Teenager arrested after fire tears through historic Grade II mill

An 18-year-old man has been taken into custody on suspicion of arson after a blaze ripped through Leek’s historic silk mill.

Fire crews have battled the flames through the night at The Big Mill on Mill Street in Leek, Staffordshire.

The fire was spotted at around 9.22pm, with huge flames and plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky.

The arrested man, who is from Leek, is being questioned following the fire, which gutted the derelict building in a space of a couple of hours.

Around ten residents were reportedly forced to evacuate, with the police arranging housing and support for them.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service asked people not to drive near the mill as this was ‘making things difficult’ for the crews.

Locals were told to keep windows and doors shut due to smoke.

The mill was empty, but it reportedly had planning permission to be turned into dozens of flats.

The fire service said four engines remained at the scene this morning and that it will be ‘dampening down hotspots for some time.’

Leek residents reacted to the news of the fire on social media.

The Artisan Cave shop said on Facebook that the mill was part of Leek’s ‘memory.’

The shop said in a post this morning: ‘There is a heavy feeling in Leek this morning. The sight of Davenport Mill – the ‘Big Mill’ – scarred by fire has left a quiet shock settling over the town.

‘For generations, that building has stood not just as brick and mortar, but as a constant presence on the skyline – a marker of home, history, and identity.

‘People who passed it every day, who grew up with it in the background of their lives, are now waking to something altered. Windows no more, remaining walls blackened, it’s soul destroyed and the familiar silhouette no longer quite the same.

‘Even for those who never stepped inside, the loss feels personal.’

‘The Big Mill wasn’t just an old building – it was part of Leek’s memory. There’s a particular sadness that comes with damage to places like this. You don’t just lose structure; you lose stories.’

One resident said: ‘Hope all crews are safe. Such a shame this building wasn’t renovated years ago as it was a big part of Leek’s history.’

Another person said: ‘Thoughts with the fire fighters and hope they’re all safe.’

The six-storey mill, built in 1857, is part of the town’s industrial heritage and the silk trade.

Its first occupants, Joseph Broster, who later became Wardle and Davenports, pioneered the creation of artificial silk stockings.

The mill was empty for several decades until developers applied for planning permission in 2020.

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