HOLCOMBE BROOK and REDISHER
Cinder Hill
New York & Bank Mills
Redisher Bleachworks
Redisher Works
Ridge
Thurstan Lum
Woodhey
See also separate entry for Holcombe Brook Mill.
The community that developed in and around Redisher Wood was initially based on agriculture but by 1893 a corn mill, a cotton mill and Redisher Bleach works were all established in the valley and using water from Holcombe Brook for power.
When steam power succeeded water power the attractiveness of the valley of Holcombe Brook for development declined. [Pamphlet entitled ‘Redisher Wood’ produced by Bury Council/Friends of Redisher Wood LNR]
The map included in the above pamphlet shows Redisher Croft behind the Hare & Hounds followed by the site of the former Corn Mill followed by Redisher Works (factory). On the other side of Redisher Woods is the site of the ‘Ridge Cotton Factory’ and further along still, the site of the ‘Bottoms and Cinder Hill Mills’. – Records provide accounts of a former textile mill complex complete with mill, ponds, leats and engine houses, abandoned late 19th century. [Pamphlet entitled Holcombe Moor produced by Holcombe Moor Heritage Group]
Holcombe Brook Factory successively under Mr Boothman and Mr Hutchinson
[Elliot page 154]
References from Trade Directories: Holcombe Brook
1795 Rate Assessment Book – Lower Redisher belonged to John Ramsbottom & Co – factory.
1818James Rothwell, cotton manufacturer, Lum Carr [Rogerson]
1818 Thomas Rothwell, cotton manufacturer, Pot Green [Rogerson]
1818 James Knowles, cotton manufacturer – Holcombe.[Rogerson]
1818 Lawrence Buckley, cotton manufacturer, Holcombe Brook [Rogerson]
1818 Joseph Wood, cotton manufacturer, Higher Redisher. [Rogerson]
1818 James Pennington cotton manufacturer Holcombe Brook [Rogerson]
1818 John Rothwell cotton manufacturer Lum Car [Rogerson]
1818 John Spencer calico Printer Holcombe Brook [Rogerson]
1841 John Rothwell, cotton manufacturer, Holcombe Brook. [Pigot & Slater]
1841 Peter Rothwell cotton manufacturer Holcombe Brook [Pigot & Slater]
1850 Peter Rothwell cotton manufacturer Holcombe Brook [Heap]
1850 John Rothwell cotton manufacturer Lum Car [Heap]
1850 John Forshaw corn miller Holcombe Brook
1861 Ellis Howarth corn miller Holcombe Brook [Drake]
1871 – Benjamin Buckley, cotton spinner Holcombe Brook Mill [Worrall]
1888 – Richard Bentley, flock manufacturer at Holcombe Brook Walk Mill. Lived at 17 Ducie Street.
1910 George Hall - weaving shed, Pot Green. [Valuation List PUB 8/161 Bury Archives]
In a book entitled ‘I remember - Some notes on Old Bury’ by Fred Howarth (‘Senex’) - Reprinted from Bury Guardian 1917.(photocopy found in RHS archives held in Civic Hall Feb 2009) it refers to an 1816 Directory [un-named]. In the list of Calico Printers for 1817 the name of Major Ashton, Reddisher Mill, is added.
Cinder Hill, Holcombe Brook
1841 John Parker spinner Cinder Hill H/B [Pigot & Slater]
1850 John Parker spinner Cinder Hill [Heap]
1861 Robert & Edward Wild, cotton spinners & manufacturers Cinder Hill Mill [Drake]
Extract from ‘The Story of My Life’ by Ralph Rooney 1947:
Old Cinder Hill Mill, the remains of which lie about ¾ mile north east of Boardmans. This mill was a weaving concern and was driven by a water wheel from the Red Brook. I should mention that the mills further downstream were at that time also driven by a water wheel: Lower Ridge Mill, Holcombe Brook Towel Mill, Wood Hey, Robin Road, Lammy Bank, Summerseat Top Mill, The Lower Mill, Wood Road, all driven from Irwell.
New York & Bank Mill – I think these mills were across the road from the Hare & Hounds – down Pot Green.
Manchester Mercury 20.4.1779 : To be let for any term and entered on at pleasure: One new erected building situated in TLE in parish of bury intended for carding and spinning cotton consisting of good dwelling house, seven large commodious rooms and a good celler with movements form the water wheel into five of the rooms. The water wheel, weir, conduits and buildings being but two years old and finished in a remarkable strong substantial manner and always hath water enough. ………. By applying to William Cockshott of Macclesfield or John Higgin of Manchester
1778 Cockshott, Wood & Robert Pilkington of Bolton acquired newly erected mill or engine house called New York at Woodhey in Tottington Intended for carding and spinning cotton [The Water Spinners by Chris Aspin 2003 page 260]
See also advert for sale in Manchester Mercury 1779. See also Top Wood Mill for further details of Cockshott and the mills he operated.
1861 Rothwell & Birch, cotton spinners, New York Mill, Holcombe Brook[Drake]
1861 Ashworth & Co, cotton spinners & Manufacturers, Bank Mill, Holcombe Brook [Drake]
1871Jeremiah Morris, cotton spinner, New York and Bank Mills, Holcombe Brook. [Worrall]
1871 Benjamin Howarth – cotton spinner & manufacturer, Bank Mill, Holcombe Brook.[Worrall]
1883 Sydney Hutchinson, New York & Bank Mills, Holcombe Brook. – 869 looms, printers, madapolloms, shirtings, jaconetts and muuls. [Worrall]
1887 Sydney Hutchinson, New York & Bank Mills [Slater]
1908 G.W. Singleton, New York Mills, Holcombe Brook [trade section O/S map] - 869 looms, printers, madapolloms, shirtings, jaconnets & mulls
1913 G.W. Singleton, New York Mills, Holcombe Brook. [Kelly]
In a letter dated 8.10.1990 in the RHS Archive (not yet catalogued) from Joe Hitchon 9 Limefield Brow Bury, he makes reference to a Mr John Longworth at New York Mill, Holcombe Brook. He was known as ‘Chappie’ Longworth. He was writing about mills/owners that he could remember in his lifetime so I suspect this went back to 1950s or so.
Redisher Bleachworks
1850 – Ambrose Wilkinson & Frankland, bleachers, Redisher Wood [Heap]
1887 – Samuel Knowles, Redisher Bleachworks, Holcombe Brook. [Worrall]
1888 – Samuel Knowles & Co, bleachers, Holcombe Brook. Turkey Red dyers.
Charles Ainsworth & Co Ltd, bleach & dyeworks, Redisher Mill, Holcombe Brook –
1898 – 1961 – datestone [no reference!]
1913 Charles Ainsworth & Co Ltd, bleachers, Holcombe Brook [Kelly]
Redisher Works
The company of Cheswick & Wright (B & M) Ltd of Reddisher Works, Holcombe Brook are manufacturers of motor vehicle exhaust systems for the home market. Commenced manufacturing products here in 1966.
Ridge
1841 Jas Barker cotton Spinner Ridge [Pigot & Slater]
1850 Lund & Ashworth cotton manufacturers Ridge [Heap]
1861 Census (2837 -144) Lower Ridge
James Rothwell 57 cotton manufacturer empl 65 people
Mary Rothwell wife
And lots of children
Thurstan Lum
This was on the opposite side of the road to the Hare & Hounds and further along the river than Bank Mill. It is marked on the 1851 O/S map.
1841 Thos Oram - Holcombe -woollen manufacturer Woodhill & Thurstan Mills
1841 John Warburton fuller - Thurstan Lum Mill
1851 Thomas Oram & Son, woollen manufacturers at Thurstan Lumb
Woodhey
1861 John Thomas Blombley cotton spinners & manufacturers (waste) Woodhey Mill, Summerseat [Drake] (In 1871 at Wood Hill Mill) Note: J.T. Blomeley also operated at Kibboth Crew where he committed suicide
1871 Howarth & Barnes - soap - Woodhey [Worrall]
1913 Woodhey Printing & Dyeing Co, Holcombe Brook [Kelly] Think this was on Woodhey Road – now new housing ‘gated’.
I think Ramsbottom Printing & Dyeing Co Ltd at New Bridge Mills became a subsidiary of Woodhey Dyeing in about 1980. (See New Bridge Mill)
Extract from Ramsbottom Official Guide 1971/2 - Woodhey Dyeing Co Ltd of Bleaklow Mill, Hawkshaw are commission dyers and finishers of furnishing fabrics manufactured from man-made fibres and cotton. The company’s products are mainly for the home market and indirect export through customers exports to South Africa & New Zealand.
The company commenced trading in 1956 at Woodhey Road, Holcombe Brook but after a serious fire in 1967 moved to Bleaklow Mill. About 100 persons are employed most of whom live in Ramsbottom.
The Woodhey Engineering Co Ltd were established in 1969 and are a subsidiary of Woodhey Dyeing Co Ltd. They are general engineers specializing in fabrications and boiler conversions for the home market.