ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XCIX 1824 Select observations: Trade of all denominations is extremely brisk and wages torable, except weaving, which is done for a very little money. Tabby, of whom an emence quantity is made, is wove for 2s. 9d. per pond; cords, velveteens, &c., wich is wove with 24 hanks, the price paid is 17d. to 21d. per pond, but when they give 21d. it is wove one in a breadth, and is a velveteen, and is made as strong as possible. Hating is very flat at pressant. The spinning trade is very brisk, and factory business is rapidly increasing, and all the country is and bustle. A deal of new factorys have been erected this last summer, likewise a deal of cottages and Tetlow’s factory, situated near Werneth, was erected last summer. After the many doleful annals here entered it is some pleasure to read this. From E. Butterworth it would seem that no less than fifteen new factories were erected in the township of Oldham from 1821 to 1824, namely:- Werneth, Lyon, Priory, Lower House, Dintcar, Clarksfield, Union, Medlock, Fountain, Pew Nook, Lee, Bow-street, Rosehill, Springhill, and Coppice. Tetlow’s factory, mentioned in this annal, was Werneth Mill, erected by Mr. Thomas Tetlow, son of Mr., Edmund Tetlow, once a farmer in Bent, and in the cotton trade at Shaw factory in 1810. In 1832 the late Daniel Dronsfield, formerly of Moorside Mill, Sholver, became the prince[pal occupier, and ultimately the owner of Werneth Mill. Lyon Mill was erected by Mr. John Tattersall, a native of Middleton. He began business in Fog-lane new mill in 1815. It afterwards belonged to Mr. William Tattersall and Mr. Jonathan Mellor, junior. Prior Mill was erected by Mr. Thomas Cussons, in partnership with Messrs. Bradley and Wild. Mr. Cussons was in the cotton business at Church-lane mill, prior to 1815. It seems that Mr. Henry Platt made some of the machinery for Priory Mill. Messrs. John Worthington became proprietor of this mill about 1835. |
I heard of a tale in a railway carriage relating to Henry Platt before he became partner with Elijah Hibbert. The father of the gentleman who related it was once an Oldham cotton spinner at Cusson’s factory, and her lived at Priory House on Union-street,. Henry Platt was at that time making machinery, I think it was said carding engines for this Oldham cotton spinner, and Mr. Platt’s means were at that time so limited that it was necessary for him to receive money on account in weekly installments for the machinery delivered. This money was always fetched on a Saturday morning, the day on which Mr. Platt paid wages. On a certain Saturday morning Mr. Hibbert happened to be paying a visit to Priory House, and as the cotton spinner saw Henry Platt coming along the street he said to Mr. Hibbert, “Here comes Henry Platt for his weekly subsidy, explaining at the same time, that when the contract for the machinery was made, it was agreed that as Henry Platt could not lie out of his money he was to receive a proportionate amount every week. Mr. Platt came to the door, and being admitted, was paid what money was due, and as he was returning Mr. Hibbert went to the door and called him back, asking him if it would not suit him a great deal better to have more money in his concern, so that he could deal more advantageously with his customers. Mr. Platt agreed it would, and it is said this circumstance led to the partnership between Hibbert and Platt, a connection which eventually led to the building up of one of the largest industries in the world. I give this tale for what it is worth, not with the idea of showing that Henry Platt was once poor; but rather to enhance the result of a small beginning. Lowerhouse Mill was erected by Mr. Samuel Radcliffe, who had been in business at Acre Mill since 1874. He had also machinery at Vineyard Mill at one time. Mr. Samuel Radcliffe was born at Ashes, near Lees. The family originally came from Shaw Hall in Saddleworth. Samuel Radcliffe’s brothers, Joshua and Joseph Radcliffe were in business at High Crompton, and afterwards removed to Richard-street Mills, Rochdale. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dirtcar Mill was erected by Mr. James Greaves, son of Mr. John Greaves, yeoman, and manufacturer, of Thorpe near Austerlands, whose ancestors had held that place since the reign of James I. The family originally came from “Greave” in Saddleworth, which is still in the possession of Hilton Greaves, Esq. Clarksfield Mill was built by Messrs. Joseph and James Lees, juniors, of the family of Leeses of Lower Clarksfield. Union Mill, Side of Moor, was built by Messrs. John Wild and Co., who began business at Castle Mill in 18921. Messrs. Gartside and Mayall were the prince[pal occupiers about 1832-3. Medlock Mill, Lowermoor, was erected by Messrs. Saville and Wright in 11823; they employed 172 hands. Messrs. Heginbottom and Co. afterwards owned this mill. Fountain Mill, Lowermoor was built by Messrs. Gould and Cooper, Hollinwood. Pew or Pute Nook Mill was built by Messrs. James Ogden and Charles Walmsley. Ogden was grandson of one of our earliest machine makers, and Walmsley was the son of Mr. Walmsley, farmer, Moston Hall. Mr. George Inchliffe afterwards occupied this mill. Lee Mill, Manchester-street, was built by Mr. William Bradbury. This mill is now taken down. Bow-street Mill, known as Flat Top Factory, was built by Mr. David Walton, once at Rhodes Mill. Rosehill Mill, at Waterhead, was built by Messrs. John Howard and others. Mr. Howard began the cotton trade about 1818. This mill was afterwards known as Messrs. Moss and Howard’s mill, and was burnt down some years ago. Mr. John Howard was the son of Mr. Andrew Howard. Spring-hill Mill, Waterhead, was greatly enlarged about this time by Mr. John Lees, who was in business at that p[lace previous to 1818. Coppice Mill, Waterhead, was erected by Messrs. John Wareing and Sons. Mr. Wareing started business at Dowry Mill on 1802. Messrs. John and William Wareing erected a mill adjacent to Coppice Mill about 1809. |
The following is a statement of the prices of different articles:- Meal, 1s. 10d. to 2s.; flour, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 7d.; malt, 1s. 10d. to 2s. a peck; treacle, 4d. To 4 1/2d.; new butter, 1s. 3d.; candles 6d. to 6 1/2d.; chees, 6 1/2d. to 7 1/2d.; pork, 4d. to 6d.; beef, 5 1/2d. to 6 1/2d.; mutton, 4 1/2d. to 6d.; old butter, 9d. to 10 1/2d.; bacon, 7d. to 8d.; hops, 1s. 3d. to 1s. 4d.; salt, 1d.; sugar, 7d. to 9d.; soap, 7d. to 7 1/2d. per pound; potatoes, 8d. to 9d. a score; peas, 3d. to 4d. a quart; straw, -------; cotton boads, 7d. to 9d. a pond; bale, 1s. per pond; coals, from 1s. to 1s. 2d. a horse load at the pit; onions, 2 pond for 2 1/2d. January 8th – Last night the house of Josuah Winterbottom, of Heyside, was robbed of a large quantity of goods. January 18th -Died suddenly at Scowcroft, Samuel Top, formerly a manufacturer; his age, 77 years. January 21st -Died last night, Mr. John Clegg, of King-street, Oldham, hat manufacturer and timber merchant, his age 65 years. January 31st -Died at Manchester, after eating a hearty dinner, Mr. David Ainsworth, of Bankside, Oldham. This month has been uncommon fine; has been very fine; such weather was scarsley ever experienced before. It is so warm that knats are seen flocking under hedges as in a summer evening. February 4th -Died Isabella, wife of Robert Farrand, of Oldham, hardware man and shopkeeper. John Entwistle, Esquire, of Foxholes, near Rochdale, High Sheriff for Lancashire this year. February 13th -Was intered at Oldham, John Mellor, a weaver, of Chappel Croft, Oldham, age 70 years; and Daniel Wild, fustian manufacturer, Heyside, formerly of Clouds-lane, his age about 60 years. The winter has been such as was never seen before by the oldest [person living for open melch and warm, but been very little frost and snow. There has been but very little; not so much as to stay above a day or two at most. |
Page 153
William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
 |
 |
 |
