Building record MDR9599 - Brettle's Hosiery Warehouse & Factory, Chapel Street, Belper

The mills formerly occupied by George Brettle are Grade II* buildings built in 1834. A large stone building of three storeys constructed from ashlar with a slate roof and a symmetrical classical façade runs along the Chapel Street frontage, with adjoining parts to the south. There is a segmental arched entrance with a keystone at the south aide of the centre section with a mounting block adjoining this. A rear northern wing of two storeys has a hipped slate roof. To the south of this is a two storey three bay stone faced section with a parapet and a red brick rear. Adjoining to the south is a recessed single storey red brick building of earlier/mid C19, with stone eaves and hipped slate roof. The 1834 building was originally a warehouse for the domestic frame work knitting industry. (2) Brettle's hosiery warehouse & factory is a large stone-built warehouse. In 1834 the Brettle and Ward partnership broke up and soon afterwards both firms built steam-powered factories, filled with knitting machines making stockings and other garments. Most of the buildings were built between 1834-5 and the two factory extensions were added before 1872. The main building has an austere classical façade with a pediment at each side. Brettle's retained the family name when George Brettle died. By the 1930s Brettle's was the biggest employer in Belper. The firm was taken over by Courtaulds in 1964 and eventually closed down in 1987. The main building was then redesigned for use as Factory Shops and office accommodation under the collective name of De Bradelei House. (3) The gritstone building adjacent to the road [Chapel Street] is the hosiery/frame-work knitting warehouse built in 1834. The later brick-built factory buildings have elegant cast iron window frames date from 1850-1870. The warehouse closed in 1987 and is now used as a factoy shop and restaurant [2011]. (4) The building to the south of the main factory is known as the Orangery.