Although Heckmondwike and the Spen Valley are known to have had a buoyant ‘cottage’ textile industry dating back to medieval times, research of historical documents indicates that the present day site known as Grove Mills was first developed as a textile manufacturing concern around the middle of the eighteenth century by a Mr. Robert Dex and was known locally as Dex Mills.

Nearly one hundred years later it came under the ownership of Mr. John Burnley of Batley and Mr. Joseph Brook of Gomersal, trading there as Burnley Brook & Co. manufacturers of cloth, rugs and blankets. They were to largely extend the existing mill complex and give it the name of Grove Mills. On the retirement of Mr. Brook, Mr. John Burnley took in his two sons and adopted the trading name of John Burnley & sons.

Under the auspices of the Burnley’s, the trade in white blankets was expanded considerably with exports to all parts of the empire as well as regular government and military contracts. During this period the site was again extended and at its peak the operation employed around two hundred and fifty people with over two thousand spindles and eighty power looms in constant operation.

The Burnley operation ceased trading in 1908 and since then the complex has been further added to and used for a variety of textile and other industrial trades.

The processing of yarn and rugs is still carried out on part of the site to the present day along with a diverse array of other commercial activities.