Littleborough from Cleggswood Hill
Textiles
The production and Finishing of Textiles goes back to before the Rochdale Canal was constructed and importantly continues to today with Fothergill Engineered Fabrics - see their Website . The early mills manufactured Woollen Goods but later ones concentrated on Cotton with artificial fibres becoming more popular during the 20th Century commencing with Rayon but expanding more dramatically with Fothergill and Harvey who eventually gave up Cotton to concentrate on many and various synthetic outputs.
So far as cloth finishing is concerned it started with Fulling, expanded into Dyeing and later to processes associated with synthetic cloths. In fact, two businesses remain located in Ealees and Rakewood.
THE LAW FAMILY
William Law (Senior) was a Fulling Miller who married Sarah around 1822 and they had 6 children, including Alfred (born 1825), John (b 1830), Ellin (b 1830), Mary (b 1833), and William (born 1835).
In 1847 Alfred Law went into partnership to manufacture Flannel under the name of "Law and Fletcher" quickly building Lydgate Mill (pictured right) on Blackstone Edge Old Road (an early Turnpike). The company lasted for 18 years. Alfred then went into a partnership with his brother William, called ‘A & W Law’. They took over Lydgate Mill and shortly after built an additional mill at Durn closer to the Rochdale Canal, railway and potential employees. It also had an adequate supplies of water even though the mill was to be driven by a steam engine. Later, William Heap and his sons built their West View Mill on an adjacent site (pictured right).
Bids for the construction of a new mill, engine house, and boiler facility were advertised in the Rochdale Observer, featuring designs by architects Russell & Whittaker. Work began in 1864, utilizing regional bricks from Rake Brickworks and iron columns from the nearby Schofield Foundry. By 1867, a new warehouse was completed on-site. The brothers initially resided at Bent House, but in 1873, William invested £5,000 to build a grand residence for them both. Situated across the road, the home was named "Honresfeld," a title derived from Hundersfield, the historical name for the local district.After the deaths of William & Alfred their nephew, Alfred Joseph Law inherited Honresfeld and A & W Law in 1913. A bachelor like his uncles, he had numerous business interests, was a member of the Conservative party, and became the MP for Rochdale in 1918 (for 4 years) and 1929 was elected as the MP for the High Peak constituency.
Knighted in 1927. The business was extremely profitable being able to company to operate 2 steamships for the export of their Cloth Alfred and William became extremely wealthy. In the inter-war years the Company operated at a loss which A J Law covered from his inheritance. He died in 1939 and though rich, he wasn't as wealthy as his uncles. He left the business and Honresfeld to his nephew and niece. For more information see Industrial History Booklet No 2
SLADEN MILL
This is one of the earliest mills dating from the late 18th Century, it was water powered. Kershaw's Sladen Mill and manufactured and finished (later at Wellfield Mill) woollen goods. In the mid-19th C Sladen manufactured Flannels with Wellfield being a Fulling (finishing) mill. In 1877 planning permission was granted for a new warehouse at the mill. In 1901 a fire 'gutted' Sladen Mill but it isn't clear how much damage was actually caused but it must have been sufficient for tenders to be sought for the various works required in the re-building of the mill. Another serious fire 1926 meant significant damage to Sladen Mill costing £125,000 worth of damage. Motor Fire engines and crews from Rochdale and Todmorden Fire crews attended. Photographic evidence shows the virtual destruction of the mill the - see picture bottom right. In 1927, Kershaw's at Sladen Mill - purchased a 2nd hand Horizontal compound tandem condensing steam engine complete with fittings from B Dyson & Sons Oldham. Around the same time 2 second hand marine boilers were bought which unfortunately got stuck when trying to pass under the railway viaduct in the centre of Littleborough. In 1965 Wellfield Mill burnt down and abandoned so Sladen Mill was extended which required cottages in Sladen Fold to be demolished. In summer 1968 Charles Kershaw (1927) Ltd Bleachers, Dyers, Raisers and Finishers. Sladen Mill, Littleborough became part of Courtaulds following the takeover of the Ashton Bros group. 6 months later, Kershaw's of Sladen Mill took over the Flannelette dyeing and raising for Samuel Heap and Sons, Caldershaw (previously at their Brookside Mill. Finally in 1980, Sladen Mill Closed - sold by Courtaulds. Picture bottom left Sladen mill before 1926 fire.
After the main Textile workings ceased the works were acquired by Alderburgh Ltd, manufacturers and suppliers of materials for the building trade. They appeared to sublet parts of the mill to Alltex Industrial Ltd in 1986, Commissioned Dyers and Finishers of cotton Cloths and Goods and in 1989 the NJA Leisure who supplied and operated Fruit Machines, Pool Tables, Juke boxes and all sorts of etc Leisure Machines.
William Heap and Family
William, the 2nd son of William and Betty Heap, was born in the township of Heap in 1797. 33 year later William married Elizabeth Fielding and they had 8 children including Hannah, Thomas Edward, William Edward , Joshua, Elizabeth, John J, Sarah Alice and Samuel Fielden. in 1942 William left Rochdale and came to Ealees Fulling Mill, one of the older mills in Littleborough, where he finished some 450 to 480 pieces per week. By 1861 William was a Woollen and Cotton Manufacturer and Flannel Finisher employing 80 men, women and Children. John Joseph was a Fuller but Thomas Cotton Manufacturer employing 14 men and 7 women. As the business and family grew more space was required and in the 1860s a new mill was developed in Durn adjacent to Law's Mill (see picture above). Henceforth, the new mill remained the basis of the family firm. Williams son, William Henry Heap preferred to be involved in Flannel Manufacturing and that lasted for some 40 years. However, the finishing of cloth remained important throughout and when Gerald took over, Flannel Manufacturing ceased and the business concentrated on Bleaching, Dyeing and Finishing until it all ended in 1939 when Gerald sold on West View Mills. The mill then turned to Flannelette manufacture but unfortunately West View Mills suffered a serious fire in 1940. West View Mills was demolished between 1955 and 1960.
Son Joshua became MD of Kelsall and Kemp in Rochdale and another was highly involved in Ring Spinning Mills in Milnrow, The wider family had mills in Ogden, Newhey and Milnrow as well as Norden and Caldershaw. More information on the family is available in the Booklet illustrated right available from Kelsall's bookshop in Littleborough Square or from the author - email elboroistry@gmail.com
Shore Mill
In 1845 Messrs Leach & Clegg and Consterdine & Kershaw took over a small mill in Shore but shortly afterward Consterdine & Kershaw left to set up Brookfield Mill next to the canal in Littleborough. Later, Leach left the business. Subsequently, the Clegg’s expanded the Shore Mill complex by from the original Landlake Mill (booklet picture right) to include a second mill on the western end of the site actually called Shore Mill (below right). The company continued to modernise and expand throughout the 19th Century and early 20th. Like all UK Cotton Mills, the factory suffered from the ever increasing restrictions imposed by India on Cotton Imports from the UK, an issue strongly opposed by Gordon Harvey MP who rightly forecast that it would lead to the demise of the Cotton export business to the large Indian Market.
During WW1 the mills lost 57 workers in the killing fields of Belgium, France and Turkey including 2 officers who were members of the Clegg Family. A Memorial to all of the fallen was erected in 1922 and remains to the day. After the second world war Clegg’s undertook an extensive modernisation programme including purchasing many more automatic machines. Clegg’s were famous locally for producing Shore Sheets and developed a separate company to market the products including specific vans.. It is understood they also owned Lamp Laundries who had offices on Cote Lane. In 1948 Clegg’s merged with A S Orr and Company Ltd of Bamber Bridge to create a new Public Company - Clegg and Orr Ltd. The mills in Shore continued in operation until the Clegg and Orr’s mills were bought by Vyella in 1964.The 1960s were a time of rationalisation of the cotton industry and just 3 years later Vyella announce the closure of their mills in Shore, Littleborough.
A few years later, the mills in Shore were taken over and used for a number of years by Ashe Chemicals who made pharmaceutical products,. This ceased in the 1980's. The site of the mill is now occupied by housing but the Company’s War Memorial still remains within a remembrance garden
Schofield's Mills and Families
Two Branches of the Schofield family owned mills in Littleborough – the family of James Schofield who lived and had premises in Heybrook and Buckley and Joseph (and Benjamin) who developed the main Littleborough family business of Joseph Schofield & Co.
Partnership of Joseph & Benjamin Schofield
From around 1845, Joseph & Benjamin Schofield were Cotton Spinners and Manufacturers (at Croft Head/Town House Mill) who from the 1850s manufactured Fustians (a stout, heavy woven cloth being mainly Cotton but mixed with Flax). In 1851 he Partnership carrying on business as Fustian Manufacturers and running Durn Foundry was dissolved and henceforth was carried on by Joseph Schofield.
Joseph Schofield & Co
The 1852 trade directory shows the Fustian Mill under Joseph Schofield & Co. 9 years later it employed 250 men in the Cotton/Fustian business. Joseph died in 1864 and his sons Joseph and James Schofield took over. In 1871 they were shown as employers with 250 and 200 men respectively on two sites, James Schofield was at Croft Head Mill and Joseph at Green Vale Mill -picture bottom right. The companies tenure at Green Vale ended in 1893 when the mill fell into the possession of Fothergill & Harveys. For some 10 years or more during the late 1880s/early 1890s until 1906 Joseph Schofield & Co. operated Brookfield Mill, initially in partnership with Joseph Kershaw & Co and then by itself. By 1931, Croft Head Mill together with steam engine, boiler and certain machinery were to let indicating the end of the Schofield family involvement in textiles in Littleborough. Croft Head Mill ceased processing cotton and during WW2 it was used by "The International Transport Agency Ltd" based in Manchester for the storage of Cotton Waste for the 'Cotton Control Board'. It was later occupied by Ambores Ltd, Metal Processes and later still by a furniture manufacture before finally being demolished and replaced by housing
Messrs James Schofield and Sons
James’ business was based in Heybrook and Buckley and was developed further by his sons and partners. The Heybrook/Buckley/Smallbridge part of the business is not covered on this website - see INDUSTRIAL HISTORY NO 3 by Bernard Pratt.
1821-22 Trade Directories record Messrs Schofield and Sons having a Flannel Mill at New Mill, Littleborough approx where Lidl is now located. The mills switched between Flannels & Fulling but possibly did both. The company was still Fulling in 1888 but by 1891 it was recorded as Dyers and Finishers. Messrs Schofield and Sons involvement at New Mill ceased in 1908. They then commenced Fulling operations at Pike House Mill. Fulling continued there long after Schofield's sold out (c1919) until at least 1933 & 1934. They re-opened Calliards Mill (another mill with a long history) in 1894 for Flannel manufacture. The Schofield family interest in Calliard’s Mill ended in 1919 but it continued operation under the same name but owned by the Hansom Pictures. It continued operating for some 35 years but was demolished in below show Calliards Mill being demolished in 1956.
For more details please see Books page - INDUSTRIAL HISTORY No 3 - THE CONSTERDINE & SCHOFIELD FAMILY'S
Consterdine Family
The Consterdine family had its origins in Oldham and Manchester whereas the Schofield had long associations with Rochdale and Littleborough. The two families were however linked by marriage albeit the linage was to James Consterdine who was a merchant in Manchester. Edward, his brother, although living and based in Manchester started businesses in Littleborough mainly in partnerships. In 1844/5 Messrs Leach & Clegg and Consterdine & Kershaw took over a small mill in Shore, its output often advertised for sale through Edward Consterdine’s Manchester Office. Following Edward’s untimely death in 1850, his widow Betty continued with the business and moved to Littleborough after a short spell in Salford. Messrs Kershaw and Consterdine ended their partnership with Leach & Clegg and together developed Brookfield Mill which opened around 1852/3, They initially manufactured Fustian cloth (1858) but had moved over to Cotton by 1867. On 12th January 1867 the partnership between Betty Consterdine and Joseph Kershaw was dissolved and the Consterdine's ceased to have an interest in Brookfield Mill. (pictured bottom left)
was used by various textile business before finally closing in 1998, being demolished in the same year
For more details please see Books page - INDUSTRIAL HISTORY No 3 - THE CONSTERDINE & SCHOFIELD FAMILY'S
Betty with her sons John Edward and Benjamin developed Albion Mill which carried a datestone reading 1867. After Betty’s death in June 1871, her sons, John Edward and Benjamin continued running the family business but that ended when their partnership with Edward Mason was dissolved on 10th February 1880. Albion mill (pictured above right) continued in use by the Mason's. and after them various operators ran the mill until it was demilished in 1998
Rakewood Upper Mill was built around the turn of the 18th Century/start 19th Century. In 1850 the Higher Mill was describesdas “all that MILL or FACTORY ….. called the Higher Mill being in some part 4 storeys and in other parts 3 storeys and measuring inside 64ft 6in by 41ft, also the MECHANICS SHOP and WAREHOUSE…..3 storeys high measuring 24ft 6in by 17ft 4in together with the engine house….. and gashouse…..with gas gasometer and retorts and other apparatus…. Also the steam engine of 15 horse power and 2 steam boilers, mill gearing, shafting, steam pipes, pipes and gas fittings ….. together with a water wheel 27ft high and about 57 inches wide in the buckets with a fall of water thereto. Also the reservoir, iron pipe and cistern…. Also, all those seven COTTAGES or DWELLING-HOUSES and Blacksmith Shop and Hayloft “. The mill may be let into immediate possession. The early steam boiler fed a Beam Engine which helped drive the mill machinery, heat and hot water. Water was obtained from the Longden End brook and coal from local mines. After various owners, John Clegg took over Rakewood Higher Mill during 1868 or early 1869. That was the start of the Clegg Family operating the Higher until the present time. The mill has been extended and modernised over its long history as have its operations. It started as aFulling Mill and later included other finishing processes including Dyeing.
More recently it stopped Fulling and the current owners according to their website - J Clegg & Bros Ltd "are proven expert in the field of Textile Lamination and specialise in the commission and lamination of technical, multi-layer fabrics using continuous hot melt lamination and PU films to create bespoke fabrics but also offer more traditional Textile processing services including fabric Raising, Rolling and Finishing. The mill itself is rather too large for its current workload and the owners improving and updating the building to cater for its future leisure role which will operate at the same time as the textile business.
For the Industries in Longden End Clough including Rakewood Upper Mill see Industrial History Booklet No 9
DEARNLEY MILL
Originating from at least the 1820s, by 1848 the mill was described as “ALL that valuable Modern built MILL, used as a Woollen, Carding and Fulling mill usually known as “Dearnley Mill”, situate in Dearnley near Rochdale with the waterfall, reservoir dam, springs of water, steam engine, steam boiler, steam pipes, drums, wheels, main shafts and other fixed machinery ……. and the drying stove, brimstone stove, scouring-house, cisterns, yards, land and other conveniences….. which said mill and premises was lately in the occupation of Joseph Wood and Sons”. It included first class machinery “for manufacturing, scouring, bleaching and finishing Flannels and other woollen goods”. This included 5 machines with 1450 spindles amongst many other machines as well as “about 1400 yds of tenter seams with iron and wood pillars”. These were used to dry and stretch woollen cloth in the open. Around 1850 the Tenters were located north of the New Road (the Turnpike Road) alongside and beyond what is now Watling Street. William Law purchased the mill in 1866 but he only operated the bottom two floors of the mill for Fulling leaving the upper-floor for Cotton Spinning. William Law was recorded at Dearnley Mill in 1873 but as he was then in his early 70s he may have retired shortly afterwards.
After many years closed Dearnley Mill was taken over by Ogden and Doodson for Bleaching and Dyeing of Cotton cloth. The mill lodge broke its bank in 1912 with twelve feet of embankment breaking away allowing water to flood the fields below. Fortunately, the works were connected to the Corporations mains and the burst necessitated only 3 hours stoppage. 4 years later, strong winds blew down a wooden building 180 ft long by 20 ft wide. Fortunately no one was injured and the wood could be re-used. Messrs Ogden and Doodson disposed of their company in 1919. but following their departure the company continued to operate Dearnley Mill until it was liquidated in 1952. Fire was a common occurrence in mills and one in 1954 meant the End of Dearnley Mill. and by 1961 little remained except the mill pond.
DRYDOCK MILL
Much of the structure dated from around 1850 although some elements could have been associated with the nearby 3 storey weavers cottages by on New Road. The mill was often multi-occupied with originally 2 engine houses and boilers with the westerly one possibly containing a beam engine. The mill was located on a narrow site between New Road and James Street. To the west, the New Road frontage (below left) abuts onto Dearnley Spiritualist Church with the 3 storey weavers cottages beyond with more housing to the east as pictured below. The James St frontage (below right) shows a much longer series of buildings as narrow structures went behind both the Spiritualist Church and 3 storey cottages as far as Harwood St as partly illustrated below. Drydock Mill was often used by two or more trades undertaken by differing owners at the same time. Early uses were Wool Carding and Scouring’ and dealing with waste which appeared to end around 1879. At the same time another company was involved in the manufacture of Flannels, Baize, Blankets and Dometts etc. From 1879 another company started Cotton Manufacturing probably using the space previously used for Woollen Waste. Cotton products continued to be manufactured until the early 1930s. After many different companies produced Woollens in Drydock Mill, from 1910 a new Woollen Company, Sykes and Oliver, was set up which would continue to operate at Drydock Mill until 1975. Sykes and Oliver were often included in Trade Directories as Woollen Manufacturers producing “roller, clearer and washer cloths. printers, blankets, Woollens, Linen and Cotton Machinery Cloths” as well as “Dyers, Bleachers and sizers of Cotton Cloths”. They continued with this product line for many years. One of the products made by Sykes and Oliver with the companies very wide looms was a thick blanket many being sold in London. Drydock Mill was also occupied by an engineering workshop for many years and after Sykes and Oliver until the early 1990s numerous miscellaneous industries occupied the vacant rooms.
