SPRINGWOOD MILL
1842/43. Mill built
1842 The Tithe Map for Tottington-Lower-End page 19 describes the piece of land which becomes Springwood Mill as ‘ a woolling mill and reservoir in the course of erection’. It was owned and occupied by John Grundy.
1848 Messrs Porritt Brothers & Austin decided they needed to expand their woollen manufacturing business operating at Dearden Clough Mill since 1838. They leased the recently built Springwood Mill.
1852 Porritts moved their business to a purpose built mill at Stubbins Vale – Stubbins Vale Mill. The machinery was transferred to their new site.
1858 Joseph Porritt, senior partner and his sons withdrew from the firm to start the business of Joseph Porritt & Sons at the still vacant site of Springwood Mill.
Whilst the Porritts were at Springwood Mill, they also operated on the site Kibboth Crew.
1870 Joseph Porritt & Sons moved their business to Sunny Bank Mill at Helmshore.
1850 First reference in the Trade Directories is in 1850 – Joseph & James Porritt – Springwood Mill and Dearden Clough Mill – manufacturers of woollen goods. [Heap]
1861 Joseph Porritt & Sons, Springwood Mill. [Drake]
1871 Joseph Porritt & Sons – woollen, linen & cotton cloths for machines, Springwood Mill and Sunny Bank Mill , Helmshore. [Worrall]
1883 and 1888 Hitchon & Shepherd, cotton waste spinners & manufacturers were at Springwood Mill. [Barrett and Slater] James Shepherd was listed as a cotton manufacturer at Hitchon & Shepherd and lived in Albert Street. Joseph Shepherd also listed as a cotton manufacturer lived at 33 Springwood Street. Joshua Hitchon also lived at Springwood Street.
Hume Elliot refers to Springwood Mill being occupied by Hitchon & Shepherd. [Elliot page 152]
1899 Joseph Shepherd established his own company Crow Mill in Ramsbottom.
1909 Joshua Hitchon - Springwood Mill [Kelly]
1924 Joshua Hitchon & Co Ltd, Springwood Mill. [Kelly]
Joshua Hitchon’s sons were Ernest, Herbert, Fred & Harry. This company moved to Brookhouse Brow, Tottington in the 1920s, early 1930s. [Joe Hitchon in a letter dated 8.10.1990 to a member of the RHS].
Demolished around the 1950s [Information from Janet Smith – her source was Stella Slater 2005]