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RIDGEFOOT
MILL
Burnley
Road, Todmorden
In
the 1790's, Anthony Crossley of Todmorden Hall saw the emergence
of cotton as a potential money making proposition. Mills were springing
up throughout the valleys and the construction of a canal was being
discussed in Parliament. He owned land but didn't really wish to
be involved on a personal level, so he built a mill on his land
for renting out to those who did. This piece of land was right in
the middle of Todmorden village, on Burnley Road. |
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a
painting of the mill in the 1820's, long before the railway
changed the view forever. This was used as Buckley's letterhead. |
The
mill was turned originally by waterpower, and the reservoir
for the storage of the water was made at Hall Ings between
Todmorden Hall and Dawson Weir at Dobroyd. This became known
later as Buckley's Dam after the first tenant, John Buckley.
John Buckley's first choice for a site was in Bradford.
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However,
local opinion there was against the erection of a mill along the
lines that John wanted, and such was the hostility that he was driven
out of Bradford and ended up in Todmorden. John was in partnership
at first, trading under the name Buckley and Sanderson, and later
John Buckley and Sons, Ridgefoot Mill.
As
time progressed, John Buckley decided to erect a weaving shed and
acquired a site on which the old Patmos Inn stood. He demolished
the inn and constructed a 3 storey weaving shed. However, the foundations
were unsound, the building shook, and machinery could not be installed.
The building became a machinery shop and warehouse, although a weaving
shed was built later.
By
1811 it was the largest mill in the Township with 6,000 spindles.
In 1832, John added a mule frame with a further 1,280 spindles at
a cost of £213.6s.8d., and by 1835 there were 150 power looms
weaving a mixture of worsted
and cotton, used for men's coats. |
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During
the latter part of the 1830's there was a down turn in the
cotton trade and many firms suffered great losses. The major
casualty was John Buckley and Sons, who became bankrupt
in 1839. A newly emerging firm, Abraham Ormerod and Brothers
of Gorpley Mill, snapped it up and proceeded to expand by
adding weaving sheds and other machinery. The stories of
the other mills owned by the Ormerod family can be read
here: HOLLINS GORPLEY ALMA
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Abraham
Ormerod (1804-1888)
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Photo by kind permission of Roger Birch |
Abraham Ormerod built Ridgefoot House on land adjacent to the mill,
where he and his family lived for many years. The mill is
on the left boundary of the garden on this photograph.
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Abraham was born at Todmorden Edge 12th September 1804 and died at Ridgefoot House in February 1888. Before he died, he directed that a medical
clinic should be built as a gift to the town. Following probate of his will, the Leeds Mercury published a precis of the contents:
The value has been declared at £48,170-9s-5d of the personal estate of Mr. Abraham Ormerod, late of Ridgefoot House, Todmorden. The testator bequeaths to his wife, Mrs. Mary Ormerod, an annuity of £1,000 for her life, and the use of his plate, pictures, furniture and household effects, horses and carriages, which on her decease are to go to his two daughters. He devises his cottages, farms and lands known as Todmorden Edge, to the use of his son, Mr. John Howarth Ormerod, with the remainder to his children, or, in default of issue, to the testator’s two daughters; he devises all his other real estate and bequeaths the residue of his personal estate in trust as to one third each for the benefit of his son and two daughters and their children, with contingent remainders to his nephews, Mr. Abraham and Mr. William Ormerod, in whose business the trustees have authority to leave at their discretion a portion of the testator’s capital.
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A
report in the Yorkshire Factory Times, 16th Aug 1889,
sent in by John Alan Longbottom, says:
A
Week's Stoppage - The works of Messrs. Ormerod Bros. Stopped
on Friday night for a week, during which some repairs
are to be done at one of the sheds
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A
view of the mill and town centre railway arches |
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This
occured during a bad spell for the cotton trade when most
of the mils in Todmorden were working short time, some
a week on and a week off, and others on a 3 day week.
William
Lord was the manager at Ridgefoot Mill from about 1874 until his
death in 1900. He was a well known man in the area, and a total
abstainer from alcohol. At the time of his death, he was the treasurer
of the Todmorden Band of Hope Union, and had been connected with
Lumbutts Methodist Chapel all his life. He was working at the
mill until a week before his death, caused by bronchitis, which
eventually developed into bronchial pneumonia. His funeral took
place at Lumbutts Chapel on 31st March 1900 at which there was
a large gathering. Out of respect for this man, the Fielden's
mill at Lumbutts and Ridgefoot Mill closed early to enable mourners
to attend. His friends at Lumbutts errected a tablet in his honour,
which was the work of ALFRED BAYES.
The tablet reads:
"Good
and Faithful Servant"
In
Loving Memory of William Lord
A
good and earnest worker in this church and school for many years,
especially interested in the welfare of the young, and an energetic
worker in the temperance cause, this tablet was errected as a
token of respect by teachers, scholars and friends.
Died
March 28th 1900, aged 63 years.
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The
mill site immediately after demolition.
Photo by kind permission of Roger Birch |
The
mill was demolished in 1936 when the land was needed for
road widening.
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Abraham Ormerod's gift to the town, a medical centre, was was erected in 1938 on the site of
the Ridgefoot Mill, and known as The Abraham
Ormerod Medical Centre. It was opened by H.R.H. the Princess Royal, Mary Countess of Harewood, on 23rd. July 1958. The centre closed some time ago, and latterly used as a supermarket. There are plans afoot for re-development. |
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