MILL AT OLD GROUND
Possibly also known as CALDO MILL.
See also Cawdaw Mill
Calico Printing works – water-powered.
Built 1783
Demolished soon after 1821.
Survival includes the former ‘drying house’ – now Scotland Place. [information from Janet Smith]. Scotland Place was originally known as Scotch Row. It was converted to the present 4 cottage terrace when the mill became redundant [A.T. Todd - RHS magazine No:23 -2002]
When Robert {Peel} was only twenty years of age, he determined to begin the business of cotton-printing, which he had by this time learnt from his father, on his own account. His uncle James Haworth and William Yates of Blackburn joined him in his enterprise. The principal part of the capital was supplied by William Yates.... Robert Peel, although a mere youth, supplied the practical knowledge of the business......A ruined corn-mill, with its adjacent fields, was purchased for a comparatively small sum, near the then insignificant town of Bury, where the works long after continued to be known as ‘The Ground’ and a few wooden sheds having been run up, the firm commenced their cotton-printing business in a very humble way, adding to it that of cotton-spinning a few years later.[www.victorianweb.org - Robert Peel and Roller Printing on Calico]
Robert Peel born 25.4.1750 died 3.3.1830. Born at Peelfold, Blackburn - his father, also Robert Peel, a yeoman farmer, later owner of the calico printing firm of Haworth, Peel & Yates in Blackburn. (Haworth was Robert’s uncle) He devised a successful method of roller printing, gave up farming and went into manufacturing full time. Peel had a good education and was made a partner at age 23.
In 1783 Robert Peel (senior) and William Yates, having set up the Bury Ground Printing Works in 1772, began to build their Old Ground water-powered works in Ramsbottom, where they later introduced calico printing. In 1787 they also purchased part of the Lower Summerseat estate to the south, which also included a printing works. [Goldthorpe page 11].
In 1783 Robert Peel Senior married Nellie Yates, daughter of his partner William Yates. Sir Robert Peel died in 1830. [Hume Elliot page 141].
The town centre comprised a number of mills and cottages, loosely grouped together and known as the Old Ground’. [Goldthorpe page 21] The gates of the principal entrance to the Old Ground works stood in the line of the present Bolton Street, not far from its junction with Bridge Street. [Hume Elliot page 113]
1794 The Actual Survey of the Township of Tottington by Smith, Kay & Brandwood 1794 gives details of ‘Higher Ramsbottom, the part belonging to R. Peel & Co including CALDO MILL and the wash:
No:15 – Higher Ramsbottom continued Buildings employed in trade:
One bowkehouse at Berwood Lee
One single house at Berwood Lee
One other house at Berwood Lee
One Old Factory (now a Dry House)
One Chymical House
One Stove House
One Wash House
One Stove House at Mill
Caldo Mill Buildings
One Calender House
1807 Printworks was purchased by Messrs William Grant & Brothers in 1806 from Peel, Yates, Warren & Kay [Elliot page 72 + footnote] and they began operating at Old Ground on 1st January, 1807. The mill buildings were scattered about on or near what is still known as the Old Ground, in the centre of Ramsbottom. It extended across what is now Bolton Street on the west, to Silver Street on the east, to Bridge Street on the north and to Smithy Brow on the south. The business continued successfully for fifteen years until the Grants built their Square Works, when the varied operations were then gradually transferred to the new works, while the buildings on the Old Ground were demolished. [Hume Elliot page 107 & 112].
Robert Peel, William Yates, Edmund Yates, James Halliwell and Henry Warren.
Robert Peel Senior and junior appeared to have various business partners.
Robert Peel Senior born 1750 at Peelfold, Blackburn and died 1830. He was the owner of a calico-printing firm Haworth, Peel & Yates in Blackburn.
The Grants Arms was originally the house of Henry Warren [Elliot page 72 + footnote]
Kay Brow was so called from Mr Edward Kay, a partner of the Peels, who owned and occupied Barwoodlea before it was purchased by the Grants. He died in 1819 age 61 and is interred at Holcombe. [Elliot page 121]
(BOLTON STREET MILL was also, sometimes referred to as Old Ground Mill but it is a different mill entirely – see BOLTON STREET MILL)