HOPE MILL (Edenfield)
The history of Hope Mill is covered comprehensively in John Simpson’s Book.
[John Simpson – A History of Edenfield and District –Reference copy available at Ramsbottom Library].
1860 Built by James Warburton in partnership with James Nuttall – they called the mill INDIA MILL.
1865 Re-named HOPE MILL and run by Thoms Nelson (previous tenant of BRIDGE MILLS). He sold the mill in 1874.
By 1876 it was run by Richard Haworth, firstly in partnership and then on his own until 1880 when the business failed and the mill was put up for sale again.
About 1881 The new owners were James Holden and George Alty, towel manufacturers of Holcombe Brook – turned Hope Mill over to weaving towels.
By 1891 George Alty had sole charge of the mill and ran it until his death in 1917.
1918 James Alty, George’s son together with two other Edenfield men, Harry Minton and John Fort formed a private limited company which they called George Alty Ltd re-started the mill.
By 1920s only Minton & Fort remained as partners and they and their descendants ran Hope Mill for nearly 50 years, weaving towels of all kinds.
1967 Mill closed but following year a new company – Edenfield Spinning Co., Ltd started production. They ran Hope Mill until about 1980
1994 much of the original three storey building was demolished.