Illustrated history

Before cotton, Knowlwood was a community of rural inhabitants who kept bees and grew fruit trees, flowers and vegetables in their gardens. They sold their produce, mainly honey, in the local shops. There were butchers who reared their own pigs for slaughter, saddlers, blacksmiths and carters. Indeed, there were so many butchers that the road through the hamlet later became known as Butcher Hill. The Lord family owned the Estate. Thomas Lord was born there in 1733. He later became the farmer at LITTLE KNOWL FARM. His land reached down to the valley below.

Meanwhile, a young man was making his mark on the world. He was Abraham Crossley and he lived in Knowlwood. His best friend was Moses Dawson, also of Knowlwood. It was round about the year 1786. Moses was still a bachelor and Abraham had a new bride, Sarah. Abraham and Moses were celebrated members of the choir at St. Mary's Church in Todmorden. The choirmaster, Jeremy Howarth, also lived in Knowlwood, and it was at his home where the troops would gather for rehearsals. The men supped plenty of ale on these occasions, and maybe it was during a break in the singing that Abraham and Moses decided to approach Thomas Lord with their plan to build a cotton-spinning mill.

Abraham, Moses and Thomas were all aware of the potential in the newly emerging cotton spinning industry. Now there was a half decent road through to Manchester, passing through the middle of Knowlwood, raw cotton and finished cloth could be carted with much less difficulty than the previous pack horse method. In the valley, at the bottom of Knowlwood on Little Knowl land, the river ran swiftly and there was a fall of about 6 or 7 yards. This was sufficient for powering a water wheel.

Thomas Lord died in 1790, aged 57. Moses Dawson married Hannah Tattersall. They moved to Newbridge in Walsden and then went to live at Todmorden Edge and gave up any interest he had in the mill. Moses continued in the choir, moving to the new church after it was built. By then he was quite old and frail, but insisted on singing, having to prop himself up on a pillar to avoid falling over. His wife always attended the services with him, dressed in a red cloak. Moses sang to the end of his days. He was an old man of 74 when he died in 1835.

Abraham Crossley remained in Knowlwood with Sarah. In 1791, he appears to have bought the land at Knowlwood Bottom on which the mill lay, presumably on the death of his partner, Thomas Lord. He built his own house on the land. The tax was 4s.9d per annum on this house.

In 1791, Abraham insured his mill with Royal Exchange Insurance. He is described as a cotton carder and spinner. His dwelling house and adjoining mill, including the gears, waterwheel and shafts were insured for £120. The mill furniture and utensils were insured for £280, total £400. By 1792, the insurance cover was for £700, and his premium was £2.3s.6d.

The original mill in 2005

Abraham junior took over immediately and then took his brothers into the firm with him. They traded as Abraham Crossley & brothers until about 1834 when brother William took sole charge. Eldest brother Abraham concentrated on the COPPERAS WORKS built by their father. It was still a spinning mill at this time, and the weaving was farmed out.

The age of steam power had arrived and it was time to modernise. William built a shed on a small piece of land between the mill and his house, which he then filled with powered weaving looms. He later altered the old mill by building a long, narrow, 3-storey extension alongside the main road. He installed power looms in two of the long rooms, and used the top room for throstle spinning, winding and warping. He was doing well in a competitive world. However, he needed a partner, and engaged a Mr. Ashton in the business.

They arched over a dam behind the mills and erected new engine and boiler houses, and a new warehouse and offices over the dam space. They also made a new road down to the back portion of the premises from near the canal bridge at Copperas House.

William and his partner branched out by building a new iron and brass foundry on the premises near the canal bridge. A new flue was carried under the main road, and a brick chimney built on land taken on lease on the other side of the turnpike road. Two new boilers were also put in and a high pressure engine of 40 horse power, indicating that the partners were embarking in a new business in addition to extending the old one. For several years, the masons and tradesmen were never away from the premises. There was plenty of work coming in from a new firm of machine makers, MESSRS. JOHN LORD & SONS, who had commenced business at CLOUGH MILL, Walsden.

Jeremiah Crossley (no known relation) and his sons of Knowlwood were moulders, and had the management of the iron and brass business, having previously been employed at one of the Salford foundries in Todmorden. The workshop and the foundry were not far apart, and it was a common sight to see 6 or 8 men carrying a large iron scutcher along the road from one place to the other.

The mill and iron foundry gave work to many people, including Joseph Dawson, a nephew of one of the founders, Moses Dawson. Joseph was a carter. He had stables at Knowlwood where he kept several of his own horses, employing lads to help with the business. He carried coals, cotton, and anything else that needed moving from one place to another. In particular, he carried cotton to and from Manchester for William Crossley.

Not only did he carry goods, but also branched out in to carrying people. He and his brother James bought a very special carriage with steps up to a seating area where 3 persons could sit on each side and facing each other, with a further two next to the driver, running a successful business for many years with this carriage, as it became popular for wedding parties and Sunday picnics. Joseph was a favourite driver for Sunday jaunts as he had a wealth of gossip and information in his head, gleaned from years as a traveller on the roads. He was never at a loss for words and was kind and jovial throughout the journeys, and usually in very good humour. He became known as a great wit and with a little education or training could have become a genius. However, that option had not been available to him. Joseph had done the work for a long time for William Crossley and then the factory grew larger and turned out more work and required more materials, so Joseph's business had gone on increasing in a corresponding degree all the time.

In 1836 Ashton & Crossley had 70 power looms in operation. The average weekly wages paid by the firm were: ages 9 to 10 years, 2 to 3 shillings; ages 12 to 18, 4 to 9 shillings; ages 18 and over, 9 to 18 shillings.

William Crossley was now a man of substance. He was a member of the town's SELECT VESTRY, the forerunner of the Local Council, and spent some time as the Overseer. He held this position during the POOR LAW RIOTS of 1838. During the riots, some cloth was stolen from his mill and was later offered for sale on Todmorden Market. That same year, 1838, the assets of Knowlwood Mill were examined for the purpose of a Poor Rate Assessment. The assessment, issued to the Crossley Brothers of Knowlwood Mill, was as follows:  

Factory and waterfall

Engine House

New room over old road

Houses and conveniences

Widow Highley's cottage

Robert Smith's cottage

Gauxholme Stones Farm (Abraham Crossley)

Copperas Works

Law Hey Farm (Ely Crossley)

£2.19.7d

      3.0d

      9.0d

     17.0d

      3.6d

      4.0d

£1.04.8d

     16.0d

£1. 09.8d

From this assessment, it is evident that GAUXHOLME STONES and Law Hey Farms belonged to the mill.

On a personal level, William married Mary Stansfield in 1817, but sadly, she died in childbirth with their fifth child. She was buried the same day the child was baptised at St. Mary's Church in Todmorden, 8th November 1825. The child was buried 2 days later. William was left with 4 children under the age of 7 years. Not surprisingly, he married again within the year. His second wife was Jane Wilkinson, a daughter of a calico manufacturer from Downham, Lancashire. Jane gave him 5 more children in a short space of time.

A period of bad trade combined with overstretching in the expansion of the business left William and his partner in a financial mess. They were forced to cease trading and became bankrupt. They had even failed to slate the roof of the new factory extension, although it had been open for business for some time. This brought great hardship to many people, not just the employees who had the difficulty of finding work elsewhere, but to many small firms to whom they owed money, and to people such as Joseph Dawson, whose own business depended heavily on the success of the mill. He was very badly affected, left the area and set up in Whitworth as a horse breaker. There was a lot of discontent in the area, which was never fully mended.

In 1840 the mill and contents were put up for auction, including the waterwheels, and steam engines. William was forced out of the vicinity, whether in shame or in fear is not recorded. Initially he moved to Manchester where he ran a beerhouse on Hanover Street with his wife and second set of children. Interestingly, his first set of children remained behind but all ties with the mill and foundry were cut. In 1842, William, Jane and their children sailed from Liverpool on the Packet Ship 'Sheridan', arriving in New York on August 16th 1842.

The machinery was sold off, Abraham Robertshaw buying the plant, engines and other fixtures from the assignees. Abraham had started out as a poor man, but by stealth and bending several rules, he rose to prosperity to become a successful home manufacturer under the old cottage industry sytem.

Ten years later Abraham, was still the man in charge at the mill. He was an elderly man by this time but this didn't stop him from marrying for a second time, to widow Jane Midgley, landlady of the Sportmans Arms at Kebcote, as the following newspaper report confirms:

Manchester Times(Manchester, England), Saturday, August 28, 1852;

Treat to Work People

The work people of Abraham Robertshaw esq. of Knowlwood, Todmorden, cotton spinner and manufacturer, near 200 in number, were treated by him to a repast in the true old English style, of good roast beef and plum pudding, on Saturday last, on the occasion of the second marriage of their employer (who is upwards of 70 years of age) on Thursday last. The dinner, which was provided by Mrs. Crossley of the Bull Inn, Gauxholme, was prepared in a manner that did great credit to the hostess and which gave great satisfaction to her guests, who with cheerful faces and sharpened appetites, had assembled to partake of the good cheer provided. Each person was allowed a shilling’s worth of liquor, in which to drink long life, health and much happiness to their employer and his new bride, which was done with great cordiality. The company separated at an early hour in the evening, all being well pleased with their treat.

Abraham flourished for many years at Knowlwood Bottom, but not without falling foul of his workforce on more than one occasion, none more so than towards the end of 1851. On 1st November 1851, the Halifax Guardian reported:

On Wednesday last, the powerloom weavers in the employ of Mr. A. Robertshaw of Gauxholme turned out, and walked in procession to several places in this neighbourhood. The cause of a turnout is a reduction of half pence per pound weight. The strike is likely to continue as the weavers have been promised support.

8th Nov. 1851:

The weavers of Mr. Robertshaw are still out and their looms are likely to stand for some time as Mr. Robertshaw has begun to sell his wefts and warps.

22nd. Nov. 1851

The weavers recently in the employ of Mr. Robertshaw of Gauxholme are still on the turn out; and it appears from their last report that there is no sign of reconciliation as they have not received any reply to their request. It appears also that the weavers are liberally supported, having received six shillings each for the week.

6th Dec. 1851

Mr. A. Robertshaw's weavers are still out; but it seems there is some appearance of an adjustment as Mr. Robertshaw has placarded the town stating that he will give the old price for 36" and 48" weft, and an advance of 1.5d. per pound weight on 24" weft. The weavers have some other grievances they wish to have redressed before they resume work, such as paying for broken machinery, and being subject to unknown abatements. The turn outs are liberally supported, having received 7 shillings per week each, a large sum remains in the treasurer's hands.

20th Dec. 1851

Mr. A. Robertshaw's weavers are still walking the roads and singing hymns. They have posted a bill in answer to the one which appeared from Mr. Robertshaw, and in which they accuse their late employer with some of the most tyrannical acts ever practiced, and challenge him to appear at a public meeting where they will provide their statements. The turn outs are still liberally supported by a sympathising public.

17th Jan. 1852

The weavers of A. Robertshaw of Gauxholme resumed their work as was agreed on the first Monday in the New Year, but on going to their looms they discovered the hard brushes had been removed, and on making inquiry respecting them they were informed that, as they had stated in their hand bills when out, how little the brushes cost, they must purchase the brushes themselves. This was in reverse of their agreement, but they worked on until Thursday night without brushes. On Friday morning they did not appear at their work. During the day, Mr. Robertshaw sent for them several times, and again promised to supply them with brushes, which was done on resuming their work on Saturday morning. They remained at their work from Saturday morning until last Monday night, but on Tuesday morning last they again turned out, no-one being left at the place but the overseer and two of his children. Mr. Robertshaw again sent for his weavers and promised to "clip the wings" of his overseer if they would return to their work. On these conditions they resumed their work on Thursday morning.

Abraham Robertshaw died in 1854 and the mill and property were later put up for sale. The Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser carried the following advert on 25th September 1858:

To be sold by auction, cotton mill (Knowlwood Mill), late in the occupation of Abraham Robertshaw, deceased, and building heretofore used as an iron foundry. Waterfall 10hp, wheel 14 feet diameter, 12 feet 4 inches wide in good repair, 2 steam engines 8hp and 40hp. Mill, foundry, and outbuildings 3149 square yards. Turnpike Road divides property.

The Bacup Cotton Mill and Mining Company bought the premises and ran the mill with varying success for many years. In 1861 they built a row of terraced houses along the roadside. The row was known as Little Knowl Terrace and belonged to mill. The following advert appeared in the Todmorden Advertiser on 5th Jan 1861:

Notice to let by tender for erection of 20 dwellings at Knowlwood Bottom. Plans available at Bacup Cotton Mill and Mining Co. mill.

Photo by kind permission of Frank Woolrych

On 11th April 1883 the mill and appurtenances came under the hammer at the Queens Hotel, the auctioneer being Joseph Crowther of Bacup. The Lot included the carding and spinning machinery, the new sizing plant, 300 power looms, the 2 good houses near Kilnspring complete with gardens, and the 20 dwelling houses at Little Knowl Terrace. The whole property was mortgaged to the Co-operative Society, which was pressing for repayment of its loans, and had repossessed the place.

The highest bid for the whole Lot was £3000 despite a large company of people present. Only 3 persons bid, and none of these was intent on working the mill. The property was valued at £18,606, although the reserve price was later declared to be just £6000. The Lot was withdrawn.

However, after some discussion, the Lot was divided. The 2 houses at Kilnspring were offered and knocked down to John Stevenson of the NAVIGATION INN for about £250. The 20 houses on Little Knowl Terrace were then offered, but as they were subject to ground rent and a mortgage of some £1,100, there were no buyers.

Councillor Smith Starkie

Stuttards sold the 60-horse engine, made alterations to the floor and roof of the old mill, and installed a new engine for the weaving shed, then let the concern off to tenants.

In May 1889 Matthew Stuttard and Bros Ltd. was registered as a Limited Company with a capital of £50,000 in £100 shares to acquire the Size Works and Cotton Mills known as the Bridge Mill Size Works (Whitworth), Knowlwood Mill (Todmorden), the Bridgefield Mill (Rochdale) and the Underbank Mills (Whitworth).

Letter Head kindly submitted by Geoff Stuttard