THE HISTORY OF NOWA TKALNIA

A place with history

Nowa Tkalnia is being built on land that once belonged to the former “textile empire” of industrialist Karol Scheibler, often called the “cotton king.” This unique revitalization project on the site between Kilińskiego, Tymienieckiego, and Milionowa Streets draws on the industrial heritage of the city, which is intertwined with the family histories of tens of thousands of Łódź residents.

THE BEGINNINGS

The textile traditions of Księży Młyn

The beginnings of this industrial district, famous for its characteristic red brick, date back to the 1820s. The first manufactory was a spinning mill owned by Krystian Wendisch, built between 1827 and 1830.

Karol Scheibler arrived in Łódź in 1854 and began construction of a steam-powered spinning mill with a 40 HP engine, located at the site of today’s Plac Zwycięstwa, right next to Źródliska Park.

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A CITY WITHIN A CITY

As successive textile plants developed, Księży Młyn became a veritable “city within a city,” and residential buildings for workers (the famous workers’ housing), shops, a fire station (built 1883–1884), a hospital (1884), a school for workers’ children, and a palace complex at Wodny Rynek were constructed on the site. Scheibler’s empire stretched from Piotrkowska Street all the way to the present-day border of Widzew, Konstytucyjna Street, covering a total of over 500 hectares.

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NOWA TKALNIA

The famous Nowa Tkalnia at 187 Kilińskiego Street, designed by Paweł Rübensahm, was opened in 1899 and immediately became the most distinctive factory building of the German industrialist’s enterprises. The investment consumed approximately 2 million rubles and was one of the most modern buildings of its kind in Europe.

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United Textile Mills

In 1921, the heirs of two famous textile entrepreneurs, Karol Scheibler and Ludwik Grohman, reached an agreement and completed a merger, establishing the United Textile Mills of K. Scheibler and L. Grohman, SA in Łódź—the largest textile industry enterprise in interwar Poland.

Witness to history

World War II

During World War II, the plants were plundered and stripped of their best machines, looms, engines, and transmission belts, and some equipment was deliberately destroyed. In January 1945, factory workers began its reconstruction, which was completed in 1947, and as work progressed, employment rapidly increased from just under 2,500 workers immediately after the war to over 6,000 in 1946.

In 1951, a decision was made to reorganize, resulting in the separation of several smaller plants on the factory site, including: Cotton Mill named after the Defenders of Warsaw, Cotton Mill named after A. Mickiewicz, and Cotton Mill named after T. Kościuszko.
This arrangement lasted just over a decade, and between 1962 and 1964, a multi-division textile enterprise was established at this location, known as the Cotton Mill named after the Defenders of Peace “Uniontex,” whose total production in the mid-1960s approached 90 million meters of fabric, 25% of which was exported.

The 1970s—strikes and the development of "Uniontex"

The 1970s were primarily marked by the famous strikes of 1971, which were a direct continuation of the tragic events on the Coast in December 1970. The authorities of the Polish People’s Republic ultimately yielded to pressure from workers, who won the reversal of price increases on basic goods. “Uniontex” was then one of the largest textile enterprises in Europe, and its product range included flannels, denims, foulards, batistes, and coat fabrics.

The plant grounds included a nursery, kindergarten, canteens, and grocery stores, and the “Uniontex” workforce could receive treatment at the company’s health center. A sports club operated at the factory, and a company library was also maintained. Employees eagerly participated in events organized by the cultural center and engaged in activities run by its dance ensembles, choirs, cabaret, and brass band. Vacation time was organized for the workforce and family members—the company’s holiday resorts were located in Dźwirzyn and Dzierżązna.

The hunger march of 1981

On July 30, 1981, the famous hunger march proceeded down Piotrkowska Street, and its participants included workers from “Uniontex.” According to various estimates, between 20,000 and 100,000 people, mainly women and children, took part in the protest against the dramatic shortage of goods in stores and the rationing of meat (sold with ration cards) and other basic food products. The authorities did not agree to a march along Kościuszki Avenue, where the city PZPR committee was located. Hunger marches took place in the streets of many Polish cities and were the largest social protests after August 1980.

Transformation and the fall of "Uniontex"

In June 1987, during his pilgrimage to Poland, Pope John Paul II met with Łódź textile workers in the famous Weaving Mill building.

Księży Młyn—from industrial heart to revitalized district

In the mid-2000s, the situation in Księży Młyn began to change. Successive revitalization projects (including “Lofty u Scheiblera”) gave the district new functions and helped transform its image. Post-industrial buildings were converted into residential, commercial, and service spaces, and the characteristic red brick regained its former glory. The place that once served as Łódź’s industrial calling card became a tourist attraction and walking route for city residents, gaining status as an important business center and a prestigious, sought-after address.

A new chapter
in over a century of history

A new chapter in over a century of history

Linesa Investments is beginning the development of Nowa Tkalnia—a multifunctional space built on Łódź’s industrial heritage. The investment will contribute to the broader transformation of Księży Młyn and return to residents a part of the city that has been inaccessible for years. For many Łódź residents and tourists, this will be the first opportunity to see this fragment of “Scheibler’s empire” up close and walk among the historic buildings.

The architectural concept includes renovation of the historic Weaving Mill, Boiler House, and Engine House buildings in accordance with best practices. The already completed revitalization of the Gate House and entrance gate has received industry recognition and earned a prestigious nomination in the third edition of the RenOwacje competition.

The developer plans to create attractive public spaces; the planned Textile Workers’ Passage will symbolically commemorate the plant’s workforce and allow residents and tourists to admire the historic, post-industrial architecture. It will also be an opportunity to view restored artifacts and other remnants of the former factory in display cases on the Nowa Tkalnia grounds. Historic walls will be incorporated into the facades of new residential buildings, and the park located on the site will also undergo revitalization.