Barwood Mill
BARWOOD MILL ( also referred to as KAY BROW MILL)
It would appear that there was a bleach works at Barwood Lea in 1794 but, to date, I haven’t been able to find out when this dates back to.
Hume Elliot makes reference to this site: ‘At Barwoodlea where the stables &Co are now, was where the bleach works were in the Old Ground days’. [Elliot page 112]
The Actual Survey of the township of Tottington 1794 by Smith, Kay & Brandwood makes reference to certain buildings at ‘Berwood Lee’ occupied by R. Peel & Co:
No:15 Higher Ramsbottom – buildings employed in trade &c:
One Bowkhouse at Berwood Lee
One single house at Berwood Lee
One other Bowkhouse at Berwood Lee
A ‘bowkhouse’ was a bleachworks.
The 1842 Tithe Map records numerous references to Barwood Lea including
356 – reservoir, plantation, embankment – owned by Wm Grant & Brothers
355 – 2x stables – owned by Wm Grant & Brothers
348 – House and Yard – owned by Daniel Grant
345 – bleachworks, printworks, roads called the Square – owned by Wm. Grant & Brothers
349 – Gas works and calendar works – owned by Wm Grant and brothers
In the 1841 census ‘Barwood Lea’ stretches over 6 census pages – 23 families, 132 person and in 1851 it stretched to 8 pages – 28 families, 163 persons.
In the RHS collection at Bury Archives there is a letter from Brenda Descent to the developers (Michael Dyson Associates) of Barwood Lea (stables) in 1993, she states that Barwood House was built by Henry Kay (a relation to Edward Kay – partner of the Peels) in 1780. Edward Kay lived at Barwood House but died in 1819 age 61 This ‘Kay’ connection gives rise to the name of ‘Kay Brow’. When Edward died the house was bought by the Grant family. The youngest Grant brother, Charles, who died in 1825, is reputed to have built the stables which was the building being ‘developed’. The front door of the stables did not face Kay Brow but faced south towards Barwood House. The main entrance to the stables and main house was from the main gate on what is now Grants Lane. There is a coat of arms of the Grant family over the front door which is aligned with what were probably the stable doors .When the rich families moved out, the stables are remembered as being hired out by carriage companies e.g. Whitakers of Rawtenstall and other traders of all sizes, who needed horses for their trade. One of our members’ wife’s family had a greengrocery business in the early 1940s which stabled their horses there and this goes for a lot of traders before motor cars became affordable. It was a big building, ideal for mass stabling. Someone remembers other animals being kept there, including a fox.
When stabling was not so much needed, the building in the late 1940s was taken over by Isherwoods – a saw mill and joinery business which spread out east into Grants Lane. Isherwood bought Barwood House. A member remembers renting part of the house from him after World Ward 2 – and he left in 1960s.
When Isherwood sold out the building was used as a knitting factory. It is remembered as owned by Mr Alec Latham trading as Peel Tower Knitwear and also by a Cheetham family trading as Eden Knitting Company. It closed c 1984 and wasn’t used since then. It was only when Isherwood and later the knitting companies operated on the site that it became known as ‘Barwood Mill’.
Brenda Descent goes on to say that she can vouch for her information being correct despite lack of documentation.
The following is an extract from the RHS Magazine No:8 Winter 1993 pages 7/8 which is extracts from a submission by Geoff Hill (RHS member) of Barwood House for listing of this property to the Department of National Heritage.
‘Geoff’s submission, which includes photographs and maps, is freely quoted in this article. We have a copy in the archives which can be seen at any time.’ [Prepared by Brenda Decent from the work of Geoff Hill, other RHS members and the Society Archive]
‘.. What is so special about this mill? It was not built as a mill but as a coach-house for Barwood House by the youngest Grant brother – Charles in the 1820s. This is recorded on the Tithe Map of 1842 and is the building known as the mill. Charles Grant bought Barwood House in 1819 from Henry Kay, whose family are regarded with the Peels as founders of industrial Ramsbottom.
Barwood House, itself, is a listed stone Georgian property built around 1781 and now regarded as one of the most important historic properties in Ramsbottom.
The coach house (mill) is an attractive and substantial stone structure with close physical and historic connections with Barwood House. Many of its original features are retained and particular attention is drawn to the existence of the coat of arms of the Grant family, over the front door, which is aligned with what were probably stable doors. This does not face Kay Brow but faces south towards Barwood House and the main entrance to the coach house and into Barwood House, was from the main gate which is now Grants Lane.
A few years ago an article in the Bury Times announced that this property had been bought by Dyson & Associates of Huddersfield with an approved and attractive scheme for its conversion into a residential, seven apartment building, which is planned to preserve some of its original character. Their interest in the origins of the mill came in a letter to our Society asking us for information on the history of the building.
With valuable help from many members, the building’s history was researched. After the gentry moved from Barwood House, the coach house is remembered as stables, hired out by carriage companies eg. Whitakers of Rawtenstall and other traders who needed horses before motor vehicles became affordable. In the late 1940s the building was taken over by Isherwoods, a saw mill and joinery business and Isherwood bought Barwood House. When Isherwood sold out, two knitting factories took over. The building was abandoned in 1984.
The property was only called a mill after Isherwood and the knitting companies took over’.
In the Official Guide to Ramsbottom of 1971 there is an advertisement for Eden (Knitwear) Ltd - Eden of England, Kay Brow. (This may have been one of the knitting companies mentioned above)
The property is now apartments.
Separate information available re BARWOOD HOUSE.