In 1792 Benjamin Gott (age 29) bought a field known as Bean Ing, in open country next to the river, and began building a new mill (originally called Park Mill) where many of the processes of cloth-making could be brought together and mechanised, though weaving remained mostly home-based. He bought new machinery and installed one of the newly-developed Boulton and Watt steam engines - forging a lasting friendship with the inventors. He experimented with new dyeing methods and other processes. He encountered resistance (threats and broken windows) from some hand workers, particularly the croppers, but faced it out.

In 1799 Benjamin Gott (age 36) was elected Mayor of Leeds.

by 1800 the outbreak of war with France brought a sudden massive demand for army uniform cloth and blankets, while trade with the Americas and China boomed. Benjamin Gott's (age 37) mill as employing over a thousand workers but still could not meet demand, so he set up another vast mill at Armley.

In 1803 Benjamin Gott (age 40) bought an an estate in Armley, with wooded grounds plunging steeply down to the Aire valley. He employed the famous landscape designer Humphrey Repton to lay out the park and the architect Robert Smirke to build a grand mansion, Armley House, in the fashionable Greek Revival style, its colonnaded terrace overlooking spectacular views, on one side towards the romantic ruins of Kirkstall Abbey

Before 1830. Thomas Lawrence (age 60). Portrait of Benjamin Gott (age 67).

St Bartholomew's Church, Armley [Map].There is a sculpture by Joseph Gott at the west end of the north aisle, a memorial to Benjamin Gott of Armley House who died in 1839. In the south aisle there is Faith comforting the Mourner, commemorating the two sons of Benjamin and Elizabeth Gott who died in Paris and Athens.