Additional information
researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade
Hebden Bridge WEA Local History Group
Notes from John Travis, contemporary historian
About 1854, William Knowles of Lee Bottom in Langfield and William Sutcliffe of Causeywood in Langfield built a cotton spinning mill at Stackhills on leasehold land, part of the Greenwood Estate. They installed a 20hp engine made by Mr. Sutcliffe Howarth of Burnley. Only 2 rooms of the mill were fitted up with machinery and for several years they only made warps. Then Knowles and Sutcliffe built a small weaving shed on the same land for a tenant, Joseph Stansfield.
Jeremiah Jackson built a weaving shed on part of the land at DER STREET for tenants Brook & Lord. Afterwards, Knowles and Sutcliffe of Stackhills Mill filled up the spare room with mules and went on making both warps and wefts until about 1861 when the elder partner died. Lord brothers purchased Knowles & Sutcliffe’s mill, plant, and spare land.
White 1853
Knowles & Sutcliffe, cotton spinners & manufacturers, Roomfield Lane.
Langfield Poor Rates 1856-57
- Owned and occupied by Knowles & Sutcliffe; Roomfield Lane; mill etc; 7hp steam; rateable value £118.2s.1d; part empty.
- Occupied by Barker & Co; owned by Knowles & Sutcliffe; Roomfield Lane; loomshop; 6hp; rateable value £41.6s.0d.
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser June 1857
Partnership dissolved 22nd April 1857 between John Brooks, William Barker, Thomas Lord and James Lord, cotton manufacturers at Stackhills Mill under the firm of William Barker & Co.
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 27th February 1858
To let – Stackhills Mill with cotton spinning machinery now at work in same. Machinery only been in work for 3 years. Apply Messrs Knowles and Sutcliffe on the premises.
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 24th July 1858
Partnership between James Law of Lydgate and William Ashworth of Cross Street, cotton manufacturers trading as Law and Ashworth at Stackhills Mill dissolved. Business to be carried on by James Law.
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 13th November 1858
Partnership of William Knowles, William Sutcliffe and Barnes Sutcliffe, cotton spinners at Stackhills Mill under the name Knowles & Sutcliffe to be dissolved and carried on in the future by William Knowles only.
Langfield Poor Rates 1858
- Owned and occupied by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; 7hp and 8hp; rateable value £88.15.5½d.
- Occupied by Barker & Co; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; loomshop; 6hp; rateable value £41.6s.0d.
- Occupied by Dobson & Trenholme; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; rateable value £53.0s.9d.
Langfield Rates Book 1859
- Owned and occupied by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; 8hp; rateable value £81.10s.1½d.
- Occupied by Barker & Co; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; loomshop; 6hp; rateable value £41.6s.0d.
- Occupied by Dobson & Trenholme; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; rateable value £53.0s.9d; saw shed 2hp £1.12s.4d; office etc £8.18s.1d.
Langfield poor Rates 1860
- Owned and occupied by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; 8hp; rateable value £81.10s.1½d.
- Occupied by Barker & Co; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; loomshop; 6hp; rateable value £41.6s.0d.
- Occupied by Dobson & Trenholme; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; rateable value £53.0s.9d; saw shed 2hp £1.12s.4d; office etc £8.18s.1d.
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 4th February 1860
Treat for workpeople of William Barker, Roomfield Lane.
Post Office Directory 1861
- Brook & Lord – cotton manufacturers – Stackhills Mill, Roomfield Lane
- Dobson, Trenholme & Co – builders & Joiners – Stackhills Mill Roomfield Lane
- Halstead, Sutcliffe – cotton manufacturer – Stackhills Mill, Roomfield Lane
- Sutcliffe, William & John – cotton manufacturers – Stackhills Mill
- Barker, William & Co. – cotton manufacturer – Roomfield Lane
- Knowles, William – cotton spinner – Roomfield Lane
Census 1861
- John Brooks, York Street, aged 61, cotton manufacturer
- James Lord, Bank Top, aged 38, cotton manufacturer
Langfield Poor Rates 1861
- Owned and occupied by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; 22hp; rateable value £93.7s.7d.
- Occupied by Barker & Co; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; loomshop; 6hp; rateable value £41.6s.0d.
- Occupied by Dobson & Trenholme; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; rateable value £53.0s.9d; saw shed 2hp £1.12s.4d; office etc £8.18s.1d.
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 22nd March 1862
Wanted – 30 good weavers, apply W. & J. Sutcliffe, Stackhills Mill, Todmorden.
Langfield Poor Rates 1862
- Owned and occupied by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; 22hp; rateable value £151.18s.8½d.
- Occupied by Dobson & Trenholme; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; rateable value £53.0s.9d; saw shed 2hp £1.12s.4d; office etc £8.18s.1d.
- Occupied by Sutcliffe Bros; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; loomshop, warehouse; rateable value £40.4s.4d.
Langfield Poor Rates 1863-1864
- Owned and occupied by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; part mill; 22hp; rateable value £151.18s.8½d; part empty.
- Occupied by Sutcliffe Bros; owned by William Knowles; Roomfield Lane; loomshop, warehouse; rateable value £40.4s.4d.
Langfield Rates Book November 1864
- Owned and occupied by Lord Bros; Roomfield Lane; part mill; 22hp; rateable value £151.18s.8½d.
- Occupied by Sutcliffe Bros; owned by Lord Bros; Roomfield Lane; loomshop, warehouse; rateable value £40.4s.4d.
Langfield Rates Book 1865-1879
Owned and occupied by Lord Bros; Roomfield Lane; mill, shed, power; rateable value £210.5s.0d.
White 1866
Brook & Lord, Gibson’s Mill Stackhills, cotton manufacturers; John Brook’s house 46 York Street; James Lord’s house Bank Top.
Kelly 1871
Brook & Lord – cotton manufacturers – Stackhills Mill, Roomfield Lane
Census 1871
- James Lord, 15 Bank Top, aged 48, cotton manufacturer, 110 looms and 40 weavers.
- John Brook, 46 York Street, aged 70, gentleman
1880 and onwards, Lord Bros. only pay rates for CANAL STREET WORKS, which must include Stackhills Mill as one concern.