ROLLS ROYCE TENANCY AT WELLHOUSE MILL.

[Stanley]

ROLLS ROYCE TENANCY AT WELLHOUSE MILL.

In the mid 1950s the cotton trade in Barlick had entered terminal decline and the Calf Hall Shed Company, who owned Calf Hall, Butts and Wellhouse were increasingly finding that they were letting space to non-textile firms like Clarke’s Mattresses at Butts, later to become Silentnight.

In July 1954 CHSC received their first enquiry from Rolls Royce who needed some space to store machine tools. The space was occupied by James Slater Ltd but they couldn’t compete with the rent RR were probably able to pay. This overture came to nothing as Rolls didn’t proceed and the space was let eventually to Clarke’s Mattresses who had suffered a fire at Butts.

In November 1955 Mr Riker of Rolls Royce approached CHSC again having heard on the grapevine that Nutter Brothers were vacating their space at the end of March 1956. This lease was sealed by the CHSC on the 22nd of March 1956 and RR took the space from the beginning of April 1956 at a rent of £550 for the first year and £1550 for the succeeding six years of the lease, RR to pay for the heating. This caused the CHSC directors some inconvenience as RR wanted steam heat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As the mills normally only worked a day shift during the week this meant that a boilerman had to be provided to run full time, I get the impression that the directors had missed this point in the negotiations.

At the same time RR intimated that they might be interested in another 10,000 to 30,000 square feet in the near future. This coincided with a complaint from W E & D Nutter that due to the number of looms stopped at Wellhouse they required a reduction in rent. In addition the directors had heard that the Nutter interests had given notice on two tenancies at Burnley. It was decided that the future lay with Rolls Royce as a permanent tenant and that if necessary the CHSC would give W E & D Nutter six months notice to quit. This was the beginning of the end for weaving at Wellhouse. The engine ran until 1960 but effectively weaving at Wellhouse received its death blow when RR took the space in April 1956.


Extracted entries from the Calf Hall Shed Company records.

CHSC Minute books. 22/07/1954. Report that an enquiry had been received from Rolls Royce as to the possibility of renting warehouse space at Wellhouse Mill. Resolved that the shed portion (approx. 10,800 square feet) now occupied by James Slater Ltd for storage be offered to Rolls Royce at £600 per annum to include heating and rates if Messrs. James Slater were not prepared to pay that amount. 26/08 1954. RR were offered the space but said that they only needed about a third of that amount for storage of machine tools. Mr Riker of Rolls said that he hoped they would eventually want all the space. Resolved that the space be offered to Rolls at £600 per annum, CHSC to pay rates and RR to pay a proportionate cost of heating. The rest of the space to be kept vacant. 18/11/1954. RR not in a position to go forward with renting the space so it was offered to Clarke’s Mattresses at £1,000 per annum including heating. This was agreed, Clarke’s to take over the space on 01/04/1955. This arrangement started on that date, the rent was £1054 per annum. 17/11/1955. RR approached CHSC with a view to taking over the space at Wellhouse occupied by Nutter Brothers who had given notice to quit on 30/04/1956. 19/01/1956,A lease prepared and sent to RR for Nutter Bros space, rent to be £1550 and an allowance for the first year of £1000 towards putting the space in order. At the same meeting it was reported that RR had made a verbal enquiry for another 10,000 to 30,000 square feet. 22/03/1956. Lease for Nutter space sealed by CHSC, to run for seven years. [As RR wanted steam heat 24 hours a day the directors had to make arrangements for boiler to be fired at extra cost] 4/06/1956. The board resolved that due to the bad state of trade they should endeavour to secure RR as a permanent tenant and to this end they would give 6 months notice to W E & D Nutter who were in a poor state.


SCG/20/04/2004