Plunge Road, Edenfield.
Also known as PINCH DICKEY’S MILL
Later became known as BARLOW’S MILL
The history of Bridge Mill is covered comprehensively in John Simpson’s Book.
‘A History of Edenfield and District’ - Reference copy available at Ramsbottom Library].
1824 Built by Richard Rostron who took a 999 year lease. Originally a woollen fulling mill but also used for cotton spinning and weaving by Richard’s sons – Lawrence and John Rostron.
Richard Rostron & Son, woollen manufacturers, were operating this mill in 1824. [Baines]
1826 Mill attacked by rioters. All 58 power looms were destroyed [Simpson page 85]
James Horrocks, writing about his life in the 1830s, refers to Mr John Rostron’s Mill at Edenfield – better known as Pinch Dicky’s Mill. [RHS Magazine No:20]
1833 Rostron Bros were operating this mill in 1833 – at this time it had a waterwheel 6ft wide and 23ft in diameter together with a 80h.p. engine and another 50h.p. engine was being installed It was referred to as a ‘cotton mill’. [1833 Irwell Reservoir Scheme]
Not found in the Directories of 1818, 1841 nor 1850.
1830 Another brother, James Rostron taken into partnership. He went to New York to look after the firm’s interests on the other side of the Atlantic. Although the firm prospered after the riots of 1826, they ran into difficulties when the cotton trade fell into one of its periodic depressions and the three brothers, Lawrence, John and James became bankrupt.
1841 Mill was put up for sale and bought by William Turner, James Rostron’s father-in-law.
Sarah Howarth Turner married James Rostron 1839 Haslingden [Free BMD]
1851 James Rostron was back in business at Bridge Mill.
[last 3 paragraphs - Simpson page 87]
1858 James Rostron died. His widow Sarah carried on the business and also rented out parts of the mill to others. [ibid]
1861 [Drake Trade Directory] there were a number of people operating their business at the mill:
- Edmund Emmett, Bridge Mills Edenfield cotton manufacturer
- Richard Emmett, Bridge Mills, Edenfield cotton manufacturer
- Thomas Nelson, Bridge Mills, Edenfield cotton manufacturer
- Sarah Howarth Rostron, Bridge Mills, Edenfield cotton manufacturer & warp
spinners
- Schofield & Ramsbottom, Bridge Mills, Shuttleworth cotton spinners
1861 Census – Edmund Emmett lived at ‘Tenterfield’ he was age 51 a widower and cotton manufacturer employing 30 hands born Bacup - with children Sarah, John, Ellen, Robert and Margaret. [1861 census – 3059 Tottington Higher End folio7 page 7]
1861 Census – Richard Emmett lived at Mount Pleasant he was age 47 a cotton manufacturer employing 23 hands born in Burnley and living with wife Betty & children. [1861 census 3059 Tottington Higher End folio 8 page 9]
James Emmett age 40 also a cotton manufacturer, employing 9 hands born Bacup with wife Ann & children lived next door to Richard Emmett.[ibid]
1871 Worrall Directory shows:
- Sarah H. Rostron, Bridge Mill, Edenfield cotton spinners & warp spinners
- Duckworth & Wallwork, Bridge Mill, Edenfield cotton spinners.
As late as 1877 the mill was occupied by Mrs Sarah Howarth Rostron and a firm called Duckworth & Wallwork. Sarah Howarth Rostron was the widow of James Rostron of Chatterton Hey, one of the sons of Richard Rostron of Acres House who built the mill. [Goldthorpe page 92]
1878 After two fires at the mill – the first in 1875 and the second in 1877, Sarah Rostron sold the site to Alexander Barlow. [Simpson page 88]
Much rebuilding took place after Alexander Barlow & Son established their business here, with further re-development in 1906 and 1911. [Goldthorpe page 73]
Alexander Barlow was at Twine Mill, Shuttleworth in 1871 [Worrall].
Bridge Mill became known as BARLOW’S MILL.
1881 – Alexander Barlow and family lived at 2 Mount Pleasant, Tottington Higher End. There was a visitor staying with them called James Hillis age 22, a manufacturer’s agent unmarried, born in Antrim County, Ireland. [1881 Census]
Alexander Barlow lived at The Mount, Plunge Road. [Further Rossendale Rambles page 92]
1883 Alexander Barlow & Son are listed at Bridge Mill [Barrett]
1887 Alexander Barlow, Bridge Mill – 437 looms and printers. [Worrall]
1888 Alexander Barlow & Sons Ltd, cotton spinners and manufacturers. [Slater]
Hume Elliot makes reference to the mill ‘formerly Messrs Rostrons now Alexander Barlow and his sons.
1897 Alexander Barlow died. His sons carried on and expanded the business. (Sons: John, Thomas, George & Edwin).
1919 By this time George had died (1904) and the other sons had retired.. A. Barlow & Sons became a private limited company and was run by Alexander’s nephews: Tom and Alexander Barlow Hillis. [Simpson page 89]
1937 The Official Guide to Ramsbottom (about1937) makes reference to the ‘Bridge Mills’ of Messrs Alexander Barlow & Sons, cotton manufacturers.
1951 Barlow & Sons Ltd are still in business - they placed an advertisement in the Ramsbottom Festival 1951 Souvenir Handbook:
‘A. Barlow & Sons Ltd at Bridge Mills Edenfield are still weaving First-class Cloths under First-class conditions! These are fabrics with a future. Just a few vacancies for trainee weavers. Canteen. Apply: The Manager. Tel: Ramsbottom 3136.’
However, shortly after this time the firm went on a three day week and Bridge Mill closed in 1956. The buildings were converted to industrial units.
1971/2 Prefabricated Felts Ltd operated at one of the units. [Ramsbottom Official Guide 1971/2].
Not sure if any buildings remain today.