MILLS AT SHUTTLEWORTH
There were various mills at Shuttleworth along the Shuttleworth Brook Stream/Cross Bank Brook. Some had individual names but they were often referred to collectively as ‘Shuttleworth Mills’.
Joseph Hill Haworth wrote a series of articles for the Bury Times in 1913
(August 2nd, 9th and 16th). He describes these mills ‘starting at the River Irwell and following the water that divides Walmersley and Shuttleworth. Firstly we come to’:
Lower Mill: (cotton) this belonged to the Wild Brothers - James, William, Leonard and Richard and was demolished before 1900.
Middle Mill: (cotton) Richard Wild had a special interest in this mill and lived in a house near the mill. Middle Mill, along with Lower Mill was demolished by 1900.
Top Mill: (cotton) again this belonged to the Wild Brothers. Also known as Shuttleworth Cotton Mill. It was probably built about 1820. Thomas Wild, who ran the business at Top Mill, extended the premises and included a second lodge - the whole of which he re-named ‘New Mill’ (cotton). In 1849 he transferred the lease to Richard Wild. The new extensions had been financed by and ownership retained by W.H. Bennett who now leased it for 999 years. Prior to becoming derelict in 1893, Top Mill had been used by J.H. Entwistle (Waste) Ltd and known as ‘Higher Mill’. [Shuttleworth Up the Croft by Tom Greenhalgh 1987 Engart Press]
1824 Thomas Wild - cotton cpinner - Shuttleworth Mill [Baines]
1841 Richard Haworth, cotton spinner - Shuttleworth [Pigot & Slater]
1841 John Wild cotton spinner Shuttleworth Mill [Pigot & Slater]
1841 - Edmund Seddon - cotton spinner - Shuttleworth Mill [Pigot & Slater]
1850 - George Haworth - cotton spinner & manufacturer - Shuttleworth [Heap]
Both Tom Greenhalgh and Joseph Hill Haworth refer to Top Mill now being known as ‘The Bleachworks’. In 1913 the site was occupied by the Shuttleworth Bleaching Company.
1913 - Shuttleworth Bleaching Co Ltd [Kelly]
James Wild lived at Stubble Bank.
William Wild lived in a house just below Stubble Bank (in 1913 occupied by Mr E. Cunliffe)
Leonard Wild built Woodhill.
Shuttleworth Mills
Further along the Bamford Road was Shuttleworth Paper Mill, owned by James Broadbent Ingham. It was built about 1834/8 and on the 1848 O/S map it was referred to as Brook Mill (paper). About this time J.B. Ingham, wife Jane and family came from Derbyshire and took over ownership of the mill. Registered under James’ name and that of his son, Samuel Ingham. The family lived at the bottom of Bye Road in a house opposite the mill. Samuel and Harold (his brother) took over the running of Brook Mill whilst James concentrated his efforts on running his new Ramsbottom paper Mill which he sold in 1872. He died in 1873. Harold ran Brook Mill until it closed in 1885.
1841 Broadbent & Hughes, paper makers, Shuttleworth Mill [Pigot & Slater]
1850 Ingham Broadbent & Bros - Paper Makers, Shuttleworth (Heap)
1861 Samuel B. Ingham & Brother - Shuttleworth & Ramsbottom [Drake]
1888James B. Ingham & Sons, paper manufacturer – Shuttleworth paper Mill. [Slater]
Still further along the road was Shuttleworth Corn Mill. This water powered mill was one of the first in the valley and was built and run by the Holt family (originally farmers at Anthony Fold Farm). In 1834 it was operated by James Holt junior who was a proprietor of the Shuttleworth Mill Brook Reservoir. By 1900 there was nothing left of this mill although the two miller’s cottages were occupied until 1910.
1828 James Holt, corn miller, Shuttleworth
1841 James Holt - miller, Shuttleworth (Pigot & Slater)
1841 Census - James Holt age 70, Ann Holt age 70, James age 20 and Robert Holt age 10
At the junction of Bamford RToad and Church Road there is a mill-stone which once belonged to this corn mill. [Goldthorpe]
Next was Shuttleworth Higher Mill (Paper) which was once a department of the Brook Mill, housing the rag beaters and from there pulp ran down to the paper Mill in wooden troughs. It was probably built at the same time as Brook Mill (1834/8). James B. Ingham acquired the mill along with Shuttleworth paper milll but later rationalised operations and transferred the rag beating to Brook Mill. It was then occupied by Alexander Donald. He extended the premises and made it into a bleaching mill. He re-named it ‘Crossbank Bleachworks’. In 1864 Alexander Donald left and the new owner of the lease was William Rumney & Co, calico printers, cretonnes and waste twills. Lease expired 1900 and site was in ruins. The stone sided bleachtanks of ‘Haslingden Flag’ are still in evidence today although hidden under rubble and overgrown brambles.
1861 – William Walmsley – Cross Bank, Shuttleworth, bleachers. [Drake]
1888 - William Rumney & Co at Crossbank - cotton spinners [1888 Slaters]
1851 - William Buckley - bleacher - Lee Mill Shuttleworth
1861 - Greenhalgh & Rumney - Lea Mill, Shuttleworth - bleachers. [Drake]
1887 Rumney & Co, Cross Bank Bleachworks
Shuttleworth Mills
Lea Mill. This was a bleaching mill built about 1840/5 and probably driven by a water wheel. but closed about 1860. Owner could have been Alexander Donald
1850 William Buckley - Bleacher - Lee Mill- Shuttleworth [Heap]
1861 Greenhalgh & Rumney Lea Mill, Shuttleworth [Drake]
Still on the Bamford Road we come to Twine Mill. Probably water powered and built about 1800, although the owner is unknown. John Pilling - a firm of cotton spinners were there for a time but left in 1836 to take over Bridge Mills at Crawshawbooth. In 1841 the mill was run by John Wild & Son, cotton spinners & manufacturers but after John Wild died the mill was closed. By 1869 Messrs Barlow & Pickup operated at the mill and in 1871 Alexander Barlow was listed as cotton spinner at the mill. He was there for another decade or so until he left for Bridge Mills, Edenfield, and Twine Mill was allowed to fall into ruins.
1841 Census - Twine Mill John Wild age 50, Alice Wild age 40, John James age 15, Alice age 10 & Sarah age 5.
1850 James Wild cotton spinner & manufacturer - Twine Mill, Shuttleworth [Heap]
1850 Richard Wild, cotton spinner & manufacturer, Shuttleworth
1850 William Wild & Brother, cotton spinners & manufacturer, Shuttleworth
1861 Alexander Barlow, cotton spinner & manufacturer - Twine Mill, Shuttleworth [Drake]
1861John Nuttall & Sons - cotton spinners & manufacturers - Twine Mill, Shuttleworth
1861 John Ramsbottom & Co - cotton spinners & manufacturers - Twine Mill, Shuttleworth
(No mention of Nuttalls and Ramsbottoms at Twine by Joseph Hill Haworth nor Tom Greenhalgh)
Unless otherwise stated all references come from: Series of articles in the Bury Times 2nd, 9th and 16th august 1913 by Joseph Hill Haworth and Shuttleworth Up the Croft by Tom Greenhalgh 1987 (Engart Press)