Rickards of Skipton

 The company of Rickards was established at Bell Busk Mill on the River Aire in 1862. Although the mill that was purchased was set up for cotton, Rickards turned it over to the manufacturing of silk thread. This was the time of the American Civil War and cotton was scarce. Silk reels of 12 yards were produced and sold for a penny.

The company took on the Low Mills, Sackville Street, Skipton in the 1890s. Around 300 people were employed there but it burned down in 1908. 

Neither Bell Busk nor Low Mills survive. There is now housing referencing the mill on Sackville Street.


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