GREENHURST HEY MILL

Wickenberry Clough

Todmorden

Map Ref. SD940254

Reconstruction drawing of Greenhurst Hey Mill by kind permission of the widow of Lawrence Greenwood. The mill had an encased waterwheel on the right hand side of the building.

Known occupiers

pre1797-1802

HELLIWELL Michael

1802

HELLIWELL John

HELLIWELL Thomas

1811

HELLIWELL John junior

Additional information

This simple mill was where one branch of the HELLIWELL FAMILY first began as cotton spinners & manufacturers in the 18th century. Initially, it was a small factory used for carding and spinning wool. In later years the family moved to bigger and better mills at FRITHS and HOLEBOTTOM, although John Helliwell the younger kept on Greenhurst Hey as a malt kiln for a period, residing at the farm until about 1864. He went bankrupt in 1864 and his whole estate was sold off, including Greenhurst Hey and 2 cottages at Wickenberry Clough.

Notes from John Travis:

The head of Greenhurst Hey Clough, which at Wickenberry changes its name, at one time it turned a little factory there and was the origins of the Helliwell family as cotton spinners.

Above HOUGHSTONE MILL is Wickenberry Clough, where the Helliwells of Greenhurst Hey had, at a former time, a small wool carding and drawing factory, turned by water coming down from the Stansfield hills.

WILL OF MICHAEL HELLIWELL of Greenhurst Hey dated 10th March 1802.

Amongst other things, Michael leaves to his two sons John and Thomas:

“my new built factory standing in the Greenhurst Hey Clough with wheels, gears, mill dams and machinery belonging … and one half part of one drying Kiln at Greenhurst Hey”.

Stansfield Township valuation 1805

Greenhurst Hey; factory, water & waste; owned and occupied by John Helliwell.

Greenhurst Hey; 1 cottage at factory; occupied by William Barker; owner John Helliwell.

WILL OF JOHN HELLIWELL of Greenhurst Hey dated 18th June 1811

Amongst other things, John leaves his nephew John (son of his brother Thomas)

“one half part of a drying Kiln in Greenhurst Hey; one half part of a building mill or factory in Greenhurst Hey Clough in Stansfield in the joint occupations of me and my brother Thomas and one half part of all watercourses, streams, dams, gaits, sluices and privileges … my half part of the waterwheel and all other wheels, gears and machines employed in the building or factory in Greenhurst Hey Clough for the spinning of cotton … ”

Stansfield Township map 1816

A large dam is shown with a small building below, on land owned by John Helliwell of Greenhurst Hey.

WILL OF THOMAS HELLIWELL of Friths dated 12th December 1822

Thomas leaves his son John:

“ ½ share of the mill or factory which I hold in common with him situated in Greenhurst Hey Clough in Stansfield together with all rights and appurtenances … “

(Michael’s grandson John now owned the whole of the Greenhurst Hey estate.)

Stansfield Rates Book 1835

John Helliwell, Greenhurst Hey, land and tenements; rateable value £17.0s.2d. No mention of a factory.

White 1842 and 1843

John Helliwell, maltster, Stackhills and Greenhurst Hey.

White 1847

John Helliwell, maltster, Stackhills and Greenhurst Hey.

Census 1851

John Helliwell, Greenhurst Hey, aged 58, farmer and maltster employing 3 persons and 6 labourers.

John Helliwell (son), aged 26, maltster.

Greenhurst Hey, a private dwelling, nestles amongst the trees hidden from the world.