PEEL BRIDGE MILL
Kenyon Street, Ramsbottom
Built mid – about 1870.
Linked with Waterside Mill since 1880s.
As this Mill was closely linked with Waterside Mill I have had difficulty in finding who operated at the mill in its early years.
The weaving shed adjoining Messrs Steads was erected by Messrs Wardle &Howson and another built by John Markland - both subsequently enlarged and run by Messrs Greenhalgh and Harrison (the latter being the father of the late Councillor Harrison. The Waterside Manufacturing Company now carries on business there. [T. Holden in Beetson]
Hume Elliot refers to Samuel Harrison - ...’on the east side of the river, abutting Kenyon Street, beyond Peel Bridge Mill, there is the manufacturing establishment of Mr Samuel Harrison’. A footnote tells us that this business closed in 1892 – about to be opened by Messrs Hargreaves’ [Elliot page 151]
1888 Samuel Harrison at both Peel Bridge Mill and Waterside Mill [Slater]
1893 Map - both named as Waterside Mill
1908 Map named separately as Peel Bridge Mill & Waterside Mill
I haven’t found anything relating to Messrs Hargreaves except in Kelly’s Directory 1909 & 1924 – Kay Hargreaves & Co, cotton manufacturers, Garden Street, - he lived at Irwell Mount Bury New Road. Joe Hitchon also refers to Kay Hargreaves at Garden Mill.
In a letter from Joe Hitchon, 9 Limefield Brow, Bury dated 8.10.1990 to an RHS member he says that Garden Mill was run by Kay Hargreaves - fancy cloths. He had 2 large stone houses built for his 2 daughters in Bury New Road. ‘A nice employer’. Went into liquidation in 1920s.
[I am a bit confused whether Kay Hargreaves operated at Peel Bridge/Waterside or Garden Mill/Street.Certainly Garden Mill was occupied by John Woods Engineers after 1908 - Kath 2/2009.]
1908 Both Peel Bridge Mill & Waterside Mill are named and marked on the 1908 map but no details listed in the trade section.
1909 [Kelly] The Helmshore manufacturing Co Ltd cotton goods manufacturers at Peel Bridge Mill & Victoria Mill
1924 Helmshore Manufacturing Co Ltd – cotton goods manufacturers Waterside & Peel Bridge Mills, Kenyon Street.
1951 There was a short article in the Ramsbottom Festival 1951 Souvenir Handbook –
Pemberton’s Peel Bridge Mill Limited.
The present Company was formed in 1936 to carry on the business of cotton weaving, which was started as this mill some eighty years ago. Many alterations have been made and are still taking place to improve conditions and output. The main products are Surgical Dressing cloths and cloth for the Electrical Industry but Handkerchief cloth and Pillow Cottons are also made.
1957 – Advertisement in Ramsbottom Official Guide for that year:
PEMBERTON’S PEEL BRIDGE MILL LTD. – Cotton Manufacturers – Kenyon Street, Ramsbottom Tel: 3259 (Manchester Office: 31 Lloyd Street and Manchester Royal Exchange)
1971 Ramsbottom Official Guide – advertisement – Norbreck Basketware Ltd, importers and distributors. Peel Bridge Mill, Kenyon Street Ramsbottom. Tel: 2444.
Peel Bridge Mill Kenyon Street – spinning mill reduced to a shell by fire in April 1982 when occupied by Norbreck basketware. [information from Janet Smith – source Bury Times April 1982].
Peel Bridge Weaving shed demolished 1985.