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CLOUGH
MILL
Clough
Walsden
Map ref. SD 930223 |
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List of known occupiers
1786-1816
TRAVIS, CROSSLEY & Co.
FIELDEN & TRAVIS
1818-1876
FIELDEN Samuel, John & William
1830’s
LORD John & sons, engineering
1842-1851
FIELDEN James, picker maker
1865
Empty
1868-1871
FIELDEN Samuel & JACKSON Samuel
1873-1876
FIELDEN Samuel
1876-1881
Empty
1879
Railway Company
1882-1895
STARKIE Smith
1895
FIELDEN & GREENWOOD, picker maker
1907
Walsden Saw Mill on 25” O. S. map
1979
HAYES A. woodworker |
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Illustrated story |
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Clough
Farm |
John
Fielden was a farmer at Clough Farm in Walsden, and began
the business of fustian making, where most of the work - spinning,
weaving, warping and sizing - was done in the homes of local
people who were paid by the finished piece. In 1785, he decided
to build a small carding and spinning mill on his land so
the cotton preparation and spinning could be done under one
roof, and contracted William Fielden, mason of Calfhey, to do the work. |
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This
mill and the one at Knowlwood Bottom were the first spinning mills
to be built in the area. The mill was completed in 1786 and when it was partly
furnished with machinery, John entered a partnership with John Travis of Heyside near Oldham, Abraham Crossley of KNOWLWOOD BOTTOM MILL, and John Crossley. John Fielden's eldest son Samuel was brought in to manage the place. Joseph Travis of the firm Travis & Milne at Heyside was made a co-partner about 1790. Joseph was the eldest son of original partner John Travis.
The power
for the machinery was a water wheel, and dams and goits were constructed
for water storage, the water being taken from the river at the bottom
of Inchfield Fold meadow. The water power was always precarious, especially in the summer months when rain ran too quickly off the hillsides and not enough percolated through.
The mill
was a small affair, with a dwelling house at one end for the partners.
There were 3 storeys, with the cotton and willowing room and warehouse
on the ground floor. The spinning Jennies, carding engines, stretching
frames, winding, and warping machines were in the rooms above. Joseph Travis moved to live
in the dwelling house with his wife Esther about 1791.
Their son
Joseph was born there in 1792 but then Esther died. In 1796, he
married a second wife, Betty daughter of Jeremiah Bottomley of Inchfield.
Betty had been one of the card room hands when they met. Joseph
and Betty went on the have nine children, all of who were born
at the mill between 1799 and 1812.
In 1797 there is a reference to the mill in the Royal Exchange Insurance Policy Registers on 18th December as follows:
John and Joseph Travis, Abraham & John Crossley, cotton manufacturers, Cotton Mill, Walsden.
First class cotton risks, own occupation, £200.
Clockmaker's work £200,
stock in trade £100,
total £500,
premium £5.10s.6d.
In February 1798 the partnership was dissolved and was reported in the press as follows:
Clough Mill near Todmorden; John Travis of Heyside in the Parish of Oldham, Joseph Travis of Clough Mill, Abraham Crossley of Knowlwood, John Crossley of Salford Manchester, John Fielden of Clough in Walsden, cotton manufacturers and co-partners trading as Travis, Crossley & Co. Debts to be paid by all but Abraham Crossley.
John
Fielden's wife, Martha, had died by this time, and he married a
second time to Sally Wood. She brought her wayward brother, Jonas,
to live at Clough and he was set to work as a hand weaver
for the firm. He was apparently an eccentric and awkward person,
very set in his ways and inflexible to the ways of others, and a
little deficient in the brain department. John Fielden had many
problems dealing with him. On one particular occasion, Jonas was
having problems with his loom, but rather than ask for help in fixing
it, he was so put out by the broken loom that he declared his intention
to kill himself by drowning in the canal. No one believed him but
nonetheless he was followed at a distance, just in case. He arrived
at the canal bank, removed his clogs and stockings, and dipped his
toes in the water as if testing the temperature. He then replaced
his stockings and clogs and returned home. When asked why he had
decided against drowning, he replied that the water was so cold
it would have killed him!
In 1801, the insurance register shows:
Joseph Travis and John Fielden of Clough, Walsden, cotton manufacturers.
Clough Mill, cotton, own occupation, stores, first class cotton risk: £150.
Millwright and gears: £50
Clockmaker spinning, carding and breaking engines: £400
Stock in trade: £200
Premium £9.4s.0d.
Following the death of John Fielden in 1802, his son Samuel took over, working with Joseph Travis and trading as Fielden & Travis. They both attended the markets in Manchester and are mentioned as customers of Jeremiah Jackson, machine maker, in his account books.
Joseph Travis died at Clough Mill in 1818 at which point the mill passed to Samuel and his brothers John and William Fielden. They altered the original factory, which had been small
and poorly lit. They widened and heightened the rooms to make space
for more modern machinery, including power looms. There were now three good and well-lit rooms
and an attic for mules. |
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The
railway was built during the 1830's, and its route passed
between the mill and the turnpike road, isolating the mill
from road and canal. To make matters worse, the railway was
slightly elevated at this point. In order for the mill to
continue, a low tunnel was cut underneath the railway, bringing
a road through to the mill from the turnpike. |
The
tunnel - just over 7 feet high, and very narrow
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In
the early 1830's, there was a spare room that the brothers rented
out to John Lord and his sons. The Lords had been employed by the
Fielden Brothers of Waterside Mill as mechanics, but now wanted
to branch out on their own. At Clough Mill, they began the business
of machine making. They supplied Clough Mill and Knowlwood Bottom
Mill with machinery and were so successful that they left these
small quarters after a few years, and within 12 years were able
to build the large CANAL STREET WORKS on Halifax Road. |
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Meanwhile,
about 1842, another Fielden took spare rooms at the mill. He was
James, a distant relation, and a picker maker. |
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Pickers
were essential items of equipment used by the weaver for throwing
the shuttle across the warps. Originally, the handloom weavers
made their own from sticks of holly, hazel or birch. All they
needed was a knife and a tool to make the holes. However,
as the weaving looms became more sophisticated, so there was
need of a better picker. James Fielden is credited with being
the inventor of the "modern" picker. |
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He
made the first one whilst sitting at his own hand loom from
a bit of flat wood and two small pieces of leather. He made
these and sold them for three ha' pence a pair. People bought
them either direct from James or from the grocers' shops.
Pickers were made later in all forms and shapes and by machine,
and James was one of the first to produce them in this way. |
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He
and William Holt, his nephew, produced a machine for making harder
pickers from compressed leather and they set up a manufacturing
business first in a workshop at INCHFIELD FOLD. James then moved
his business to Clough Mill, and by 1851, he was employing 14 men
and 3 boys at his workshop in the mill. His brother Robert continued
at Inchfield and between them they employed over 50 workers in 1852.
When he died in 1855, aged 57, he was a very rich
man as evidenced by his WILL. |
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The Fielden family of Clough Mill continued with the business of cotton spinning and manufacture alongside their distant cousin James and his picker making works. Samuel
and John Fielden died, leaving their brother William the sole surviving
son of Old John. William continued at Clough Mill and was joined by his brother John's son Samuel and his own son, John.
John the son of William married Peggy Bramley and
had 10 children. |
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Peggy
Bramley
photo by courtesy of Vic Fielden
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Peggy
and John lived at Clough and nearby Thistle Hall (Rose Cottage)
where they brought up their children. John was a book keeper
at the mill, later becoming a fully fledged cotton manufacturer
until his death in 1860. Their second son, also John, emigrated
to Australia in the 1870's where he worked on the beginning
of the Adelaide to Darwin train line in the 1880s
John
Fielden junior
photo by courtesy of Vic Fielden
Amongst
the Australian Fielden papers is the document shown left,
which appears to be notes relating to various annuities
due to members of the family from the assets of Clough Mill.
A partial transcript is below. (Courtesy of Vic Fielden)
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Mrs.
Sutcliffe.....
John
Fielden......
Mrs.
Firth..........
Sam
Fielden.......
Mrs.
Highley......
Jas
Fielden........
Martha
Fielden...
Joshua
Fielden...
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.............................£200
.............................£100
.............................£70
.............................£174.10s.4d.
.............................£75.15s.11d.
.............................£113.0s10d.
.............................£12.10s.0d.
.............................£43.9s.9d.
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The
above named people are the surviving children of Peggy and
John Fielden, and some of their photos are shown below, again
courtesy of Vic Fielden. Mary Ann was the daughter of Peggy
Bramley, born before her marriage to John. |
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Mary
Ann Bramley
(Mrs. Sutcliffe) |
Susan
Fielden
(Mrs
Firth) |
James
Fielden |
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Josiah
Fielden |
Samuel
Fielden |
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In 1860, the Walsden Rates Book shows William, his son John and nephew Samuel as occupiers, whilst the owner was William. That same year, both William and his son John died, leaving his nephew Samuel in sole charge. Samuel was the last of this Fielden family at Clough Mill.
He was left to face the disastrous slump in trade during the cotton panic of the 1860's. The mill lay empty from 1865 to 1868, although Samuel attempted to keep the business going. He remained in charge until 1876 when bankruptcy loomed. The Halifax Guardian of 11th November 1876 reported:
Meeting of creditors of Samuel Fielden, Clough Mill, Walsden, cotton spinner and manufacturer. Debts amounting to £1000 proved.
Following the demise of Samuel Fielden in 1876, the mill lay empty once more. Its position, adjoining the railway line by Walsden
Station, made it a valuable asset for the Railway Company, who purchased
it in 1879, but it remained empty until 1882 when Mr.
Smith Starkie rented it. He was a machinery broker.
On 17th July 1884, Smith Starkie auctioned off the machinery at Clough Mill. The Todmorden Advertiser carried the following report:
At Clough Mill, Walsden, 1 Lancashire Boiler 25' x 7' diameter, 1 vertical boiler 4'6" x 2'3" diameter, horizontal engine, 10 looms 38" reed space, 2 cloth plaiting machines, mechanics tools, reed making tools, clog iron cutting and punching machine.
During Mr. Starkie's occupation there
was a fire on the premises, which was reported as follows:
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Smith
Starkie |
3rd
Nov 1892
At
2-55am, a fire was discovered in the building known as Clough
Mill, owned by the Railway Company, but occupied by Mr. Smith
Starkie, Machine Broker, and by Mr. George Ashworth, Joiner.
Through the prompt action taken by the Todmorden Fire Brigade,
only slight damage was done.
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Smith
Starkie was followed as tenant by Greenwood and Fielden, picker
makers, and in August 1895, the mill was the cause of great excitement
in the area. This is evidenced by the following report:
27th
August 1895
The
work of felling a mill chimney was successfully accomplished at
Clough Mill, Walsden, by the famous Lancashire Steeplejack Mr.
J. Smith of Rochdale. The stack was 135 feet high and was erected
about 60 years ago. Mr. Smith and 3 assistants, with the help
of creosoted pitch-pine timber, a ton of coal, a quantity of shavings,
2 barrels of paraffin, and a barrel of tar, as well as some solid
pitch, razed it to the ground in about 16 hours. The above chimney
was connected with a mill formerly worked by Mr. Samuel Fielden,
but is now used as a machinery warehouse and picker shop, and
is owned by the L. & Y. Railway Company.
Very
little is known about the following years in the life of Clough
Mill. It seems to have been given over to joinery and woodworking,
and on the 1907 Ordnance Survey Map is designated as a saw mill.
Today, the mill is converted into a private residence, and the tunnel
remains the only way in.
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Additional information
researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade
Hebden Bridge WEA
Local History Group
Jeremiah Jackson's accounts books 1815-16
Messrs. Fielden & Travis, Clough
Jeremiah Jackson's accounts books 1818
Samuel Fielden, Clough Mill
Baines Directory 1822
Samuel Fielden cotton spinner
Pigot & Deane Directory 1824-5
John & William Fielden Clough Mill
Baines Directory 1825
John & William Fielden Clough Mill, cotton spinners
Pigot's Directory 1828-9
John & William Fielden Clough Mill Walsden, cotton spinners
Parson & White's Directory 1830
John & William Fielden Clough Mill, cotton spinners
Jeremiah Jackson's accounts books 1832
Mr. J. W. Fielden, Clough Mill
Pigot's Directory 1834
John & William Fielden Clough Mill Walsden, cotton spinners
Jeremiah Jackson's accounts books 1837
J. & W. Fielden, Clough Mill
Todmorden Voters 30th July 1842
William Fielden living at Clough Mill, freehold land and mill, Clough Mill.
White's Directory 1842-3
William Fielden, cotton spinner & manufacturer
James Fielden, picker maker
White's Directory 1847
John & William Fielden Clough Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers
White's Directory 1853
John & William Fielden Clough Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers
Walsden Rates Books 1860-64
Occupiers J. S. & W. Fielden, owner William Fielden, mill, Clough, rateable value £170.8s.6d.
Walsden Rates Book 1865
Empty. Owner J. & W. Fielden. Rateable value £175.19s.6d
White's Directory 1866
John & William Fielden Clough Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers
Walsden Rates Books 1866-67
Occupier Samuel Fielden, owner J. & W. Fielden, rateable value £132.10s.0d.
Walsden Rates Books 1868-71
Occupiers Fielden & Jackson, owners J. and W. Fielden, rateable value £132.10s.0d.
Rochdale Observer Saturday 11 May 1872
DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP
SAMUEL FIELDEN and SAMUEL JACKSON trading as "Fielding and Jackson & Co." cotton spinners and manufacturers Clough Mill, Walsden.
Walsden Rates Books 1873-75
Occupier Samuel Fielden, owner J. and W. Fielden, rateable value £132.10s.0d.
Slater's Directory 1875
Samuel Fielden Walsden Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers
Walsden Rates Books 1876-81
Empty, owner Railway Company, rateable value £132.10s.0d.
Walsden Rates Books 1882-90
Occupier Smith Starkie, owners Railway Company, warehouse, rateable value £8.10s.0d
Walsden Rates Books 1895
Occupiers Fielden & Greenwood, owners Railway Company, picker shop, Clough Mill, rateable value £4.15s.0d.
Occupier Smith Starkie, owners Railway Company, brokers warehouse & power, rateable value £25.10s.0d.
Coronation Souvenir 1902
Howarth Fielden, makers of pickers etc. Clough Mill |
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