Northlight Mill opens doors for action-packed weekend

A graffitit artist at work at the Northlight Mill heritage weekend (s)

Around 400 people went along to Brierfield’s Northlight Mill to take part in an action packed weekend of creative events that included a pop up skate park and a display of urban street art by artists from Sheffield and Blackpool, who transformed the empty spaces and breathed new life into the building.

There was also a pop up cinema showing films made by Pendle movie maker Howard Greenwood.

And the highlight of the weekend, organised by Pendle based arts group In-Situ Arts, was the moment when the mill’s clock was re-started for the first time since the mill turned off the electricity when it closed its doors for the final time in 2007.

The Mayor of Brierfield Coun. David Brown and his wife Colette ring the bell at the Northlight Mill with Coun. Mohammed Iqbal, Lwader of Pendle Council and In-Situ artist Kerry Morrison (s)

The Mayor of Brierfield Coun. had the honour of re-starting the clock and the amplified sound of the tick tock was heard across the site. Visitors were then given the chance to ring the iconic clock bell and share any good news they had.

Leader of Pendle Council, Coun, Mohammed Iqbal, said: “The starting of the clock heralds an exciting new chapter for Brierfield Mill as Northlight, a major new destination for the North West including a hotel, apartments and fantastic arts and leisure facilities.

The £30M development of the 19th century mill which will include new business workspace, an exciting leisure complex, a hotel and conferencing facility, marina and 72 apartments, is set to begin in the New Year. Partners in the scheme include Pendle Council’s regeneration company PEARL, Lancashire County Council, Barnfield Construction and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.