ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an initial research undertaken as part of doctoral research within the Department of Archaeology, University of York. It seeks to establish an understanding of the mill as a workplace, using archaeological evidence to investigate the social dimensions of production, with particular attention paid to the ways in which the mill building helped establish, reproduce and maintain labour relations. The chapter explores similar research agenda for the study of the textile mill and with exploring its potential through reference to examples drawn largely from the Yorkshire cotton and worsted industries, from 1780 to 1930. T. A. Markus has suggested that the factory, epitomised by the textile mill, has three component structures—social, spatial and power transmission. Between the late 18th and early 20th centuries the Yorkshire textile industry gave rise to a variety of new building types, which reflected the differing needs and changing methods and scales of production of the industry.
