This section contains information about cotton mills and cotton manufacturing. Key inventions in textile machinery and the development of water and steam power meant that cotton mills grew rapidly in size and number from the mid-18th Century onwards and individual mills became dedicated to different parts of the manufacturing process.
Click on the sections below to find out about power sources, inventions and inventors and factory design and layout.

	Between 1750 and 1820 the cotton industry developed from hand working to factories powered by water and steam. Victorian engineers developed innovative schemes driven by the demand for greater profits. More on Power sources			By the 19th Century, most cotton manufacturing had moved away from a cottage industry to large, noisy factories. These changes were brought about by the invention of new machines which greatly speeded the cotton production process. More on Inventions & inventors
	Cotton mills were typically designed to be five storeys high and were built so that workers and processes could be controlled, ensuring maximum production. High numbers of mill fires led to improved designs. More on Factory design & layout