse Golem (2016). It appears everything was left here after final wrap, in part of the derelict mill.
The mill and its exterior have also featured in scenes from TV series, including Peaky Blinders and Downtown Abbey.
Dalton Mills ablaze – March 2021
On March 3rd 2022 a huge blaze broke out at Dalton Mills. At the peak 100 firefighters from 20 stations joined forced to bring the fire under control. Although no one was injured, the mill was devastated. The roof entirely gave way, and the floors collapsed. The only thing that survived appears to be the facade.
