HIGHER HOLME FOUNDRY AND WEAVING SHED

Gauxholme

Todmorden

Map ref. SD 929231

the old foundry and shed in the foreground

Known occupiers

1861-1867

CROSSLEY Thomas & HOLLINRAKE James, iron and brass founders

1861-1866

WILD, Abraham & Samuel

1867

empty

1868-1874

BARKER Edmund

1875-1878

BARKER Richard & DAWSON Richard

1879-1880

BARKER Richard

1881 FIELDEN Thomas

1883

permanently unoccupied

1887-1908

LORD Edward

1979

HEATON J.W. & Sons Ltd, sizer

Notes:

Rochdale Observer  2 February 1863

“A man found in a Clough”

On Tuesday morning at 3 o’clock, as the private watchman of Messrs. Fielden Bros. was going his rounds, he discovered the body of a man in Swineshead Clough. Being unable to extricate him, he obtained the assistance of Police Constable Turner of the Lancashire police force. When the man was taken out and found to be Mr. Thomas Crossley of Gauxholme Iron foundry, he was quite insensible and helpless. He was conveyed to his residence at Gauxholme where he expired between 4 and 5 o’clock on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was 49 years of age and had left a wife and four children to deplore his untimely end.

John Travis, local contemporary historian:

Higher Holme Foundry, Gauxholme, built about 1860-61 by Thomas Crossley, moulder, and James Hollinrake his brother-in-law. They later built a weaving shed for 120 looms, tenanted for several years by Abraham and Samuel Wild of Todmorden. In 1866 Abraham and Samuel Wild began to build DANCROFT shed. After they moved, Higher Holme was derelict for several years and then sold to Edmund Barker of Calder Vale Mill. He made improvements and put in a new boiler and engine and then moved in his looms.

Additional information

researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade

Hebden Bridge WEA Local History Group

Kellys Directory 1861

Crossley & Hollinrake, iron and brass founders

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1861-65

Owner and occupier Crossley & Hollinrake, Gauxholme, foundry, H.P. rateable value £15.13s.4d.

Occupiers Abraham Wild, owners Crossley & Hollinrake, Gauxholme, shed, 72 looms, 5hp. Rateable value £32.2s.2d.

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1866

Owner and occupier Crossley & Hollinrake, Gauxholme, foundry, H.P. rateable value £24.11s.0d.

Occupiers Abraham Wild, owners Crossley & Hollinrake, Gauxholme, shed, warehouse, rateable value £36.4s.0d.

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1867

Empty, owners Crossley & Hollinrake executors, Gauxholme, foundry, shed etc. rateable value £60.15s.0d.

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1868

Owner William Barker, Gauxholme, shed, foundry etc. Rateable value £60.15s.0d.

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1869-74

Owner and occupier Edmund Barker, Gauxholme, shed, foundry etc. Rateable value £60.15s.0d.

Kellys Directory 1871

Edmund Barker, Gauxholme, cotton spinner and manufacturer.

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1875-76

Occupiers Barker & Dawson, owner Joshua Lord of Bacup, shed, warehouse, Gauxholme, RV £60.15s.0d.

Kellys Directory 1877

Barker & Dawson, cotton spinners and manufacturers

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1879-80

Occupier Richard Dawson, owner Joshua Lord of Bacup, shed, warehouse, Gauxholme, RV £60.15s.0d.

Todmorden and Walsden Rates Books 1881

Occupier Thomas Fielden, owner Joshua Lord of Bacup, shed, warehouse, Gauxholme, RV £60.15s.0d.

Todmorden Rate Book 1887-92

Owner and occupier Edward Lord, loom shed and steam power, Gauxholme, RV £56.10s.0d. (1888 rateable value £55. 1892 new warehouse, rateable value £1.5s.0d.)

Mills Directory 1891

Edward Lord, Gauxholme Mill, 118 looms, calicoes, Manchester Office 18, New Cannon Street.

Kellys Directory 1893

Edward Lord, Gauxholme, cotton manufacturer

“Views and Reviews” (1896) Todmorden

Mr. Edward Lord, cotton manufacturer, Gauxholme Mill, established 20 years ago