BRADLEY CORN MILL 1923 ARTICLE

[Stanley]

BRADLEY CORN MILL. NL 05/01/1923.

Extract from Nelson Leader 05/01/1923 from GS, 21/02/2004.

We are indebted to Mr R Shackleton of Nelson for the interesting photograph seen above of Bradley Corn Mill which stood on the site now occupied by the Corporation swimming baths in Bradley Road. The mill was purchased by the Corporation and demolished 27 years ago (1896) when the Bradley district was opened out for building purposes and when the low road which passed the corn mill was raised up and the river (Walverden Stream) was built over. Many older residents of the town will remember the mill working and others younger will recall the chimney being razed to the ground in August 1910.

The lower photograph shows the mill and the bridge, now removed. The embankment of the old mill dam is seen on the left of each picture. From the dam was an overflow which dropped six feet into a culvert passing under the road and emptying into the stream. The Corporation baths are now built on the site of the dam which supplied water for the turning wheel by which the mill was run. The gable end on the extreme right of the upper picture is the left gable end on the lower view and from this picture will be gained some idea of the appearance of Bradley Fold prior to the water course being altered and bricked over.

Mr Joseph Snowden of 93 Scotland Road who is 82 years old and has lived in the district for 62 years remembers the old mill being worked 60 years ago by Mr. Thompson Sutcliffe. He has an idea that at one time it was used as a spinning mill before Mr Sutcliffe gained possession. After Mr Sutcliffe, other owners were; Mr Daniel Greenwood of Todmorden, Mr James Stone and a Mr Archer with whom Mr Snowden, who at that time was in business as a grocer at the top of Bradley, did much business.

Another well-known Nelsonian, Mr Manley Watson of Carr Hall Road remembers the old mill and some of the employees amongst whom were Stephen Slater (known as ‘Smiler’) Jack Dixon (carter) and his son Ike.