INCHFIELD MILL

(TRAVIS MILL)

Inchfield

Walsden

Map Ref.  SD934219

Known occupiers

1586

TRAVIS, fulling

1794-1806

INGHAM William, fulling

c1803-1824

PARKIN Bell, corn

c1810-1820

BOTTOMLEY Thomas, cotton

1824-1829

BAMFORD Thomas & Ann, corn

1824-1829

TRAVIS William, cotton

1830-1847

BAIRSTOW John, Matthew & James, corn

1844-1869

SMITH Edmund & Richard, corn

1870-1881

Empty

1893

Dilapidated

Pre1901

Converted to houses

Illustrated History

Inchfield Corn and Cotton Mill, which was demolished many years ago, used to occupy the corner plot of land at the bottom of Inchfield Road.

This mill was in existence in 1586 when George Travis purchased the Inchfield Estates from Lord Byron of Clayton Hall near Manchester. It was a fulling mill for finishing off the wool manufacturing process, worked by water wheel using water from the valley stream. George and Elizabeth Travis moved from Blackley near Manchester to live at Inchfield where they raised their family. George died intestate in 1605 and his widow died the following year. As time passed, Sarah Travis the daughter of John Travis of Inchfield, inherited the mill. She married Lawrence Newell of Lower Town House, Rochdale, in 1739 and the ownership of the mill remained in the Newell family until it was demolished.

When the wool trade died out in the area, the mill was used for grinding corn, and later for both corn and cotton in the same building.

In 1784, WILLIAM INGHAM was the fulling miller. He lived at the mill with his family and was responsible for the building of four of the cottages at SQUARE, just round the corner. He died in 1806, and the mill, now owned by Samuel Newell, was converted to corn milling.

Meanwhile, John Bottomley was the miller at GAUXHOLME CORNMILL. He died in 1787 leaving a widow and several small children. The widow, Mally Bottomley, continued to run the business at Gauxholme with the help of Bell Parkin, her carter. By and by, Mally and Bell Parkin became close, not just as colleagues, but in other ways. Despite a 20-year age gap (Bell was 20 years her junior), they married and moved together to Inchfield Mill.

Mally's son, Thomas Bottomley, took over part of the mill and converted it to a cotton carding and spinning business. Extra power was needed for this, so John Dawson was contracted to construct a dam for the storage of water in the meadow, below where Inchfield Villa stands. The corn business continued under Bell and Mally Parkin, and life carried on smoothly for the next few years until the 19th June 1822. On that day, Bell went to Manchester Corn Exchange, riding his own horse. On the way, as he was approaching the Woodcock Inn, an assailant accosted him, bludgeoned him from behind, and killed him. Mally, then aged 78, died at the mill shortly afterwards. They are buried together at St. Paul's Church at Cross Stone.

Thomas Bottomley had by then acquired sufficient capital to start up on his own, which he did, building SPRING MILL at Ramsden Wood. Mally Parkin was followed at the corn mill by her daughter and son-in-law, Thomas and Ann Bamford, and shortly afterwards they were joined by Ann's sister Sally and her husband William Travis who took over the cotton side of the business. William had worked previously at CLOUGH MILL in the carding and spinning departments. Sadly he died a young man in 1827. He was the last to run part of the mill as a cotton business, and following his death the whole mill reverted to corn.

Thomas Bamford also died and was succeeded for a time by his brother Isaac.

In 1841, John Bairstow and family occupied a dwelling at the mill. He was the miller, and he had an assistant miller, John Lord, aged 20, also living at the mill with his mother and siblings. His mother, Alice Lord, ran a shop on the premises. There were also 2 carters: John Sutcliffe and family and William Butler and family, plus Hannah Walton, a dressmaker. There was also a journeyman corn miller living at Inchfield Fold Top who more than likely worked in the mill. He was Samuel Elsworth, aged 35.

The local authorities commissioned a survey of land in 1843. As far as Inchfield Mill was concerned, the survey concluded that the owner was W. N. Newell, the occupiers were J. and S. Bairstow, and the land comprised:

Kiln brink

Potato Croft

Shred, side of river

Little Holme

Hippings Holme

Reservoir

Great House

New Field

Round Bank

Wood

Little Brink

Barn Croft

Buildings and yard

Gardens

Buildings

Calf Hey

Nick Wood

Road

The total acreage was 20 acres, 1 rod and 9 perches. This made it quite a large concern.

The Bairstow family gave up the tenancy about 1844, being succeeded by Richard Smith of Scaitcliffe Mill who carried on there until his death.

Whilst Richard was the occupier of the mill, a young man employed there had a nasty accident and a narrow escape. On Wednesday 20th June 1849, he was trying to free a sack of corn as it was being wound upwards by the crane. His hand became stuck in the machinery and he ended up being taken up with the sack to the top of the crane. He remained suspended up there until a fellow employee managed to rescue him. He was seriously injured, with his hand almost being torn off. However, he survived to tell the tale.

However, the following February, John Fielden of Square in Walsden wasn't quite so lucky. He died in a horrible accident, leaving 5 orphaned children. The inquest into his death was reported in the Leeds Mercury as follows:

The Leeds Mercury Saturday, February 23, 1850;

Melancholy Accident

A serious catastrophe took place on Saturday evening last, about half past eight o’clock, at the corn mill of Mr. Richard Smith, Walsden. It appears one of the millers named John Fielden, whilst attempting to uncouple the engine from the mill wheels, was, by some means, caught in the machinery, and so severely crushed that he only lived ten minutes after the occurrence. He has left a family of five orphans to lament his loss. An inquest was held on the body on Tuesday last before J. Dearden Esq. at the Hollings Inn, Walsden, when the verdict was, “Accidental death”.

In 1851, Richard Smith lived at Inchfield Villa, describing himself as a corn merchant employing 21 men. The miller was James Shore of Milnrow.

Interestingly, during the 1840's and 50's Thomas Fielden, a schoolmaster, also lived at the mill with his family, and so did his brother, Samuel. They were brothers of Robert and James Fielden, the picker makers of INCHFIELD FOLD and CLOUGH MILL respectively. Samuel moved to live in Manchester. In August 1850, he left his home one evening and was not heard of again until September 4th. when his body was found 9 miles down river from his home.

Inchfield Villa

During Edmund's time, there was a robbery at the mill. Two men were taken into custody on November 22nd. 1853, one of them with a quantity of oats in a sack on his back. This chap was sent to prison for 3 months. The other, Johnny Fielden, was released.

Then the mill stood derelict for a long time, the machinery was sold and the railway siding removed. In 1875, the dwelling houses were still occupied, as evidenced by the following letter from Samuel Haigh, kindly provided by Beverley Weston.

Inchfield Mill , Walsden May 8th 1875

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Watson

As I have not had any communication with you since you left England, I hope you will excuse me in sending you a few lines. I have not been able to get your address until just lately and our ?????? Mr. James Lord informed me that you desired me to send you a Todmorden Newspaper-I beg to do so and -at the same time-I hope you will give me a few lines in return please let me know what family you have got and how you are getting on in your distant Colony.

 

I visited London in 1874 to see brother Luke and wife and family I stopped there about 9 days and liked the place-Called Bexley Heath very well, it is distant from London about eleven miles-where there is excellent scenery.

 

We have left the Moorcock this last March-and returned to Inchfield Mill -Walsden-a place better adapted to our present family we have seven children alive five boys and two girls. I still have the old situation as Banksman at the Coal Pit hoping you will accept our best respects and give me a few lines in return.

I remain
yours most respectfully
Samuel Haigh

PS. Please-Address
Samuel Haigh
Inchfield Mill
Walsden