ROSE MILL
Two buildings on Irwell Street divided by Palatine Street.
Also known as ALBERT MILL (higher of the two mills) and PALATINE MILL (lower of the two mills).
The higher of the two mills (Albert Mill) was erected by Hamer & Parkinson and was where boys used to play cricket. It was then bought and enlarged by Joseph Eccles and afterwards run by Christopher Geldard, then by Edward Cunliffe and later Whittakers – a firm with which Philip Holden was associated on his coming to Ramsbottom – since then Holdens have run both parts. [T. Holden in Beetson]
The lower mill (Palatine Mill) – built by Kay or Hindle. It was known as PROCTOR’S MILL as it was run by Joshua Proctor for a long number of years. This mill is the lower portion of Rose Mill.
1855 – Rose Mill, Irwell Street - GLE Lease 133 – Peter Hindle. [‘Date of Build Register]
Both sites became known collectively as Rose Mill.
1861
- Joshua Proctor – cotton manufacturer at Palatine Mill. [Drake] ( According to an article by T. Holden in Ken Beetson’s Book, Joshua Proctor also operated for a time at Bolton Street Mill before the Rostrons)
- Hamer & Parkinson, Palatine Mill & Bolton Street Mill [Drake]
According to the censuses Joshua Proctor was born in Burnley and lived on Bolton Street.
1871
- Joshua Proctor, cotton manufacturer – Palatine Mills. [Worrall]
- Joseph Eccles & Co, Irwell Street Mills [Worrall]
1883 [Barrett] Christopher Geldard & Co – manufacturers of cotton goods Albert & Palatine Mills. John Geldard resided at Hazlehurst and Squire Geldard resided at Barwood Mount.
1887 Albert & Palatine Mills ‘426 looms & printers etc’.[Barrett]
1888 C. Geldard & Co – manufacturers of cotton goods are listed at Albert & Palatine Mills.
In 1883 John Geldard, cotton manufacturer of C, Geldard & Co., lived at Hazelhurst and in 1888 he lived at Wellfield House, Nuttall Lane. [Barrett 1883 and Slater 1888]
In 1883 and 1888 Squire Geldard, cotton manufacturer of C. Geldard & Co., lived at Barwood Mount, 185 Bolton Street. [Barrett 1883 and Slater 1888]
John & Squire were sons of Christopher. In turn, John’s son Harold ran a mill at Nuttall in early 1900s.
Hume Elliot refers to Rose Mill as ‘recently extended and equipped by Mr E. Cunliffe’. [Elliot page 151].
1904 - Extract from ‘Memories of Nuttall Village by K. McCarthy’ page 14 : It was about 1904 that the late Mr P E Holden took over Rose Mill from Lancashire Property Investment Company. As the firm progressed Holme Mill was built in 1912 and his three sons Tom, Fred and Harry became Directors.
1908 map in the trade listings, there is ‘Rose Manufacturing Co. Ltd – Rose Mills– manufacturers of woollen/cotton/linen cloths for mechanical purposes.’
1910 Philip Edward Holden owner/occupier Weaving Shed, Irwell Street (top and bottom) [PUB 8/164 Valuation List T.L.E. Bury Archives]
1924 [Kelly] The Rose Manufacturing Co (Ramsbottom) Ltd, cotton manufacturers is listed at Irwell Street and Holme Mill. [Kelly].
Kelly’s Trade Directory of 1924 shows a Phillip E. Holden lived at Oak Bank, Tanner Street and a Thomas Holden lived at Holly House, Bolton Road West
The Rose Manufacturing Co (Ramsbottom) Ltd took over the lease at Holme Mill Ramsbottom in 1912. They operated at Holme Mill from about 1912 until 1956. The company was run by T.H. & F.G. Holden. Company operated by Philip Edward Holden (in 1909 he lived at Oak Bank, Tanner Street) and three sons Tom, Harry & Fred.
There are other references to Rose Mill and Holme Mill in the Notes from the RHS Exhibition 1989 – These are handwritten notes marked R. Howarth April 1989.
- Rose Mill makes towels
- Rose Mill, Irwell Street – calico weaving.
- Rose Mill – Holdens Mills made towels.
- Rose Mill & Holme Mill – belonged to Holden family – father and three sons. Rose Mill had two sheds, old and new. Both did calico weaving. Closed about 1976.
I am confused about events around this time. I don’t know when the Holden’s left Rose Mill and then George Ramsbottom started to operate here. I think that George Ramsbottom ran his business at the lower of the two mills (Palatine Mill )
1957 – George Ramsbottom Ltd Rose Mill Tel: Ramsbottom 3120.– Makers of Condenser Plains & Twills 27in to 80in. Towels, Sheets and Blankets. He also operated at Bolton Street Mill where they made Condenser Mule and Ring Weft 4s – 81/2s. [Ramsbottom Official Guide 1957]
George Ramsbottom was son of George Ramsbottom who was at Lodge Mill
[Memories of Nuttall Village by K. McCarthy]
1971/2 An advertisement in the Ramsbottom Official Guide for this year again shows George Ramsbottom Limited at Rose Mill, Irwell Street – Makers of Condenser Plains and Twills 27in – 56in and Terry Towels. Think he is still at Bolton Street Mill but trading under name of Westwill Limited, Condenser Spinners.
This part of the mill closed around 1976 and was subsequently demolished to make way for the Kwik Save Supermarket (now Tesco)
In the History of Metcalfe Brothers (Ramsbottom) Limited [RHS Archive - Civic Hall 2/09] it states that ‘the west part of the Irwell Street location had been used by Sharples engineers and the eastern part was at one time a cotton mill’. This was part of Rose Mill - probably the higher part which had once been Albert Mill. Metcalfe Brothers were here from 1937 until 1991 when the firm went into liquidation and it was sold to The Ponden Mill Company who opened Peel Mill. (see section on Peel Mill).
The other part of this higher mill was used by Drury Adams and it became known as ‘The Old Drury Adams Mill’.
The Drury Adams company, who were manufacturers of upholstery foam, was formed in 1979 by Steve Drury and Stuart Adams at Stacksteads. In 1984 rapid expansion over the preceding five years led to the purchase of a 35,000 sq. ft. factory at Ramsbottom. In 1996 the company consolidated their operations from Colne and Ramsbottom and moved to Bacup.
In 1997 there was an article in the local newspaper reporting that North West Co-op were seeking permission to demolish buildings on King Street, Prince Street, Irwell Street and Palatine Street in order to build a supermarket and petrol station on the site.
Bury Times newspaper article 13th August 1998 - Reported a fire at the Drury Adams building which was part of Peel Mill on Irwell Street. The building had been empty since February 1998 and was due to be demolished yesterday. The new owners want to build a supermarket/petrol station on the site.
The buildings were demolished in 1998. The Co-operative Supermarket and Car Park were built on the site but I don’t know why the proposed petrol station was never built.
Spring 2009 - Morrisons Supermarket chain bought the Co-op building but unfortunately they will not be taking over the Post Office. At present (February/March 2009) we are waiting to hear whether someone will take on the running of the Post Office.