Description:The Cotton Mill in Cross Heath was founded by Richard Thompson in 1797. It has the longest record of continuous textile production in Newcastle-under-Lyme and was producing textiles until the late 1960s. Thompson and his son were in charge of the mill for over 50 years and had an accident free record for 20 consecutive years within that time. Thompson was a forward thinking and paternalistic employer. He refused to employ children under 12, he would not control his staff through corporal punishment and he opposed night working. As a result of this he was well respected by his employees and was rewarded with their hard work.