TOPWOOD MILL
Also known as the highest of the three mills on the Kibboth Crew Site, although it had no connection to the other two mills – one of which was the subject of an archaeological dig in the Spring of 2007. Whereas the two mills at Kibboth Crew were always fulling/woollen mills, Top Wood Mill was always associated with cotton.
Built about 1790 by John Rostron.
John Rostron, of Holcombe, who bought the Top Estate in 1764, built the factory during the early 1790s. On a level outcrop that curves round the bulging slope, he found enough space to collect water from a spring. Next to the pond stood the factory, its lowest floor built into the hillside. The manor court record for Michaelmas, 1791, mentions ...’all that ground at the bottom or east side of the Topwood estate whereon an engine house or factory now stands including dam or reservoir...’ The records do not say whether Rostron intended to become a spinner or merely to rent the hillside building. He does not appear to have installed machinery.
William Cockshott, who heard of the new factory, persuaded Rostron to grant him a lease. By 1778, Cockshott, Wood and Robert Pilkington of Bolton, were fustian manufacturers in Macclesfield and in that year they acquired a ‘newly erected mill or engine house called ‘New York’ at Woodhey’ in Tottington. When the anti-machine mob destroyed the carding engines at Woodhey in 1779 the partners, like Arkwright, probably saw Lancashire as too dangerous a place for water-spinning; and instead of building a mill near Tottington, they went instead to Northwich in Cheshire. However Cockshott’s confidence in the old cotton districts must have been restored because he went on to operate at Astley Bridge, Bolton, Bank Top in Burnley and Stansfield (Todmorden). Soon afterwards, around 1790 he went into partnership with Theodore Heelis. These two men took out a policy with Sun Alliance in 1792 to insure the contents of a spinning factory at Topwood, near Holcombe – insured value £1,000. Advertisements in the Manchester Mercury of March 19 and July 9, 1799 confirmed that the factory had water-frames (and also mules) and a report of its destruction by fire in April 1876, when it was being used for opening cotton waste, says it had three storeys and was about ’10 windows long’. The Tottington Lower End Tithe Map of 1842 shows that the building to have been about 49 feet by 27 feet.
In December, 1795 Cockshott obtained a patent for ‘a new-invented kind of cotton goods, wherein the Warp and Weft are combined and united together, and the Colour raised and thrown up with Cotton, Silk, Linen or Worsted, by a new Method, into Diamonds, Waves, Spots, Springs, Flowers and other Figures’ Earlier in 1795 Cockshott acquired an estate at Horncliffe Wood near Rawtenstall and built there one of the first hand look weaving factories. The building, which was large enough for 36 looms, still stands.
Cockshott and Heelis dissolved their partnership in 1796 and each took one of the spinning factories. Topwood went to Cockshott. The value of his property was declining and within two years he had run into such financial difficulties that he was obliged to assign his property to trustees.
[four paragraphs above are extracts from The Water Spinners by Chris Aspin – page 260]
1794 The Actual Survey of the township of Tottington by Smith, Kay & Brandwood 1794 shows:....’Top, the part belonging James Rostron – occupied by Cockshott & others...’ [page 79 No: 21]
Next reference is 1824 – John Rostron, Holcombe – cotton manufacturer – Top Mill [Baines]
In 1834 Top Wood mill was occupied by Abraham Emmet [1834 Poor Rate Assessment]
The 1842 Tithe Map shows that the site was now owned by Rachel Rostron and occupied by Richard Radcliffe ‘ walk mills, cotton waste, mill waste and reservoir and unoccupied cottage.
In 1850 Thomas Blomeley occupied ‘Top Wood Mill’ – cotton spinning (wadding). [Heap] The 1851 Census describes Thomas Blomeley as a spinner of cotton and millwright.
1859 – The mill was listed as a ‘waste mill’ - ‘empty’ and was owned by ‘Howarth’ [Rate Assessment – TLE PUB/11/1 ]
In 1861 William Edmundson & Brother, cotton spinners & manufacturers were at Top Wood Mill. [Drake].
1862 listed as ‘cotton mill’ owned by Mrs Haworth and occupied by John Wood/John Booth. [Poor Rate Assessment TLE PUB/11/3]
1864 John Wood & co operated the mill – buildings listed were mill, office, engine power, chimney, water power and reservoir. [Rate Assessment TLE PUB /8/22]
In 1866 Hardman Wood is listed at the cotton mill still owned by Mrs Haworth. Poor Rate Assessment TLE PUB 11/5]
The mill was destroyed by fire in 1876
M.I. Emmanuel Holcombe: In memory of Thomas Blomeley of Woodhey who departed this life 8 March 1859 in the 53rd year of his age. Also of Sarah his wife who departed this life 16 January 1865 in the 61st year of her life. Also of Thomas died 1864 aged 6 months son of John Thomas & Sarah Blomeley. Also Sarah wife of above John Thomas Blomeley died 1871 age 32. Also Edward son of John Thomas & Alice Blomeley of Topwood died 1878 age 5 years. Also the beforementioned John Thomas Blomeley of Topwood who departed this life 12.8.1878 age 44. See also report of Blomeley suicide under KIBBOTH CREW.