Drayton Mill, textile mill in Spartanburg County, South Carolina
Drayton Mill is a large red brick factory in Spartanburg County built in the early 1900s to spin and weave cotton fabric. The complex includes spinning buildings, weaving structures, warehouses, and water towers that show how the different parts of the production process once worked together.
The factory was built around 1912 in Romanesque Revival style and shaped the local economy through the 20th century as a major employer. The complex underwent several expansions in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s to keep up with changes in how textiles were made.
The name Drayton Mill comes from the family who operated the factory. The red brick walls and large windows still shape how the area looks and remind residents of how textiles once brought the community together through shared work.
The former factory is now partially accessible to visitors since some buildings have been converted into apartments and shops, while other areas remain private property. A paved walking trail about two miles long loops around the site and provides a good way to see the historic complex from the outside.
Between 2014 and 2017, the mill underwent one of South Carolina's largest renovation projects and now houses nearly 290 apartments inside the former spinning and weaving buildings. The redevelopment kept the original brick structures while using old machinery as artistic decoration in the new living spaces.
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