UNION MILL
Union Mill & Cuba Mill are covered in John Simpson’s book ‘A History of Edenfield & District’.
Opposite The Corner Pin – Stubbins.
Early 1860s – Built
Friday 27th March 1863 The Ramsbottom diarist Jamieson Morton writes –– ‘ ...called to view the co-operative mill at Stubbins – one engine is completed and two boilers are in. They have just commenced to build the cottages fronting the road’. [Morton]
In the 1850s and 1860s a number of co-operative mills were built in the Rossendale Valley. Groups of working men joined together to build their own mills. The Ramsbottom Spinning & Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1861. They built the four storey Union Mill. [Simpson page 104]
13 Jan 1862 Copy Lease for 999 years; Earl of Derby to The Ramsbottom Spinning and Manufacturing Co. Ltd [Ramsbottom Industrial & Provident Society collection]
1871 and 1883 – Ramsbottom Spinning & Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Union Works, Stubbins. John Dale Manager and John Berry Secretary. [Worrall & Barrett]
1887 The Cotton Spinners & Manufacturers Directory of 1887 [Worrall] records that the mill had 31,680 spindles and 746 looms and it manufactured India madaollams and shirtings.
1888 the Ramsbottom Spinning & Manufacturing Co Ltd are still operating at Union Mill, Stubbins. – John Hindle Secretary.
1904 Ramsbottom Spinning and Manufacturing Co Ltd went into liquidation and Ramsbottom Industrial & Provident Society appointed as receivers [Ramsbottom Industrial & Provident Society collection]
The mill was then divided into two –The weaving shed etc was let to the Star Manufacturing Company – this part remained known as UNION MILL. The Star Manufacturing Co Ltd/Star Mill Company also operated at Cobden Mill from about 1892. The spinning section was sold to a new company – CUBA MILL LTD. (See separate account for CUBA MILL). However both mills had mutual access to machinery and power.
1911 UNION MILL to John Brandwood, of Bury company director. He and several other manufacturers and business men set up a new company called Union Manufacturing Co. (Ramsbottom) Ltd to run the mill. [Ramsbottom Industrial & Provident Society collection]
1917 This company also went into liquidation and a new company – Union Manufacturing Co (Stubbins) Ltd [Ramsbottom Industrial & Provident Society collection]
1917 Fire at the mill
1920 Mill passed to Holme Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Cliviger [Ramsbottom Industrial & Provident Society collection]
1924 The Holme Mill Manufacturing Co Ltd was listed at Union Mill, Bolton Road North, Stubbins .[Kelly]
1924 This company also went into liquidation [Ramsbottom Industrial & Provident Society collection]
1939 After being empty for a number of years this mill was demolished.
Nearby Dale Street was named after John Dale who joined the firm as a book keeper, became company secretary and later Manager of the mill. [Simpson page 105]