In 1901, a Smith Bros. & Eastwood, 300 hp. tandem compound engine was installed at Cross Lane Mill, Low Bradley, Nr. Skipton, for the weaving firm of Peter Green & Sons. It replaced an earlier beam engine at the mill. The tandem engine, built in Bradford, then continued to run the mill for the next 77 years.

Early in 2003, the mill premises were sold for development into houses and flats. The previous owner was anxious that the engine should be preserved. To this end, an enthusiast was given ownership and permission to dismantle and remove the engine, and find a new home for it. The position became more acute as the engine was dismantled, with nowhere to store it under cover. At this stage, the Committee at Bancroft Trust offered to find room in a large store at Bancroft Mill, and the Bradley engine parts were transported there.

Talks were instituted between the engine owner and Bancroft Trust, which resulted in a plan to re- erect the engine at Bancroft Mill as an added attraction, with the hope of eventually turning it over by steam.

The Smith Bros. & Eastwood engine is an example of a different type of engine to the Bancroft engine, it has tandem configuration of its cylinders as opposed to the cross compound arrangement. The tandem engine has both cylinders in-line with only one crank where the cross compound has its cylinders side-by-side and a separate crank for each of them. It is an example of a northern-built engine with several novel features, and is in a condition commensurate with its age and requiring repair in some areas.

It is believed to be the sole surviving engine built by Smith Bros. & Eastwood of Bradford. The erection and display of this engine, together with full interpretation of its operation and the history of Bradley Mill, will enhance the value of visits to Bancroft Mill by the public. The engine, however, could not have been contemplated for rebuilding unless the Bancroft store building was extended.

This rare 1901 Smith Bros. & Eastwood steam engine has an overall “footprint” of 41 feet x 4 feet. The new home for the engine, a large brick/stone building at Bancroft Mill, previously used as a store, was 30 feet long and 20 feet wide. At the front of the building, facing Gillians Lane, are, presently, four wooden, sliding doors.

To accommodate the engine within this building, it has been extended by approximately 16 feet. The extension was added to the rear gable-end. To improve the frontage of the building, and also improve natural lighting of the interior, it is intended to replace the sliding doors with two glazed, arched windows/doors, from the Bradley Mill engine and boiler house, which would enhance the appearance of the frontage and be in keeping with the new role of the building.

With the civil engineering project nearly completed, the engine will occupy one half of the width of the building for its full length with safety railings in place. The public access to the building will be via a side door from the Mill yard, and all moving parts of the engine will be viewed from the remaining half of the building. Good natural lighting will be ensured by the arched windows at the front, two existing side windows, and some glazing of the extension

The foundations for the Bradley Engine are virtually complete at the end of July 2009 with only minor finishing work to take place. One main casting is already in place and has been prepared for painting. Anchors to tie the engine to its foundations are in manufacture by members whilst design work on replacement piston rod bearing/seals and bearing shells is ongoing at the same date. Safety rails and the specification of a single and 3-phase electrical system for this building is in preparation. It is hoped to provide an electrical “barring” facility for build, maintenance and starting.

text & images © 2009 Bancroft Mill Engine Trust