THE GROWTH OF INDUSTRY IN EARBY.

[Stanley]

THE GROWTH OF INDUSTRY IN EARBY.

This is a transcript of an unattributed article held at Colne Library. It is basically very accurate and deserves a wider audience. It has been transcribed by Stanley Challenger Graham and posted on the Oneguyfrombarlick website. I would guess that it is by an Earby author and if anybody can tell me who it is I shall formally ask permission to reproduce it. If there are any obvious mistakes or variations from the facts as I understand them I shall insert a suggestion inside square brackets.


THE GROWTH OF INDUSTRY IN EARBY.

At the beginning of the 18th century the predominant industry in Earby (Parish of Thornton in Craven) was agriculture. But with the advent of the Industrial Revolution this changed to weaving.

Later in the century there is evidence of a warehouse at the end [of] Green End Cottages for the storage of cloth and yarn. Handloom weavers came from miles around with their pieces of woven cloth and collected yarn and bobbins. The bobbins were probably made at Booth Bridge where the brothers Henry and Vandelour Wilkinson ran a bobbin mill the power being produced by a water wheel. This mill seems to have started about 1825 but in the early 20th century the brothers moved the business to Heysham and the buildings fell into disrepair.

DOTCLIFFE MILL.
The first true mill appears to have been erected at Kelbrook – a small mill for spinning and weaving run by a water wheel. Its date is uncertain but the old part is shown on the Thornton Award Map.

Nathan Smallpage and Sons later took over between 1852 and 1906 and built a new weaving shed with provision for dyeing and coloured goods.

1911
Taken over by J J Duckworth of Nelson and a new weaving shed added in 1912. Springbank Weaving Co. Ltd took over later but ownership remained in hands of J J Duckworth.

1940
As a war emergency measure it was taken over by the Admiralty as a storage place and for manufacture of packing cases.

1946
Requisition released and bought by E S Sayek Ltd. And a new company formed (Dotcliffe Weaving Company)

1959
Partly destroyed by fire.
FIRST FACTORY IN EARBY (OLD SHED)
This was a long narrow building with windows at the side and a bell to summon the workers. It was built 1839/1840 with space for 140 looms run by an old fashioned beam engine. No trace remains but it stood on part of the site now owned by George Preston and Sons in New Road.

It was erected by Christopher Bracewell (senior) whose family had bought the Green End estate and enlarged, to its present size, the house at the top of New Road. Soon after this mill was opened the ‘Plug Drawing Riots’ took place and a mob from Colne is said to have tried to wreck the engine by drawing the boiler plug.

In 1859, after passing into the hands of Christopher (Kit) Bracewell, junior, the shed was enlarged to hold 260 looms. From 1852 onwards the history of the ‘Old Shed’ is incorporated with that of Victoria Mill. It was probably pulled down about 1906.

VICTORIA MILL
Erected 1852 for spinning and weaving (about 600 looms) Run by Ch. Bracewell and Sons together with the Old Shed, 36,000spindles and 600 looms. The same firm also occupied Sough Mill (300 looms).

1884
January 5th part of the mill destroyed by fire.
1885
Mill was rebuilt but the Bracewell regime came to an end due to misfortunes and trade slump. The Bracewell family moved to America and Dyson Mallinson (Kit’s son in law) succeeded to the ownership of both mills. Mule and ring spinning started in place of the throstle frames.
1889
The business collapsed and permanent stoppage occurred in the first week in July, ‘Earby Black Feast’. For four years the mill was closed but [was] eventually purchased by Thompson Brothers of Burnley being known as ‘The Mill Company Limited’. George Proctor, chartered accountant of Burnley was the Secretary and later acquired ownership. The mill was divided into three sections.

1)1892 . Spinning millrun by Thompson’s but after a few years purchased by Sam Dugdale.
2)1892. Moorhouse and Hartley (James Moorhouse and Thomas Henry Hartley)
3) 1895. Earby Manufacturing Company Ltd. took over new section for 420 looms.
4) 1896. Charles Shuttleworth and Company Ltd occupied space at South end.
5)1896. A S Birley Ltd. took over a further portion.

1901.
New factory built on the old cricket ground (now Johnson’s Fabrics) and A J Birley moved there. (850 looms)

1902
The partnership between Moorhouse and Hartley dissolved and Hartley retained the business.
1905
Serious strike over recognition of the union.
1908
Hartley moved to newly erected Brook Shed and plant with looms was taken over by the Seal Manufacturing Company.
1909
A new company, Walden Spinning Company Ltd took over Dugdale’s premises but after a series of strikes by mule spinners lasting 54 weeks in 1910 the firm ceased to pay and in 1911 the machinery was stopped and the premises vacated.
1911
The spinning mill was adapted for weaving and warehouse space by the Earby Manufacturing Company Ltd who increased to 680 looms. The middle room was taken by Stockdale and Jones for 280 looms. Seal Manufacturing Co. retained 420 looms.
1914
Coates Manufacturing Company took over the premises of Stockdale and Jones.
1920
Mill fire. Charles Shuttleworth and Company ltd.
1923
Coates Manufacturing Company took over the premises of Seal Manufacturing Company also.
1927.
Coates Manufacturing Co ceases and space remained empty until 1939.
1934.
A J Birley transferred to Albion Mill. Space empty until 1937.
1934
Victoria Manufacturing Company Ltd (Earb) took space formerly occupied by the Coates manufacturing Co Ltd.
1937
Victoria Shed taken by Johnson’s Fabrics Ltd who also bought out the Victoria Manufacturing Company and transferred the looms to Victoria Shed.
1938.
Johnson’s Fabrics Ltd occupied the middle room (Ballroom)
1940
Empty premises requisitioned by the government for the storage of flour and shell cases.
1946.
Johnson’s fabrics Ltd return to the Ballroom.
1947
Newbridge Mill Limited occupied rooms vacated by Victoria Manufacturing Company in 1937. Premises now empty.





GROVE MILL

1885
Erected by William Gill with 600 looms. First tenants were James Clegg and Henry Parkinson with 300 looms and Bailey, Watson and Berry with 300.
1895.
Bailey, Watson and Berry move to Spring Mill (newly erected). Clegg and Parkinson return to Nelson. Whole of the weaving space then taken over by Robert Nutter. Associated with him were Bracewell and William Hartley. (Nutter and Hartley).
1908
Hartley removed to Brook Shed (newly erected) R Nutter and Company Ltd retain Grove Mill.
1920
Extensions to occupy the ground where the old tin mission church stood.
1932
R Nutter and Co. ceased.
1934
Purchased by Nutter Brothers of Barnoldswick.
1940
Taken by Rover Company Limited for aircraft production.
1946
Vacated by Rover Company and occupied by Armoride Limited makers of plastics and leather cloth. Extensive building carried out.

ALBION MILL
1890
Erected by the Earby Shed Company Ltd who sold it in 1904 to the Albion Shed Company Ltd. The first tenants were Henry Bracewell and Son of Airebank Mill, Gargrave. (1300 looms)
1903
Serious stoppage for several months.
1904
Restarted Albion Shed Company Ltd formed.
A J Birley Ltd, 360 looms.
J S Watson and Sons Ltd, 396 looms.
Nutter and Turner, 264 looms.
Watson came from Spring Mill while Eli Nutter, (Robert Nutter’s son) and James Turner entered into partnership having 280 looms at Sough Bridge.
1920
Nutter and Turner ceased and absorbed by R Nutter and company Ltd.
1930
J S Watson and Son Ltd ceased but Stanley Watson re-formed as J S Watson and Company Ltd and carried on.
1932
R Nutter and Company ceased.
1933
J S Watson and Company moved to Brook Shed to space vacated by T H Hartley and Sons Ltd.
1934
A J Birley moved from Victoria Shed and occupied all the mill.
1959
A J Birley’s firm closed down.
1960
Taken over by Booth and Speke.

SPRING MILL

1895
Erected by John Bailey. First tenants were Bailey, Watson and Bberry from Grove Mill.
1903
Partnership dissolved. Watson to Albion Mill. Mill divided into two sections with Bailey as owner. C W Bailey Ltd. W N Berry and Sons (coloured cloth)
1912
Two storey warehouse burned down and re-built as a single storey.
1930
Berry moved to Foulridge.
1940
Requisitioned as a tobacco store. Bailey stored looms and moved to Brook Shed but returned in 1946.
1958
Mill closed.
1960
Re-opened by Booth and Speke.

BROOK SHED

Erected in 1907. Occupied by various firms who moved from existing premises in the village.

POPULATION FIGURES
1743 – about 750
1875 – about 1500
1901 census, 4,100
1909, formation of the Earby Urban District Council, 5,900.
1920, highest recorded, 6,120.
Today, 1951 census, 5.348.
1961 census, 5,152
1971 census, 4,816.
1973 Registrar General’s estimates, 4,790.

[Document ends. Last two entries are a later addition which suggests that the original document was generated some time shortly after 1961 and added to c.1973.]

Transcribed by SCG/01 July 2004
Filed in research04.