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Re: OWL HALL and ACCRINGTON HOUSE
Owl Hall and Plantation Mill
PLANTATION MILL AND OWL HALL
Owl Hall was formerly the coachman’s house and later the residence of the Grimshaw family
Plantation Mill Printworks was originally a fulling mill established c1795 and worked by Henry Aspinall. In 1804 it comprised a three storey wool carding mill powered by a 36 ft high interior overshot water-wheel, a wool fulling mill with a 21ft overshot wheel and dry house. Calico printing commenced 1810 by Oldham and Holding. In 1814 it was occupied by Gibson, Swain & Co. After a bankruptcy in 1826 the firm became Greaves, Denham and Grimshaw. James Grimshaw took over the business completely following the deaths of the principal partners. They had 4 machines, 72 tables and about 150 employees in 1846. The Hargreaves family owned the works. It was owned by James Grimshaw & Son through out the 19th and early 20th centuries. After the death of W.D. Grimshaw in 1923 a limited company was formed – with F. W. Greenwood as Managing Director. The works closed in 1934.
(When our local historian Mr Mike Rothwell wrote the above notes in 1978, he stated that stone setts still led from Plantation Street to the site (still there in all their glory!) and that there were still some foundations left, an intact stable block, and the reservoirs in fields to the north-east. Gate piers and foundations of Plantation House could be seen (and still are I believe) on the south side of the access road. The old cottages/workers dwellings were known as Plantation Mill Square (long since demolished) and were situated at the top of Plantation Street, across from Clarendon Street-. The site is now occupied by older persons bungalows, also in a type of “square” layout).
JAMES GRIMSHAW J.P. – of Plantation Mills and Owl Hall (Died lst September, 1873 aged 72 Years)
Commercially and in public service, James Grimshaw, of Owl Hall the calico printer of Plantation Mill, contributed materially in the moulding of Accrington. Sound in judgment, ever wishful to help in, every good cause, he filled many offices with profit to the community. He was trusted by all sections, revered by hosts of townsmen. He was a man of slender build and-medium height, with an iron-grey beard and resolute face, yet a kinder and more sympathetic employer and citizen it would be difficult to find. A native of Oswaldtwistle, he came of a long-lived stock. His father, Joseph Grimshaw, died in 1846 at the age of 81 and his mother attained her 84th year.
As a boy James Grimshaw worked at Foxhill Bank Printworks, but came to Accrington with his father when quite young. He was employed at Plantation Mill Printworks as a block printer for some years. His steady character and aptitude for business attracted the attention of his employer, Mr. Denham, and he was promoted to the position of foreman. Subsequently Mr. Denham took him into partnership, and on that gentleman's death, about 1840, Mr. Grimshaw took the management of the business along with his sons, Joseph and John, and the firm became known as James Grimshaw and Sons. In later years Joseph and John commenced business on their own account, and some years before Mr. Grimshaw's death the works were carried on by Mr. William Denham Grimshaw, another son…..
JOHN SMALLEY GRIMSHAW J.P., Huncoat (Died 27th September, 1896 aged 68 years)
Mr. James Grimshaw of Woodside House, Huncoat, was the son of James Grimshaw and, like his father, filled many public offices. He had three sons; Joseph, the eldest, who became a colliery proprietor at Stoneclough, near Bolton; John Smalley, who lived at Huncoat for many years and was engaged in several businesses, and William Denham, who carried on the Plantation Works. For a time he was at Broad Oak Mill, then became partner with Mr. John Riley at Hapton Chemical Works. He and others built Highbrake Mill, Huncoat. Mr. Grimshaw became associated with a number of industrial concerns in Burnley. He was first chairman of Burnley Paper Works and of Sandygate Mill, and served on other directorates. Huncoat had great attractions for him; he filled all the public offices in turn; was first chairman of the Parish Council and was also a Poor-Law Guardian. He became a county magistrate in 1878 and was appointed chairman of the local Bench on the death of Mr. George Walmsley. He was a Liberal in politics (though not in harmony with the party on Home Rule) and was identified with the New Church. A reserved man, he was not fond of public platforms, but he was good to the poor.
WILLIAM DENHAM GRIMSHAW, calico printer (Died 12th May, 1923 aged 92 years)
He was the youngest of the 3 sons of James and was born in Accrington. He spent several years as a young man in the South of France, acquiring the best available knowledge of the calico printing industry, and there he made the acquaintance of many with similar interests who afterwards became heads of printworks in various parts of Europe. A clever chemist, he spent a great deal of his time in the laboratory, and research work in colours was with him not only a profession, but a hobby. His studies in this direction produced some very important results, employed to useful purpose in the carrying on of his firm's business.
Gifted with a splendid memory, Mr. Grimshaw had many interesting recollections of old Accrington. In the early part of his business career, when he had to go to Manchester, he travelled by pony to Bury, and there took the stage coach to his destination, returning to Accrington by the same method. He was familiar with the stirring events in the history of the cotton trade, and his experiences of the plug-drawing riots and other disturbances were most interesting.
In his early days he lived at Owl Hall, but resided at Plantation House for over half a century, and also had a house at Windermere. Like the other members of the Grimshaw family, he was closely identified with the New Church, of which he was a Liberal patron.
On the 1881 census he is listed as married to Elizabeth and the Master of a calico printers, employing 100 labourers. His address is given as Plantation House.
(havent worked out who the 3rd son was, havent found any details as yet).
Last edited by Atarah; 26-04-2011 at 08:35.
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