The power looms were much larger than the old hand looms, being 17ft tall, and the old premises in Mill Street and Church Street were insufficient. In 1852, Messrs Humphries adopted power looms at their premises in New Road, but gradually, there was no capital for new factories for such a change over. The trade was saved from certain ruin by Lord Ward of Dudley, who held consider property in Kidderminster. He erected several large sheds with stream power and plant at Worcester Cross and on the old Glebe Land (Green Street), and leased out the space to manufacturers until they were able to erect their own premises. Power looms were erected there by Woodward & Sons, Morton & Sons, Samuel Fawcett, Thomas Humphries, and John Lloyd Dobson.