ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XCVII 1822 6th -Most tremendous high wind commenced last night about twelf o’clock, and continued until three this morning. It blew an entire hurricane. Very few houses escaped without being materially damaged. A factory chimney blown down at Hollins. A deal of slates were blown off houses, and blown into windows; a great deal of windows were broken that way. A deal of damage was done all over the country. Upon the whole it was the most tremendous high wind that has happened in the memory of the oldest person living. Its effects were very destructive in Ireland. An emence deal of damage was done all over the part of the country. 17th -A fatal misfortune happened near Royley, Mary Radcliff, a yong woman of 16 years of age had the misfortune to fall into a stone-pit this night, and so much brused she died the next morning. 18th -Died, at Oldham, James Ward, hatter. Genarly went by the name of Old Turk; age 63 years. 22nd -For several days past and this day a very fine and pleasant frost. 31st -The frost still continues, but is very severe. 1823 The year one thousand eight hundred and twenty three begun on Wednesday, wich was a fine day; all kinds of trade very brisk, but in general wages low, especially weaving. Factory work extreemly brisk, but wages have been higher, but there is such a demand for twist for exportation as was never experienced before, but notwithstanding so many new factorys as have been erected this last summer, and are now at full work, and more are in contemplation to be erected this next summer, weaving is done for very little wage. Tabbys are wove 40 yards, 52 beers 8 ponds of 60 hanks and upwards for 22s. Velveteens, cords, etc., are in general wove at 18d.; some may get up to 20d. a pond for particular good work from 24 to 27 hanks in the pond. |
All provisions are very reasonable, which is the cause that the poor at this time amply provided with Christmas cheer, and the following is a statement of the different articles:- Meal 1s. 6d. to 1s. 7d., flour 1s. to 1s. 10d., malt 1s. 9d. to 1s. 11d. per peck 12 lbs., treacle 4d. to 4 1/2d., new butter 13d., candles, 7d., chees 5d. to 6d., pork 3d. to 4d., beef 3d. to 4 1/2d., mutton 3 1/2d. to 4 1/2d., bacon 5d. to 6d., hops 8d., salt 4d.,sugar 6d. to 8d., soap 7d. to 7 1/2d. a pond., potatoes from 6d. to 7d. a score, peas 3d. a quart, hay 10d. a stone, straw 7d. a stone, cotton boads 7d. to 10d. a pond, bale 1s. a pond, coals from 1s. to 14d. a horse load at the pit, onions 2 1/2d. a pond. The prosperity of the town which began in the year 1821, was still maintained. The export trade in cotton yarns was going up “by the roofs” to use a common term. A great number of small capitalists were rushing into the trade, some of whom became permanently rich/ This principle of self-help is what has made Oldham. In some cases the beginnings of these firms were very small indeed. I have heard of as many as four joining at one carding engine. I once knew an old man who had been a carder for a dozen firms all at the same time. In those days of imperfect machinery there was needed great skill in the art and mystery of carding. Some of those old carders had been brought up amongst the woolen, and it often happened that their knowledge of carding was a family secret. One other matter we must not overlook in the progress of Oldham, and that is the moral and religious education of the people. It will have been noticed in the annals of the previous year what a number of schools and chapels were in process of erection. The Church people and the Wesleyans up to this time had been the leading bodies, but now they were joined by other religious bodies in various parts of the town. January 3rd -Was intered at Middleton, Robert Cowper of Royton, formerly a considerable corn dealer; aged 86 years. January 5th -A part of the duty on salt terminated this day, and salt, which had been selling at 4d. is now selling at 1d. a pond. The duty of 10s. a bushel on salt was first imposed in England in 1798. It was increased to 25s. in 1805, and reduced to 2s. in 1823. In the earlier years of the century many people were too poor to buy salt , and were forced to eat their homely meal of oatmeal porridge without salt, except what might be contained in the dripping which oftimes was the only condiment to give the porridge a relish. |
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January 7th -Died, Betty, wife of Peter Blaze; her age 73 years; of Northmoor. January 15th -For several days past very severe freezing, and this morning a small fall of snow. January 16th -It still continues snowing, but not to a great degree. January 6th-A singular, and yet a very melancholy, affair happened at Manchester. One James Mulvanah and his family, in all six persons, went to reside in a new built house, and the walls not properly dry they took a chaffindish full of red cinders into there bedroom, when by the damp in the cinders four were found dead, and the two others were with difficulty restored to life again. Chaffindish, the old fashioned “Chovin dish,” is hardly known to modern housewives. In the days of our grandmothers the “Chovin dish” was of pewter, and it was a mark of neatness if the various articles of pewter were kept clean and bright. January 7th -Died, at great grief of her family and friends, Hariot, yongest child of Mr. Joseph Rowland, of Orleans Mill, Oldham; her age 7 years. Disorder, inflammation of the brain. January 17th -A small fall of snow, and the frost still continues. January 20th -It still continues to freeze severely. January 20th -Was intered at Oldham, Mrs. Fawcet, widow of the late Rev. Mr. Thomas Fawcet, many years curate of Oldham Church; her age 76 years. January 21st -Last night died at Royton, John Coates, innkeeper and fustian manufacturer. Disorder, consumption; age, 50 years. January 22nd -Last night it froze most severely. January 22nd and 23rd – The frost still continues with great severity. January 23rd -Was the sale by auction at Slab Fallows of his farming stock in Burnley-lane. His horned cattle and horses fetched very good prices, his hay 10 1/2d. per stone, his oats 2s. 7 1/2d. per rider, or 10 sheaves January 25th -The frost still continues with the utmost severity, and the wind tremendously high. |
January 7th -Arived at Northmoor ther very pleasing news of George Rowbottom having on the 28th of September last, obtained his discharge by paying the sum of £20, after having soldiered 6 years 128 days in the 64th regement of foot at Gibraltar. January 26th Died at Oldham, Joseph Taylor, a hatter by trade and a sound reformer; age 42 years. January 27th Died at Oldham, Samuel Marlor, shoemaker and leather cutter; age, 48 years. January 28th Last night died at Uin Nook, Northmoor, Sally, wife of Abraham Smyth, of that place. Disorder, child-bed; age, 35 years. On the 27th the very severe frost, wich begun on or about the 21st of last month, terminated in a fine thaw. This frost was scarsely evere equaled for severe frezing. There as been a little snow, but in general the wind as been moderate, wich as made it more pleasant. It is said that the frost as been proved to have been eighteen inches in the church yards and other places. Coals during the late storm risen in price four different times one penny per load each time. The carriage of coals in Oldham at that time must have been a great item of cost, and as the roads were well nigh impassable the carriers – chiefly pack-horse men – had the regulation of prices in their own hands. January 30th A fine, pleasant day. January 31st A fine day. February 1st An extreme cold, windy, snowy day. February 2nd A cold snowy day, with the wind very high. February 3rd The wind high, a deal of snow, and froze a little. February 5th George Mills, of Cinder-hill, sold his faming stock by auction. His hay sold at 10 ¾ d per stone. February 7th Last night a tremendous roof night for snow, frost, and an uncommon high wind. February 10th This morning, died, at Jacob’s Roe, Northmoor, Mally, wife of William Hallawell; disorder, consumption; age, 42 years. February 10th Died, in Chappell-street, Oldham, George Morris, a man that had considerable concern in coaching; disorder, consumption. |
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