Bradley Mills, Nelson

[Julie in Norfolk]

It has taken me 6 years to think about expanding my search for Dan Walton's Mill to Daniel Walton's Mill and Bingo! A mention in the London Gazette. Daniel Walton and Sons Ltd, Bradley Mills, Nelson. Now then (Stanley) everyone, does anyone know where it was? Do we have any pictures? The pictures of the chimney on the old site has broken links. My maternal grandad worked there, hence my interest.

[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.


CALENDAR OF LANCASHIRE DOCUMENTS IN FOLDER ENTITLED LANCASHIRE MANUSCRIPTS.

This folder of 65 pages contains documents collected by William Waddington of Burnley. Not all pages are occupied by documents. The pages are numbered on the right hand in pencil by SG for identification. The pages of the folder are evidently very good quality paper, there is no discoloration due to acid reaction and the documents have survived well. They should be left as they are.




Calendar compiled by Stanley Challenger Graham BA (Hons), October 2000 for Mr and Mrs Waddington, Hen House Farm, Barnoldswick who are the owners of the papers.


INDENTURE. Dated 4 November 10 Henry VIII (1518)

Between Sir John Townley and Sir Nicholas Lee of Lynrode (Lyndroyd in Little Marsden?) Townley is buying or leasing lands in Marsden from Lee. I cannot decipher the sum or term.

ACCOUNTS FOR BRADLEY MILL. MARCH 24TH 1714

March 24th Bradley Milne CR 7114
By moulture malt sold at sundry times 3-01-07
By moulture wheat sold 2-03-02
By corns dried 3d per load 13-09-09
By sieve and fan 3-07-07
By durt sold 60 packs at 2d per pack 10-00
By groats grinding, 13 loads 22-16-05
By moulture groats supposed to be in the milne
30 loads 5 packs per load and valued to be worth
18/- a load 24-00-00

Total 46-16-05
Groats supposed to be in the milne 24th day of March 1714 viz. 30 loads5 packs per load.

March 24th Bradley Milne Dr. 1714
Paid 12 poor boys? This year 18d per boy 00-18-00
Paid the land tax for this year 00-19-06
Paid for 3 loads of lime 00-01-06
Paid for 39 yards of hair cloth 01-19-00
Paid for polls? To skill? the moulture 00-01-06
Paid for straw for coding? The kilne 00-07-03
Paid for 4 lbs of candles 00-01-09
Paid the smith’s bill for ironwork 00-10-00
Paid the drysters wagon 1d per load 04-09-11
Paid the miller’s wagon for a year ending now 07-10-00
Total 16-19-11

To balance for so much 29-16-06
46-16-05

A LEGAL DOCUMENT ON VELLUM. DATED 23RD APRIL 29 ELIZABETH. [1587]

This appears at first sight to assign Bradley Mill to John Townley. Very obscure hand.


To all ? people to whom these present writings shall come or ? be read or heard John Woodhouse of Burnley in the county of Lancaster yeoman sendeth greetings ? lord godde everlasting in heaven our sovereign lady Elizabeth ? ? so hast by her deed indented having date the seventh day of February in the four and twentieth year of her most gracious reign [1582] given sealed and signed ? ? ? and to ? ? unto me the said John Woodhouse certain lands and tenements ……… and yearly paid the sovereign lady the rent …….. town and hamlett of Cliviger Burnley and Marsden and hereafter ? ? ? is to pay and ? land called ? in Cliviger aforesaid containing by estimation …….
………[appears to be reciting the former owners of the property to which this document refers]……………………. Called Bradley Mill with the whole of the soke and suit to the same belonging and rights appertaining now or late in the ? or occupation of Henry Baldwin[?] his heirs and assignes and one parcel of land ? ? in Burnley aforesaid containing by estimation ? and a close called Burnley Game now or late in the ? or occupation of ……………………………..
To have and to hold and ? the aforesaid lands, barns, closes ……….. to me the aforesaid John Woodhouse and my assignes from the first? Day of March…………
[appears to be detailing the yearly rent payable].And whereas, the said sovereign lady hath …………….. chappell of Burnley aforesaid called Townley Chantrey.

This hand deteriorates and I’m not sure how accurate my transcription is so I’m leaving it.


Extract from Manchester Royal Exchange Directory for 1912.
Daniel Watson, Bradley Shed, Nelson. 714 35" looms (a big unit) representatives on the exchange were Daniel, Thomas T and H Walton.
Same firm still in business in 1941 with 714 looms. Representatives were J Walton, manager and T T Walton salesman.
Same in 1954, 714 looms. Representative J H Walton.

That's enough digging for this time of the morning! Hope it helps.

[Julie in Norfolk]

Than you Stanley. I shall take time to read.

[Stanley]

Something was nagging me and so I went back to look at Bradley Shed. The mill I refer to above is the wrong one but the directory details are correct. Walton's were in Bradley Shed and Riverside Mill (SD 863 385). Geoff Shackleton's book 'The Textile Mills of Pendle' has put me straight. He gives a full description of the mill, built 1880 and weaving stopped in 1963 when it became Coloroll who made wallpaper, packaging material and carrier bags. Coloroll got into financial trouble on 1999 and shortly afterwards part of the mill was a call centre. In 2003 there was a fire and the mills were demolished in 2005.
The old corn mill was sold to Nelson Corporation in 1898 for £3,000. The mill was demolished to make improvements to the course of Walverden Water but the 120ft chimney survived until August 1910 when it was felled to make room for the new public swimming baths which opened in 1913.
Daniel Walton and Company started at Bradley Shed in 1891 in partnership with Edward Dyson but in 1902 they split and formed two companies, Walton's in the original shed with 714 looms and Dyson moved into another part, renamed it Riverside Mills and had 1000 looms. The last record for Daniel Walton with 718 looms was in 1956 with J T Clegg in the same shed with 728 looms.

[Julie in Norfolk]

Thank you Stanley. You have come up trumps again. Now I just have to sort out "Penny Mill" which did dying. Nelson again, I need to see if I can find anything on the net. All that grandad stuff....

[Stanley]

Penny Mill has me beat. Could it be a corruption of Pendle Street Mill? (SD 857 383) Only clue I can offer is that Geoff Shackleton mentions an 'Albion Dyeworks' at Pendle Street in 1969. No proprietor's names mentioned.

[Julie in Norfolk]

I shall have to check back with Dad on the name. Could well be a misheard name.