Family business opens shop at Kingsway

Staff outside the new building at Boarshaw Farm

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A popular family-owned business has taken residence in Broadshaw Farm, on the edge of Kingsway Business Park.

British Millerain has been producing performance fabrics since 1880, and has settled into a 17th century, Grade II listed building, where it will continue to manufacture materials that are used in everything from hot air balloons to high fashion and boat sails.

Until recently, the company was based at Belfield Road in Rochdale. Rochdale Development Agency worked with British Millerain’s Chief Executive Michael Miller to purchase the land as part of major regeneration plans for the area.

He said: “We’re a traditional British firm and we remain faithful to our roots, yet at the same time we offer the very latest in fabric technology.”

“It was important that our new head office reflected this, so the farmhouse was perfect for us. It may look traditional on the outside, but the inside is firmly in the 21st century.”

With a two hundred strong workforce based at sites around the world, including Australia and Thailand, it was important to the company that the head office remained in Rochdale.

Phase II of work will soon start at Broadshaw Farm with plans to build a design and textile testing laboratory in a style that complements the farmhouse.