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WADSWORTH MILL

Oak Street

Rochdale Road

Todmorden

Map Ref: SD932234

 

Known occupiers

1718

CROSSLEY John

1729

FARRAR

1797-1804

SHACKLETON Robert

1861-1875

PICKLES Catherine

PICKLES Ambrose

PICKLES Thomas

PICKLES John W.

1873-1888

BARKER & CRABTREE

BARKER William

BARKER Luke

CRABTREE Richard

COCKCROFT Thomas

1890-1913

BARKER William & Sons

 

Additional information

researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade

Hebden Bridge WEA Local History Group

 

Notes from John Travis, 19th century historian

Wadsworth Mill was situated between Rochdale Road and the canal, extending westwards to Bridge End. It was built by a Mr. Wadsworth as a corn mill, comprising one storey but spread over a considerable area, with power to turn two stones provided by a gynhorse. The mill was later converted to cottages and a toll house. The Fielden Brothers purchased the property and the district became known as Wadsworth Mill.

About 1860 Mrs. Catherine Pickles, draper of Odd Fellows Hall, along with her 4 sons, built a new mill at Wadsworth Mill. The mill was managed by her youngest son John who learned his trade at Whitaker's Copperas House Mill. It had 3 storeys and an attic and was 5 or 6 bays long. A further bay was added later at the Police Station end. The engine house was near the canal. Spinning started in 1861. The Pickles family intended to build a weaving shed but this didn't materialise. The Pickles family worked the mill until 1873 after which it was let out to tenants.

In 1868, Barkers & Crabtree leased Wadsworth Mill on Oak Street from the Pickles family. They later added a weaving shed, a sizing house over the boiler house, twisting rooms, warehouse etc. 300 looms were put in and the firm progressed. The firm of Barkers & Crabtree was formed in 1867; partners were William Barker, manager of FOLLY MILL in Lumbutts Valley; his brother Luke Barker, late warper at ORMEROD'S MILL in Walsden; Richard Crabtree, late spinner at Greenvale Mill in Littleborough for John Veevers & Sons; and Thomas Cockcroft, nephew of Henry Cockcroft of CROFT MILL. Thomas Cockcroft withdrew after a short time. Richard Crabtree died and the partnership was dissolved. The elder brother William Barker & his sons took over Wadsworth Mill, lately belonging to the Pickles family.

 

St. Mary's Parish Registers

13th April 1718

John son of John Crossley of Wadsworth Mill was baptised.

9th February 1729

Mary Farrar of Wadsworth Mill was buried

Land Tax Assessments

1797 & 1804

Robert Shackleton occupier, Richard Thomas owner; tax 4s-8d

Census 1841

York Street

John Pickles,35, linen draper

Catherine Pickles, 40

Ambrose Pickles, 10

Thomas Pickles, 7

John Pickles, 1

Hartley Proctor, 14, linen draper

Ellen Pollard, 20, servant

Betty Berridge, 30, servant.

 

Kelly 1861

  1. Mrs. Catherine Pickles, Wadsworth Mill, linen & wool draper, fustian manufacturer etc.
  2. Pickles Bros. Wadsworth Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers.

Fielden family papers 29th July 1861

Fielden Bros letter to Mr. Thomas Pickles saying "cannot supply your works at Wadsworth Mill with gas".

Todmorden rates book 1861-1865

Owned and occupied by Ambrose Pickles; Wadsworth Mill; cotton mill; engine house & boiler house; 2,400 spindles, 2,000 mules at 14hp; rateable value £96.5s.11d.

White 1866

Pickles Bros. Wadsworth Mill. Cotton spinners & manufacturers. Thomas Pickles house 16 Wellington Road.

Todmorden rates book 1866-1871

owned and occupied by Pickles Bros; Wadsworth Mill; mill & power; rateable value £91.1s.0d.

1868 - additions to mill £30.15s.0d.

1871 - new shed etc; £71.5s.0d.

Kelly 1871

Pickles Bros. Wadsworth Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers.

Census 1871

  1. Thomas Pickles, Hoohole, (Erringden), aged 36, cotton spinner
  2. Catherine Pickles, Wellington Road, aged 72, no occupation
  3. Ambrose Pickles, Wellington Road, aged 39, cotton spinner.
  4. John W. Pickles, 39 Birks Terrace, aged 33, cotton spinner employing 50 hands.

Todmorden Rates Books 1873-1888

Occupied by Barker & Crabtree; owned by Pickles Bros; mill & power; Wadsworth Mill; rateable value £193.1s.0d.

1874 - new winding and warping rooms; rateable value £21.18s.0d.

1880 - rateable value £271.10s.0d.

1881 - rateable value £231.

1885 - rateable value £237.15s.0d.

1888 - rateable value £220.5s.0d.

Slater 1875

  1. Pickles Bros. Wadsworth Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers.
  2. Barker & Crabtree, Wadsworth Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers.

 

Halifax Courier 5th July 1879

Trade depressed. Barker & Crabtree, Wadsworth Mill & Crow Carr Ings; weavers commenced work full time after having run 3 days for 2 to 3 months; mill hands working 4 days, this part having been closed for 2 to 3 months.

Todmorden & Hebden Bridge Advertiser 1st August 1879

Wadsworth Mill; 9,184 spindles; 311 looms; looms running full time, spindles working 4 days.

Todmorden & Hebden Bridge Advertiser 16th April 1880

Barker & Crabtree, Wadsworth Mill & Crow Carr Ings, weavers on strike asking for an increase in wages.

Todmorden & Hebden Bridge Advertiser 14th May 1880

Barker & Crabtree, Wadsworth Mill & Crow Carr Ings, strike over. Weavers resumed work at old rates.

Halifax Courier 9th February 1884

William Barker, Luke Barker and Richard Crabtree trading as Barker & Crabtree, Wadsworth, Friths, Dancroft and Joint Stock Mills, partnership dissolved by the death of Richard Crabtree 21st April 1883.

Slater 1887

Barker & Crabtree,Wadsworth Mill (and Dancroft, Carr Ings & Friths Mills), cotton spinners & manufacturers.

Todmorden Rates Book 1890

Occupied by William Barker Ltd; owned by Pickles Bros; mill & steam power; Wadsworth Mill; rateable value £22.5s.0d.

Kelly 1893

William Barker & Sons; Wadsworth Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers

Kelly 1897-1908

William Barker Ltd; Wadsworth Mill, cotton spinners & manufacturers

Worral 1897-1913

William Barker Ltd; private limited company; 8,000 mule spindles; 8,000 ring spindles.