Iridag, .Iulg 14Th, 1905

103 IriDag, .iulg 14th, 1905.

NOTES. [90.] HARDMANS OF BROADFIFLD. In the "Mirror" (London) for February 9th, 1828, there is a letter to the editor, signed "Samuel Hardman, late Adjutant of the 10th Royal Hussars, No . 6, Charlotte Place, Ken- nington Lane, Vauxhall, London, January 29, 1828," in which the writer says It was stated in the "Mirror" sonie time back (I do not at this moment recollect what number) that "it was not known who were , the carvers of the. beautiful work in Manche-ster Collegiate Church" [now the, Cathedral]. I beg leave to acquaint you I claim neat as the work of my ancestors, who were formerly the mast cele- brated carvers of wood and of stone in Europe ; and, by that celebrity, they gained more riches than any other family in England, and con . tinued exceedingly rich till the time of James II. ; then their riches nearly all flew away, en consequence of their honest adherence to that monarch ; honest adherence, I say, but far from sensible or wise . When William the Norman conquered England they were residing at, and owners of, Ainsworth Hall, in the parish of Bolton-lc,-Moors, in the county of Lancaster . This estate remained' in the family till the year 1720 . Another estate, called Merecroft-gate, which had been in the family more than six hundred years, was sold in 1820, just one hundred years after the sale of the, other estate . The branch of the family to which I belong left Ainsworth Hall about four hundred years ago, and have lived use a farm, called Broadfield, in. the parish of Pilsworth, which is close to Heywaod, about three miles frown Bury, in Lancashire, ever since that time. Ottwedl Hardman, my uncle and half-cousin, lives- on that fare now ; lie is mentioned in i11r . BainesTs "History of Lancashire" ; but they farm now belongs to Lady Grosvenor, or perhaps to her ladyship's son, Earl of Wilton . The last member of my ancestors of any note died in the year 1755 ; he had been member of Parlia- ment fo. Liverpool . Time m,einbers of the branch from which I sprung have all of them, long been labourers ; not a man of then ever went 104 to school in his life. Neverbheless, there are men among the labourers, some, of wham ha,vo not, perhaps, second shirts to their backs, nioro perfect graounaxia,us, astronomeirs, astrologers, and arithmeticians than any other men in England ; all, of course, self-taught. You may perceive by this brief account that there is a superior genius, which time has not extinguished, still running in they blood, though all outward property has long since taken its 4 flight. I shall write a correct account of my own life, to be published some tiuiei or other, and, in the, introduction, I will mention the parishes which formerly belonged to my ancestors, and every other particular . [It f would be i .ntet-esting to know if such a work was ever published.;

"Ottiwell" (not Ottwell) Hardman would be t the correct name of ex-Adjutant Hardman's uncle at Broadfield. In Baines's Directory for 1825 the list of Pilsworth farmers includes "Okevill Hardman"-no doubt identical with Ottiwell Hardman . The ancestor at Liverpool would be John Hardman, a merchant, who was elected M .P. for Liverpool in 1754 . An interesting fact in connection with the Herdmans and Broadfield is the association of some of them in the seventeenth century with the famous divine, Oliver Heywood, one of the 2,000 clergymen ejected from their livings in 1662, at which time there had been Hardmans-yeomen-at Broadfield for some generations . In his Diary the Rev . Oliver Heywood tells how in September, 1667, he came on a journey into his native county ; how, after visiting Manchester, Little Lever, Breightmet, Bolton, and Ainsworth, he preached according to appointment "atThornas Livesley's in Bury Parish," a day or two after wards "at James Hardman's, by Heywood Chapel," and in the evening at Chadwick Ha11. James Hardman was then living at Broadfield-the same James Hardman who was elected overseer of the poor for Pilsworth in 1664-and overseer for highways in 1666, and who died in April, 1673, being succeeded at Broadfield by his son James . In the year 1672 a licence was granted to the house of James Hardman, senior, for the use

105 of Nonconformists ; and in 1689-the year after the passing of the Toleration Act-- "James Hardman's of Broadfield's House" ;s mentioned in a list of certified Nonconformist meeting places. LECTOR . [91 .] MAKliANT MILL . Makeant Mill, from what information lever had, was originally a corn mill, and Makeant was the owner's name . The firm of Peel and Yates afterwards made it into a cotton mill . When I was a bov it was worked by th , late John Lord, whose son now lives in' the house where his father lived at Back-o'th'-Moss . The mill was rebuilt by the late Joseph Jameson and the name changed to the Roach Mill Spinning 0 wmpany Limited . Wimbledon . JOHN KAY .

ANSWERS. f92 .] MRS . MELLOWS HEROIC DEED. (Feply to Query No,. 80.) From various papers I cull the following information Mrs . Mellor was the fifth daughter of the well known Mr. John Fenton, M .P., of 1 Crimble Hall, near Heywood, and Dutton Manor, Ribehester, and she married in 1867 . Mrs. Mellor possessed a very tender heart, and was an exemplary mother and friend . Children were her especial loving charge, and ~~ she was ever thinking of their welfare . But her good deeds and kind consideration for all, whether her equals, or those others with whom ~~ she had to do in the coursa of daily life, are gratefully remembered, and many hitherto un- known acts of kindness have been revealed since her death . On April 13th, 1875 (on the eve of the date of her death), Mrs . Mellor saw a child bitten by a mad dog, as she was driving out . None around dared take any risk for the child's safety, but she jumped from her carriage, sucked the virus from the wound, thus saving the child's life (sic), and carried it off to the 1 hospital, receiving afterwards not only the 106 general thanks of the community, letters, post- cards, and telegrams of congratulation from all parts of Europe and in several languages, but also the silver medal and certificate of the Humane Society, which she greatly treasured . Mrs. Mellor was buried at Flaybrick Hill Cemetery, Birkenhead, in the family vault. The coffin was adorned with beautiful flowers, while on and around the monumental cross were piled a very large number of wreaths- one of these bore the following : "Frown S.E.R. in grateful remembrance of an act of kindness performed nearly twenty years ago to a little girl ." JOHN SHEPHERD . Free Public Libraries, Birkenhead.

There appeared in the "Strand Magazine" fir 1897, vol . 2, p. 668, a portrait of Mrs . W. M. Mellor, together with the following account of her heroic deed : On April 13th, 1875, Mrs . Molar received the Silver Medal and Certificate cf the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. This was the first time in the history of the society that it had the privilege of conferring this honour upon a lady One morning she was driving in the Oxted Road, Bir'khenhead, and on turning a bend of the road she suddenly beheld an appalling spec- tacle. k little girl-a. poor, dirty little street arab-was beiing worried in a horrible manner by a, big retriever dog, which foamed at the - mrouth and manifested other symptoms of rabies . Close by stood an elderly woman, who fairly writhed in mental agony, but did nothing to save the child . A the carriage rapidly approached the scene, Mrs . Mellow• leaned out and cried to the woman, "Suck the wounds! Snck the woundsi! ' The! womany however, seem ed stupefied, and could do nothing but wring her hands and screaan in helpless despair . Quick as thought, Mr's . Mellor leaped frown her carriage, and dashed up to the child, whose terribly bitten and gory hands she seized and commenced to suck with extraordinary vehemence, so as to extract the virus without delay . This done, she, ran back to the , carriage with the wailing child, and drove, off without a moment's loss to the nearest c'hemist's sihop, .107 where she herself superintended the cauteriza- tien . The woman who stood by turned out co be the girl's grandmother.

The lady whose bravery is recorded in the above notes was married to Mr . W. M . Mellor, son of Judge Mellor, on April 10th, 1867, at Bamford Chapel, the Rev . James Browne, B .A., officiating. The wedding was perhap) the most brilliant ever seen in the neighbourhood of Heywood, and was for long afterwards remembered by those who were preseort . At the entrance to Crimble Lane a large triumphal arch was erected, which was gaily decorated with an abundance of flags, banners, coloured cloth, and numerous ornaments . Along the carriage drives and lanes near Crimble there were displayed a profusion of flags and banners suspended from trees and everything which could be converted into a stand for the occasion. The road from Crimble to the Chapel was similarly decorated, and at the entrance of the chapel yard was placed another large and stately arch . From the gate to the chapel door the ground ivas covered with scarlet cloth . On each side of the path leading from the carriages to the chapel door rows of the school children, in white dresses, stood linked together by wreaths of ivy . These all followed the bride into the chapel, and reformed after the ceremony . The wedding party was very ',arge and included many county magnates and their wives . It is recorded that the '.ast acL of Miss Fenton was in strict accord with her humane and kindly disposition . At her expense a tea was given on the night of her wedding to all the children of the Bamford day school, the Sunday scho- lars and teachers, and many of her poorer and older neighbours . About 400 persona were treated to a substantial tea and in the evening were amused with singing and recitations .

Mrs. Mellor died on the 14th April, 1894, at C'haseleyfield, Pendleton, and was buried at Birkenhead, as mentioned above . J . A. GREEN .

108 [93.] LOCAL SPRINGS AND WELLS . (See Query No. 62 .) The water at Broadoak (just under Jericho Workhouse) was still running a short time before I left Heywood . Mr . J-- M-, a native of Top of Heap, went to live at Black- pool many years ago, and whenever he came to Heywood always got a supply of the water . I have heard him say that it gave him more relief than anything he had tried . The water lost its remedial effect after keeping a short time. Winibledom. JOHN KAY. [94 .] YEW TRFIF FARM, TOP OF HEAP, The above-named farm-on the south side of the old road from Heywood to Heap Bridge -is one of the oldest, I believe, in the district. I once heard that a yew tree of great size used to stand_ near the road side, just within the farmstead, and that a long time ago a minister or some other person given to medi- tation had a seat built in the tree to which he occasionally retired . Can any of your readers tell anything of this ancient yew tree, or of the early history of the farm to which the tree apparently gave itw name? RAMBLER .

[95 .] BOTANY BAY. How long has the above name been in local use, and under what circumstances was it given ? KESTER .

[96 .] DATED STONES. Where is the oldest dated or inscribed stone, doorhead or otherwise, to be seen in this district? It would be interesting to have such inscriptions put into print, as some of them must be of historical interest . B. H. [97.] HEYWOOD HALL ARCHERY BUTT . Is anything known of a mound behind Hey- wood Hall which was formerly in use as an archery butt? LEMUEL.

L_ 109 [98 .] JANE CLOUGIH . (See Query No. 79 .) I shall be glad to receive any further information about the above noted character . I have been referred to certain portraits of her which used to be on exhibition in some inns or public-houses in Roch- dale . In these oil paintings Jane Clough was usually represented as holding a specimen 'of some rare plant . Where can these portraits be seen? J . A . GREEN .

A Correction.-Please correct a slight error at No. 84, "A University Celebration ." Henry Viii. should read Henry VII . ADMIRER .

lribag, 3ulg 21st, NO.

NOTES. [99.] A VI>(YPORIA CROSS HERO BURIED AT HEYWOOD. Recently there died at Crumpsall, and was buried at the Heywood Cemetery, a Victoria Cross hero, in the person of Captain Anthony Palmer. Born at Cheetham Hill, he was first employed as a youth in the salerooms of a Man- chester warehouse . Suddenly making up his mind to enter the army, he enlisted at Sal- ford in March, 1838, at the age of 19, in the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards . In the Army he soon became popular on account I of his general smartness, ability, and pleasant qualities, and he was a favourite with his com- rades and commanding officers . When his regiment was at home he was engaged in many pleasing duties, and as one of the guards at Windsor was brought into contact with the Royal Family . Captain Palmer's regiment was one of those ordered out to the Crimea . He was present at the battles of Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman, and he was one of the soldiers 110 engaged in the eleven months' siege of Sebas- topol . During the siege he was wounded in the head, but was not invalided . It was, however, at Inkerman that he gained the proud distinction of the Victoria Cross . He displayed great courage in the thick of the battle, and was instrumental in saving the life of Captain Sir Charles Russell . After taking part in the dash to the front, Palmer joined a f small band of soldiers who, by a desperate charge against overwhelming odds, saved the colours of the battalion from being taken . His decoration, along with other heroes, with the Victoria Cross, took place in July, 1857, the year after the war was concluded . The decoration was made by the Queen, who, in pinning the mark of honour to his breast, drew blood by accidentally pushing the point of the pin into his body . It was with some pride that Palmer pointed out to his mother the little wound so innocently made by her Majesty. After some 25 years' service Captain Palmer left the army, and, through the intervention of Colonel Birt, obtained an appointment at the Victoria Docks . On Colonel Birt accept- ing the position of general manager of the Millwall Docks, Palmer, owing to his integrity, strict attention to duty, and good conduct, 4 obtained the post of chief-constable of the same docks . After discharging the duties of this position for about twenty years, he retired on a pension to his native village at Cheetham Hill . It may be mentioned that Palmer be, came a private in the 3rd Essex Rifle Volun- teers, and subsequently became captain of his company . He, however, resigned before he left London . About two more years of service would have entitled him to the decoration recently bestowed for long service in the volun- teer force . The interment of his remains at Heywood was marked by the placing of two emblems upon his coffin, one being a large floral anchor from the chief-constable and police of the Millwall Docks, and the other large and beautiful wreath specially prepared from the general staff of the same docks . The funeral was attended by, among others, his two sisters-Mrs . Frances Spencer, a widow, 01 111 residing in Heywood, and Mrs . Ann Spencer, who now resides with her husband, Mr . Frank Spencer, in Wyndham-street, Bury, as well as by his niece, Miss Spencer .-"Heywood Ad- vertiser," February 3, 1893 .

ANSWERS . [100.] AB-O'-SLENDERS, BAGSLATE . (Reply to Query No . 86 .) The following story, though not a ful : reply to Lemuel, is probably based on the author's knowledge of the district of Bagslate . It is extracted from one of the raciest stogies by the late Miss M . R . Lahce, entitled "Mally Cass's Savings' Bank ; or, the quaint folk cf Huntley Brook ." The story is told at a farm- house near Simpson Clough, and the narrator is Jonathan T-, one of the listeners being named Mr . Kershaw . Jonathan has just re- 0 ferred to Mr . Kershaw's uncle John, and then proceeds : Aw can recollect him bein' at th' Hunt, at Bagslate once, an happerin' to see Ab-o'..Slen- ders runnin after th' huntin dogs beawt clogs, he coed cawt to him `Now then Ab, if tha'rt in at th' death, I'll give thee th' price of a pair o' sho,n .' An so lie did, for at that toinie, Ab war nabbut a young led, and he cap't the dule for tollowin to' Hunt . Eh! when aw think o' them days, aw con ommoet fancy at aw see Ab as ho wur then wi his long legs runnin after th' hunting diogs, an flyin o'er hedge an ditch beawt oather „boon or hat, an newt i'th' world on his back nobbui a pack-sheet bishop . He wur a noted character i' them days, wur Ab, for o' at he geet sick a good religious chap after . Aw guess yo'n often yerd him preych, ha'not you Mr . Kershaw?" "Many a time Jonathan, and, as you say he was a good zealous man ." "Ay, he wur that, but dear o' me th' first toime aw yerd him preych aw thought aw should a deed wi laughin, cose aw bethought me of a trick PA me an Dick Ash'orth play'd on him ye'rs afore . Yo known when Ab wur young he'd wortch noan, but kept hangin an slingin abeawt th' country, so ut their folk could do no 112

good wi him till after he wttr wed . But it wur afore that toime, at what aw'm beawn to tell yo happened . One neet, mich as usual, Ab durst'nt face whoam, so he managed to tak shelter in an owd cot ut wur empty, near th' lone soide yon . In theem days eawr folk lived o'ernent th' owd barn . My fayther an eawr John wortch'd at th' pit ; my fayther wur bouksman theer then, an eawr John wur i'th' bookin office . But at any heaw, we seed Ab that neet gettin in through th' window oth' cot, so we watch'd himi, an in a bit eawt he coom ogee an went deawn th' lone Wards t' pit. So Dick an me followed him across the fielt, wonderin what he wur up to next. "Neaw then," ses Dick "tha munnot speyk . Let's track him ." An so we did, o'th' road till he coorn to a greyt yep o' coals . Then we hud eawrsel's i'th' ditch till we yerd him comin' back, an behowd he'd gett'n a cob o' coal on his back wely th' bigness o' yon table . Yo may think what a pictur he look'd wi his long legs . By macks they favoured a couple o' lamp posts . But as aw wur tollin you, on be coom toddlin an puffin at every stroide . "There, owd lad," aw sed, "tha's gett'n a job tie toime situzheaw ; aw nobbut wish Tummnts o'-Pigslee rout just see thee." "Hush! aw tell thee," ued Dick, tha munnot let him yer then mon ; but let's get o'er yon gate an meet him at top o'th' lone." So away we pelter'd deawn th' fielt, through th' gate an wur just i' time, to see Ab taking th' turn o'th' lone, but theer he stopt, an we yerd l.im sayin, "Eh! dear o me ; aw con nare get tis weight to you cot, aw know aw cannot . Aw nobbut wish th' Lord would gie me strength to do it . Do Lord, poo me through this toime . Aw dar'say yo dunnot o' together howd wi me for doin sich moike ; but tha knows aw'm beawt wark and brass, an aw'et be perished wi cowd this neet i' yo dunnot lend me a helpin hond . Aw'm wetly sinkin under th' burden, an my two knees are knockin together bike th' bally of a bagpipes ." Well, when he said so, aw wetly choked misel wi keepin in th' laughin ; but Dick turnin his voice bike a parsons, aced eawt "Abraham! Abraham ; what has tha gett'n on thi back?" But Abraham onswor'd nowt, for deawn he sluttor'd-o'er th' wall wi a groan, as though he wur shot through th' yed . 113 Well, o'er we went, an fun him lyin of a lump i'th meadow, an th' greeat cob under him, so we seed heaw it wur . He'd propt hissel ogen th' low stone wall wi th' cob teed on his back, an wi th' freet he leet it waught him o'er . But theer he lay shuzzheaw, as cowd and as stiff as though he wur deead . An i' good yernest we thought he wnr ceead ; but we pick'd him up an carried him deawn th' fielt, an into Twitchers, tl yaib chaps . " What! " said Mr. Kershaw, "crib and all?" "Nauw, nauw," said Jonathan, laughing, "we laft th' cob ; but we brought him to Twitchers, an tcwd him we'd fun a deead man i'th' fielt . So he fotch'd th' legit c'er an seein who it wur, he sed, "Well, aw'm blest, if it is no Ab-o- Slenders. " But see yo, he's noan deead yet, for he's lookin this toad . Hey rip, Ab! what's th' matter wi thee? " " Oh dear, wheer ant aw? " eed Ab. "Whey tha'rt here safe enoof," said nvitcher, "but who tumbled thee i'th' fielt?" "Eh! it mist ha bin th' Lord hissel, for aw yerd his voice ; but aw'll never do ,sick a thing ogen, never, never ." "Why, what has to bin doin?" sed Twitcher . But Ab said nowt, but groan'.d, an Dick put his hand oer his meawth as mich as to say, "muni ." So we didn't split for moony a yer after ; but next news we yerd, wur at Ab had gett'n convarted . Aw've yerd him preych many a score o' toimes sin then, for he turn'd into a God fearin good neon, but aw ollus thought it wur me an Dick he met thank for convartin him . [101 . ; THE HARDMANS OF BROAD- FIELD . (Reply to Note No. 90.) I am afraid that without further evidence we cannot accept the statement of Adjutant Samuel Hardman that his ancestors did the carved woodwork of Manchester Church . A scientific genealogist would smile at the claim that the Hardmans owned Ainsworth Hall before the Conquest . A glance at Domesday Boom will show that their names are absent from that record . The misereree in Manches- VOL . I .-Part 8. f4- 114 ter Church are very interesting and may be compared with those at Beverley and else- where. WILLIAM E. A. AxoN, University Hall, St . Andrews, N .B. [102.] JANE CLOUGH . 0 (Rep!y to Query No . 98.) There is a portrait of Jane Clough at the Commercial Hotel, Milnrow Road, Rochdale . L. SUTIIURSg.

QUERIES. [103.] JOHN TURNER, BAMFORD ROAD, occupied an old mill which was worked by a gin-wheel turned by two horses . He also kept a grocer's shop in Wilton-street, between 1842 and 1850 . Is anything more known about him? SENEX . [104.] OLD WEIR ON MILLER BROOK ., I was looking the other day for the old weir on Miller Brook, and found that it has for a few years past been included in a system for the supply o£ water to the Mutual Mills. What did this solid piece of masonry originally belong to? MANCUNIAN. -

4fribap, .iutp 28th, 1905 .

NOTES . [105.] HARDI-MANS OF BROADFIELD . (See Note No . 90 and Answer No . 101.) To my previous note on this subject I ought to have added an extract from the Autobio- graphy of the famous Manchester divine, tho - Rev. Henry Newcome, who was personally acquainted with the Hardmans of Broadfield. In the year 1658 Newcome writes, :- June 30th (Wednesday) I preached at Hey- wood Chapel to a very great congregation . Sundry went away and could not hear . Little Bebty now had the rickets, and could not go; 115 she was at James Hardman's to be bathed for them, and stayed there from June 5th to July 24th, and was a little better, but not much . It was a great affliction to us . But it pleased God, the summer after, by an ointment of Mr . Sorocold's, to recover her ; and sending her into the country, not able to go, to Mr . Wil- son's of Poppythorne, June 27Th, -59, her mother and I went one day to see her, July 21st, and she met us on her feet, which was a great rejoicing to us. And afterwards when some friends saw her dance to the virginals, they were much taken with the mercy, when they considered that they thought they should never have seen her go . When I preached at this time at Heywood, it pleased Gbd that a little child of Colonel Standish, by a slip at the chapel in the same seat with my girl, at the very time, had the addition of the dis,- location of his ankle to his distemper. I counted it a great mercy that mine was spared in that kind . In Newcome's Diary, the following occurs under date May 27th, 1663 :- After dinner James Hard'man was with mee a while about ye busynes of sweareinge Ch : Wardens, he beinge one for Middleton and loath to take ye oath . Ex-Adjutant Samuel Hardman, in his letter of seventy-seven years ago, already quoted, alludes to John Hardman, merchant, elected M.P. for Liverpool in 1754, as an "ancestor ." In this connection it may be mentioned that in April last Mr. Stuart Deacon contributed to the "Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury" two long articles on "Liverpool's Representa- tives in Parliament," in one of which he says : In 17`4 John Hardiman headed the poll . He only lived f)r a few months after his election, but his naive is of interest, for it connects us with \Pilliam Roscoe . Hardman was by birth a Rochdale man . He made money and bought Allerton Hall . On his death, without issue, the Hall passed to his brother, James Hard- man, whose widow was so long an intimate friend of William Roscoe . It was on Mrs . Hardman's death, in 1799, that William Roscoe purchased Allerton Hall . Roscoe also wrote some verses, commencing "When Virtue, nipt in early bloom," quoted in Pioton's "Memorials," on 'this lady's decease . Part of Mr . Deacon's statement is open to correction . As a matter of fact, James Hard- 116 man died about nine years before his brother John, the Liverpool M .P. I have seen a con- temporary record of the death of James Hard- man, which took place at his residence in Rochdale on June 24th, 1746 . One of his friends who saw him the day he died left this record in his diary (I quote from the original) Mr. James Hardman died [in] the evening - ,fter I saw hiui . His death is an unspeakable loss. . . . Ha has left a sorrowful widow, three sons, and one daughter, who are provided very largely for . John Hardman, the M.P., does not appear to have been married ; or, if he was, he left no issue . He was the second son of Richard Hardman of Rochdale, by his wife Elizabeth Fearniside, a daughter of James Fearniside, who lived near Bolton . The elder son, James Hardman, an opulent Rochdale woollen merchant, married Jane Leigh, daughter of George Leigh, Oughtrington Hall, Cheshire . Mrs . James Hardman (subsequently of Aller- ton Hall, near Liverpool) was a widow for nearly forty-nine years . She did not die in 1799, as stated by Mr . Stuart Deacon, but on February 12th, 1795, aged 93, and her funeral took place at Rochdale . The venerable lady appears to have outlived all her children, who died without issue. These Rochdale Hardmans are said to have been descendants of the Hardmans of Marcroft Gate, in Wolstenholme . What relationship there might be between them and the Hard- mans of Broadfield I do not know ; but I have met with evidence that the Rochdale Hard- mans of the eighteenth century certainly had kinsfolk in what is now the borough of Hey- wood . James Hardman, the Rochdale merchant, who died in 1746 (brother of the Liver- pool M.P.), had a first-cousin whose husband -the ancestor of a famous Lord Justice of Appeal-ecenpied Yew Tree Farm, Top of Heap, and he had another kinswoman who was married to a Dissenting minister at the old `Hevwood Chapel" about 180 years ago. To these Yew Tree Farm connections I may refer on another occasion. LECTOR .

117

[106 .] JANE CLOUGH . (See Note No . 79 and Answer No . 102 .) I remember Jane Clough appearing at flower shows and other places as described by Waugh, and have also seen her portrait at the Commercial Hotel, Milnrow Road, Rochdale . As a further contribution I send this extract from "Rochdale, past and present," by William Robertson, 1875 : Jane Clough, a coarse, masculine-looking woman, whose voice did not remind one of the music cf the spheres, and who used to reside at 3agelate, gave up part of her time to the study of botany and the cultivation of "man- ster gooseberries" and carnations . Jane was not by any means a counterpart of the "Jane" so highly eulogised in the delightful song so charmingly sung by Sims Reeves as "pretty" and "shy," and there was no prim gallant in those days who had the courage to invite her to meet him in the evening "when the bloom was on the iye ." Nor was there any young Lochinvar in these parts sufficiently daring in love to whisk off our heroine on a milk-white charger and bear her away to his home . Jane was in her element if only per- mitted to join a group of the wise nien who upheld the State at a street corner, and take part with them in discussing politics, cock- fights, and a "gradely" dog fight . As to politics, it would appear as if she had been a forerunner of the strong-minded women of the present generation, as she took the liveliest interest in that absorbing science . She pre. ferred the society of the masculine sex, and, as a rule. shunned that of woman kind in general . Jane was a staunch Conservative, and would always insist on heading that party's processions on great and stirring occasions, but we Lave not been able to find that the friends of the cause to which she allied herself ever went to the expense of dressing her on such eventful occasions in the "blue" colours which usually distinguish the Conservatives. Manchester . JAMES TURNER.

[107 .] OLD WEIR ON MILLER BROOK. (Reply to Query No. 104 .) I was told by a person who had it from an old lady who remembered it in her youth, that the old weir originally belonged to the Corn

r. 118 Mill of the Heywood Hall estate . The lady referred to was Miss Esther Hampson, who lived in Wood-street, Coach Turning, near the present new Free Library. Wimlbledon. JOHN KAY . LF108 .1 FOUNDERS OF THE HEYWOOD GAS WORKS. The list of names which follows is taken from the preamble to "An Act for lighting with gas the village cf Heywood, within the parish of Bury, in the County Palatine of Lancaster ; 7, George IV.-Session, 1826 (Royal Assent, 11 April, 1826 .)" I want particulars of the persons named, dates of birth and death, and their connection with Heywood . Some of the names are well known, but notes on any of them will be acceptable . J. A . GREEN. Thomas Ashton, Richard Ashton, Robert A.spinall, Thomas Abbott, George Barber, John Bentley, Thomas Battersby, James Cle g, Samuel C'hadwick, David Cox, Jonathan Gol- lins, William Di gle, Joseph Fenton, John Fenton, James Fenton, William Gee of New York, Robert Gee, William Gee of Fold, John Harding, John Hall, Richard Holt, James Har- greawes, John Hargreaves, James Holmes, Edmund Hartley, William Hartley, John Ker- shaw, John Hilton Kay, Robert Kay, Richard Kay, James Knowles, William Mason, Joseph Mason, James Mills, Robert Mills, Robert Mills the younger, John Powell, James Richardson, James Starky, John Scholfield, James Schol- field, Thomas Scholfield, Robert Shepherd, Charles Stott, Abraham Stott, John Turner, and Leonard Wild, and all and every such other person or persons, or body or bodies politic or collegiate, as from time to time shall become a subscriber or subscribers, and be duly admitted a proprietor or proprietors as herein- after mentioned, and their respective succes- sors, executors. administrators, and assigns, shall be and they are hereby declared to be one body politic and corporate, by the name of "The Heywood Gas Light and Coke Company ." [109 .] JOHN KAY TAYLOR . This geptleman resided in Heywood for a short time, as the preface to the pamphlet undermentioned is dated from Heady Hill, near Bury, Lancashire, May 1st, 1847 . The title of the pamphlet is 119 The Burial of Burns : a poem, by John Kay Taylor, author of "The Land of Burns, and other poems ." Glasgow : W. Hamilton ; Man- chester : A Heywood ; Bury : J. Kay ; Hey- wood : J . Heywood ; Oldham : D. Evans and John Hirst. 1847 . 8vo ., pp . 32 . Wrapper, with title repeated. [John Hirst, printer, Oldham .] I shall be glad to know how long Mr . Taylor was resident in Heywood and whether he wrote anything in addition to the above. J. A . GREEN . [110 .] GERTRUDE FENTON. This author is referred to as "formerly of Rochdale" in the catalogue of the Rochdale Free 'Library. She wrote "Revenge : a novel," and `A Wicked Woman : a novel ." Can anyone say whether this lady would be one of the Fentons of C'rimble or Bamford, and what other works she produced? J . A . GREEN .

lribag, Augutt 4th, 1905 .

NOTES. [111 .] HOPWOOD HALL . Hopwood, a township adjoining Middleton, has been the seat since the thirteenth century of an influential family of that name . The name of Hopwood does not, however, appear very frequently in the more ancient records of the county, It has been conjectured by some that, like the Langleys of Langley and the Ashworths of Ashworth, the family was originally an offshoot of the older and more powerful family of Middleton of Middleton . Jo a deed bearing date 1277 the name of William de Hopwood occurs, but does not appear in the Hopwood pedigree in the College of Arms. One Adam de Hopwood was a juror at the inquisition at Preston held February 24th, 1347, to make return of the true value of the ninth of sheaves, fleeces, and lambs, the produce of the several parishes in the 120 Wapentake of Salford ; and the same was one of the inquisition at Preston, March, 1359, before T'homan le Seton and others in a dispute between Henry, first Duke of Lancaster, and Roger la Warr. When the licence was obtained in 1421 for the collegiation of the Parish Church of Manchester, Galfridus de' Hopwood, gent, was a witness. In the Hop- wood evidences the name of Robert, son of Geoffrey de Hopwood, occurs as clerk, parson, and rector of Middleton in deeds dating from 1421 to 1457. Another of his sons, Laurence, is named in the list of knights, gentlemen, and freeholders in the Macclesfield hundred of the oounty of Chester. Thomas Hopwood, the son of another brother by his marriage with the daughter of Thomas Langley of Agecroft, was a party to a grant of lands by William Daven- port of Bramhall, in December, 1484 . He married Margaret (?), daughter of the above William Davenport, about the 'year 1460, and left six children . His son, John, who succeeded to the estates, was twice married, firstly to the daughter of Sir Richard Asshe- toi ., his neighbour at Middleton, and secondly to Isabella, daughter of Richard le Townley of Townley, and widow of John Talbot of Salesbury, who was better known as "long John Talbot ." A sister of John Hopwood married one of the powerful family of Dymokes of Belvoir Castle, hereditary champions of England . In a deed dated 1434, amongst the papers connected with the churches of Prestwich and Oldham, it appears that John Hopwood exchanged with his stepmother certain tene- inents in Hopwood, which formed part of her dower, for other property in the same township . The family appears to have been firmly settled at Hopwood, and to have owned considerable property in the township, a younger branch being seated at Rhode Green, in the neighbouring township . By marriage with members of most of the powerful families in the district they added considerably to their wealth . Edmund Hopwood, who held the estates at the end of the sixteenth century, 121 and died in 1611, married Alice, daughter of Edmund Assheton of Chadderton, and by her had a family of seven sons and six daughters . His eldest son, John Hopwood, married Dcrothy, daughter of Charles Holt of Stub- lev. and died in the lifetime of his father (May, 1600), leaving among other ch_ldren Edmund Hopwood, who was heir to his grandfather . He was baptised at Middleton, May 23rd, 1598 . He served the office of High Sheriff for the county of Lancaster in 1650, and his name occurs as one of the ex-cu, tors to the wi'l of Humphrey Chetham, dated December 16th, 1651 . His son, John Hop- wood, succeeded his father in 1664, at the ag,e of 41, and married Elizabeth, daughter of John Lever of Alkringtcn. He was one o` the jury impanelled for the trial of Lord Molyneux and others, at Manchester in 1694, on a charge of high treason . On the death, July 19th, 1762, of Robert Hopwood, M.D., the local family became ex- tinct, and by his will, dated 1762, the estate . were left to his wife during her lifetime (she died in 1773), and then to Edward Gregge, second son of Robert Greage, barrister-at-taw, who succeeded to the estates, and assumed the name and the arms of the Hopwoods . His son, Robert Greage Hopwood, married in October, 1805, Cecilia, daughter of John Byng, Viscount Torrington, and was left a widower in 1836. During his lifetime the estates produced an annual rental of £7,600 . Robert Fi cpwood was an aged man, and had suffered from several attacks of paralysis when he died in 1854 (July 19th) . H's will, dated May 14th, 1853, with a codicil to a previous will dated 1853 (April), became the subject of arch litigation amongst his children, and caused a trial which deservedly ranks as; one of the causes celebre of the county . The last will enlarged the legacies of two younger sons . one of them being Frank George, in holy orders, who married Eleanor, daughter of Ed- ward, Earl of Derby, and alienated the estate from his eldest son, Captain Edward George Hopwood, leaving it to Captain Hopwood's only son (then a boy of seven years), on his 122 reaching the age of 21 . If he died before that age then to the Rev . Frank Hopwood, and to his sons after him, to the exclusion of the Captain's wife and daughters, and of anyone born after 1853 . By -the direction of the Court of Chancery the great Hopwood will case, as it is called, was tried at Liverpool Assizes in April, 1855, before Justice Cress- well and a special jury . The trial lasted six days . The jury found that the will and codicil were not made by the so-called testator, which was a decisive verdict in favour of Cap- tain Hopwood . He took possession of the estate and colliery on May 24th, and by a decree of Vice-Chancellor Wood, the old will of 1829 was established, and the one of 1853 cancelled . He remained in undisputed possession until his death, which occurred recently . Hopwood Hall, a quadrangular house of the time of Henry VIII ., is beautifully situated in pleasant and well-kept grounds . Consider- able additions have been made in recent years, and the effect is picturesque and agreeable . Within the house are many interesting family relics, and a collection of family charters, deeds, and evidences which throw considerable light on the early history of the family and district .-.Manchester Faces and Places, No . 2, vol . v., 1893, pp. 28-9 .

ANSWERS. [112 .1 FINE ART EXHIBITION, 1884 . (Reply to Query No . 87) . There was a catalogue issued giving a list of the contents of this excellent exhibition, and from a fragment in my possession I extract the following names of pictures of well- known local places . Perhaps some other correspondent will complete the list giving the names of the artists and where the pictures are to be seen : Ashworth Hall . Simpson Clough. Ashworth Fold . Ashworth Brook . Botany Bay . 123 Ashworth Chapel . Bamford Chapel . Hopwood Hall Mill . Scene in Hopwood Ley . Slattocks . St. Luke's Chapel, Heywood . Old Bridge, Ashworth . Rvecroft Toll Bar . Old Road in Ashworth . Birtle Church . Old Wesleyan Chapel, War Office . Old House in Ashworth . Old Hind Hill-street. SILAS T . COMBERBACE..

QUERIES. [113 .] BAMFORD HALL . It has been stated that the late John Fenton, Esq., the first M .P. for Rochdale, was very skilful in the use of tools, and was very in- genious at needlework. He made a represen- tation in wool-work of Old Barnford Hall before it was rebuild; by his brother James . Can this wool-work picture of Old Bamford Hall be seen anywhere? LAMBERT. [114 .] REV. THOMAS SELKIRK . I possess a leaflet printed by Crompton, Bury, entitled In remembrance of the Rev . Thomas Selkirk, late minister of St. John's, Bury, who died on the 20th of February, 1834, in the 45th year of his age ; leaving a widow and eight children to bewail their irreparable loss . The above is followed by about thirty lines of epitaph and rhyming characterisation . I should like to have further particulars of Mr . Selkirk, who, previous to going to Bury, resided at Ashworth Hall . J . A . GREEN. 124 ,ffri ap, Auguzt 11th, 1905 .

NOTES. [115 .] GNAT BANK : PAST AND PRESENT. A well informed correspondent contributed to the "Advertiser" sometime in 1886 the following notes on the above district ever the signature of Timon . It may be useful to notice that the name of the place was not always spelt with a G, as Nat Bank is referred to by Edwin Butterworth and others . Butterworth also mentions Francis Chadwick, gent., as a resident of Natch Bank about 1650. Our local genealogists have here a nice little puzzle awaiting solution

Another small village, situated near the boundary line of the Heywood corporate borough, in a direction opposite to the village of Birch, and about the same distance from the town, presents in its silence and ruin a melancholy contrast to, and pleads for some of the revivifying influence that has been brought to bear upon, Birch . Dullness, dead- ness, and decay have, in this once flourishing romantically situated village, overtaken and reduced to ruin here all human effort. Deso- lation and decay appear to have taken possession of the mills, and in them hold their high carnival of ruin . In the romantic dell in which they are mouldering the busy hum of labour is no more heard, and the silence of the place is disturbed only by the cawing of the rooks and the murmuring of the river, as once utilised in working the mills it now rushes idly by. n almost its infancy cotton spinning made itself a local habitation at Gnat Bank, the waters of the Roach furnishing the necessary motive power . In the early days of the cotton and woollen industry of this country water was the principal motive power, and sites for the erection of mills and workshops were sought for by the streams and rivers where a 125 4 sufficient flow of water and a sufficient I fall would, by a combination of in- genuity and capital, furnish the necessary water power . The flow and fall of the Roach at Gnat Bank was utilised and a mill was built, which contributed to the spread of the cotton trade before any of the mills now existing in Heywood were erected . When steam, a steadier power, came into general use as a motive force, it became less necessary to select the banks of a stream for the building of mills, and those erected by streams in places remote from towns, or in placea difficult of approach, began to lose favour with the manu- V' facturers, and to be abandoned and to fall into ruin. The mills at lxnat Bank combined steam power with their water power, and this, for a time, enabled them to hold their position . For many years the mills furnished employ- ment for a large number of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The houses were occupied by a seemingly well-to-do population . Gas was in general use, and the appearance and habits of the people betokened a degree of comfort and prosperity which the stoppage of the mills had caused to vanish . There have been several occupiers who have tried to make their way by investing their capital in working the mills . They have made rreat improve- ments and additions to the place, but the fate that has overtaken most of the mills situated in secluded out-of-thee-way places has overtaken those at Gnat Bank. When the firm of J . and J. J. Mellor occupied the place a gleam of prosperity was thown over the neighbourhooi . The cottages were fully occupied, the Fioeco Inn, at War Office, had a weekly patronage it has since rarely known, and all in the neighbourhood went as merrily as a marriage bell. The Mellors, however, for some cause or other, ceased to occupy the mills. They left the place, and carried with them their capital and business abilities, and w_th them went the gleam of prosperity which during their term of occupancy had shone upon thu village . No other occupiers since the Alellors left have found it expedient to work the mills, and they have been abandoned to ruin and 126 decay, sure followers of inattenton and neg- lect . The cottages, too, erected for the accom- modation of the workpeople, and situated upon a commanding situation, on the r'ght bank of the river, are many of them dilapidated and falling. Adversity, with a lavish hand, has scattered the seeds of ruin over the neigh=bour- hood, causing misfortune to take root in man- sion, mill, and cottage, and banishing from their old haunts both gentle opulency and sturdy labour . The site of Gnat Bank, though denuded of much of the stately timber it once possessed, is yet fairly wooded . The high and precipitous banks are adorned with trees and underwood, which give to this, the most mag- V nificent gorge through which the waters of the Roach force their way, a sublimity and grandeur the equal of which we shall have to go far to see . A little higher up the river than the mill, and close by a footpath leading from Gnat Bank to Meadowcroft Mill, are three dilapidated cottages, the place being called Tyrone's Bed, and, by local corrup'rion, Yels-o'th'- Throne. Tradition makes this the hiding place of the great Earl of Tyrone, who, when after his rebellion and defeat in Ireland, sought safety by flight from the vengeance of Queen Elizabeth, whose authority he had defied, and i n this, then solitary place, he found a safe retreat until more peaceful times, when he returned to Ireland, and, through the inter- cesssion of Mountjoy, the Queen's Locd Deputy of Ireland, obtained her pardon. Upon this tradition a fine ballad was wr;tten by a Mr. Nuttall of Rochdale, called "Tyrone and Gonstance, or the Outlaw in the Dell of Grize - hurst," on which, too, Mr . Roby has based a fictitious love story. The old hall at Grizel- hurst has disappeared, but at the time of Tyrone's flight it was the home of the Holt family, a daughter of which the Constance of the bala,d and the love story was said to be . The road by the ruined cottages leads to the fulling mill at Meadowcroft. This long-established fulling mill is approached from the highway at Wood Top, through a weird-like gorge of overhanging rocks, through which the 127 stream, which has for long supplied the mill with power, tosses and tumbles down the valley until it passes into the Roach over one of the loftiest water wheels in the neighbourhood . This old fulling mill has lately undergone reno- vation and improvement, and is now worked by the enterprising firm of Samuel Porritt and Sons, woollen manufacturers, who have large works near, and are the principal employers of labour in the woollen trade in the locality . On the high ground just above the mills at Gnat Bank is Crimble Hall . John Fenton, who resided here, was the first member of Parliament for Rochdale after that town was made a Parliamentary borough by the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832 . Here he was visited by his friend, Mr . Cobden, who for many years represented Rochdale . In those days plenty was in full possession at Crimble Hall. Long years of successful business as bankers and manufacturers bad built up for the Fentons of Crimble and Bamford Halls a position of opulence and influence . They basked in the sunshine of wealthy indepen- dence. Large employers of labour, a numerous population planted themselves around them . Everything betokened wealth and prosperity, and the heads of the halls at Crimble and Bamford passed away, knowing nothing of the cankerworm that has eaten away the very vitals of their prosperity . War Office, a small village on the Bury and Rochdale old highway, is an adjunct of Gnat Bank. Here was estaiblished an office, called the War Office, for the enrolment of recruits and allotted men for the army during the time of the agitation in this country caused by the threatened invasion by the French under the first -Napoleon . The martial spirit of Lancashire was fired, and, as the name indi- cates, it did not smoulder at the War Office . The sign of the Fleece over the inn door is a fac-,simile of the imprint of the one on the rotes issued by the Rochdale bank of the Me,--srs . Fenton . Many of these one-pound notes were c'banged at the Fleece, and often the change had grown wonderfully reduced 128 A before its owner had landed safely at home - from the Fleece . TIM ON .

On the occasion of opening a bazaar on April 13th, 1894, for the benefit of S :. Michael's schools, Bamford, Colonel Mellor delivered an address which included the following references to Gnat Bank :- Colonel Mellor, who was cordially received, said that when he received the invitation to be present that day he felt he could not refuse, though, as they would judge, he had at the present a great many calls upon him . 14 He remembered so well-though it was now forty years ago-when he began in his humble way the work of education in that district . He remembered well the interest he tock in it at that time, and his visit that day was almost a pathetic one, for he found himself surrounded-he who used to know every man, woman, and child in the village-with a new generation, and he could not help thinking of those who had passed away during those forty years. To him it looked but a brief span, though to the young it might appear a long time to look forward . He could not be sufficiently thankful that it was put in his mind to devote the time he did to the work of education. When his family start rd the mills at Gnat Bank, some forty years ago, there was no education worthy of the name in the village. There was a dame's school, kept by a worthy couple, but it was alto- gether inadequate for the purpo_e required, and he. remembered as if it were only y_ ster- day, the late chief ins_uector of factories, Mr . Leonard Horner, one of the best inspectors they ever i ad, together with Capta`n Patrick, another inspector, going to h' in and asking him to establish a day school . He had already started a night school, and had gathered roun :l him a staff of able and willing assistants, and it was that which led the in-pector to ask him to establish a day school. He undertook the duty, and they fitted up a buld n- he could not say whether it was an old barn or

J 129 an old warehouse-and when he advertised for a master he was successful in securing the services of Mr . William Porritt, one of the most able and energetic of teachers, who, after remaining for some half a dozen years, became a manufacturer, and was now enjoying his leisure at Southport, and who hay, come from that town to accompany him to the bazaar. (Applause .) Together they carried on the edu- cational work, and he (Colonel Mellor) continued it until the lease of their premises expired, and he left the neighbourhood. He had learned the benefit of a school, and when he went, into another neighbourhood his firm saw to he building of another school, which had been continued up to the present, and which had been a most successful institution_. (Hear, hear.) He was glad that the work of education which he started had continued, and he hoped it would still continue . He believed he could claim to be now the oldest living cor- responding manager of an elementary school in the kingdom, for lie had filled that position for nearly forty years . (Applause.) Every year the books and accounts passed through his hands, and he hoped they would continue to do so as long as he lived. He hoped and believed that the fourteen years which he spent in that neighbourhoo., had not been the least useful in his life .

[116.11 ST . LUKE'S 0HUROHYARD WALL . The following statement appeared in "St . Luke's Parish Magazine" for May, 1867 :- "We subjoin the treasurer's statement of the receipts and expenditure in respect of the rebuilding of the churchyard wall, from which it will be seen that the two have balanced each other within a comparatively small sum . The improvement in the appearance of the central part of the town, caused by the building of the wall, is so great and so univer- sally approved of, that we feel sure none of the subscribers will be disposed to begrudge the money they hav; contributed for the pur- pose."

130 Receipts . £ s. d. Heap Local Board 100 0 0 Subscriptions 451 4 10 Thomas Clew, Esq., Fountain 30 0 0 Bank interest 8 15 4 Churchwardens 4 19 10 £595 0 0 Expenditure. £ s. d . Stonework, per J . Lord 450 0 0 Ironwork, per J . Kershaw 122 0 0 Architect, G. Mawson 20 0 0 Paid for collecting subscriptions ... 3 0 0

£595 0 0 SAMUEL SMITH, Treasurer,

QUERIES. [117 .] THE BIRKETT FAMILY . The "Advertiser Jubilee Supplement" con- tains a note on the "Old Star Inn," which was pulled down in 1866 to enable street improve- ments to be made . It is there stated that "The iS'tar' had been in the Birkett family and leased from that family for 300 years, and is therefore one of the oldest buildings in Heywood proper." Who are the present representatives of the Birkett family? LEMUEL . [118 .] THE FENTON FAMILY . In No. 63 I observe a reference to old Robert Fenton . It would be interesting and much appreciated if the writer of the paragraph, G.E.W., would inform us of what he knows of this old worthy . I should also be glad to know the names of the parents, brothers, or sister..s of Joseph Fenton, the father of John Fenton, M .P. for Rochdale . Lowerfold, Rochdale . JOHN FENTON. 131 .,fribap, Auglt&t 18th, 1905.

NOTES. [119.] THE HOOLEY BRIDGE ESTATE . A satisfactory account of the Fenton family of Bamford and Crimble would be a valuable contribution to the history of Heywood. This family played a considerable part in the development of manufacturing in Heywood, both at Crimble and Hooley Bridge. A friendly correspondent has promised us some notes in elucidation of the family pedigree . A good description of the state of Hooley Bridge as it appeared soon after the stoppage of the mills, was recently given in this column (No. 36,-"A Deserted Village") . The sketch which follows is by "An Occasional Contributor" and appeared in the "Heywood Advertiser," November 6th, 1896 . The starting and ending of Lancashire com- riercial families would make an interesting story to dwellers in this county if the various changes in their history could be recorded with accuracy, and if the wonderful rises and falls in the values of their respective estates could be truthfully detailed would be a, story more enthralling than any which the romancist could tell . It would awaken reminiscences in the minds of middle-aged people, from which they could give lessons to the younger generation from their own life's experiences, and point to the places around them as object lessons. We sometimes come across people who, because they at present own property, or hold shares in cotton mills, stretch themselves out as though they were better than their neighbours, and no one must differ from them whatever they say or do without being insulted ; aye, ignorantly insulted . They live in a kind of den into which no one but themselves must enter, but it is a dear den to live in, as they exist scorned by true manhood, and their companionship is never sought by men of light and leading. In my travels this week I came across such a Lancashire man who 132 boasted of holding over 200 shares in cotton mills, and, ergo, he was a man of consequence, because he held them, and he grossly insulted a fellow-traveller who asked him what "capital" was, vulgarly intimating that his ques- tioner had no capital . But on the other hand there are noble examples of Lancashire men who have risen to great estate whose increased wealth has not tarnished their manhood nor made them forget the lowly estate from which they have risen, who spread a radiance of pleasure wherever they go, and who try to make life worth living to those around them . There are plenty of such men, who are the salt of Lancashire life, and I could easily fill a column with their names, but it would be bad form to do so . Of such a family were the Fentons when they were living it Crimble, and this neighbourhood was the poorer far them leaving it. They wore always ready to spend and to be spent for the comfort and happiness of the neighbourhood . Well do I remember being delighted as a child-half a century ago-by being photographed by their son Roger. Forty years age I often went, to Criunble Holme to watch their son James practice with his rifle, and I have earned many a half-crown by whitening the shots off the target ; aye, and in later days I vividly remember taking voters to Crimble and keeping watch and ward over them until polling time was over . Poor Albert! his death was sad ; an unexpected ending for so bright a start . I could go through the family of Crimble Hall . The sons had all good points about them, and the daughters spread a radiance of sunshine wherever they went. Such were my reflections returning home from the Rialto last Tuesday after seeing the auctioneer knock down 40,939 yards of Hoolev Bridge estate, with the whole of the buildings erected upon it, for 3s . per yard, or figured out to three halfpence per yard at 24 years' purchase but lumped at £6,150. The estate was valued by "Grundys," valuers of Manchester in 1857, but, of course, the valua- tion then included the machinery in the mill and stock in process at £180,000 . The part- 133 ners were James Scnofield of Heybrook (the grandfather of Mrs . Kay of Harefield Hall) ; Mr. James Fenton of Bamford Hall ; and Mr, John Fenton of Crimble Hall . Mr . Schofield desired to leave the firm, and John Fenton of Crimble paid him £60,000 for his share, thus becoming owner of a two-third share to James one-third. Seventeen years previous to this (June 5th, 1840) the starter of the firm s (Joseph Fenton of Bamford) died, and directed in his will that the business must continue for 21 years after his decease, which time would terminate in 1861 . Hundreds of people are yet living who remember the troubles which began at Hooley Bridge in 1860. Much new machinery had been put into the mill, almost all of it had been re-arranged to make it up to date, and the management, which was vested in Joseph Fenton of Crimble Cottage, son of John Fenton, wanted to put in a new steam engine, but as this would have been altering the freehold it could not be done without the consent of Joseph Fenton of Bamford, who held one-third share-(though he took no part in the managernknt)-and then the bother began. Crimble held the management, but Bamford would not consent to the new engines . Crimble then said and acted up to it, that without the new engines the mills should not work . A sad day for Hooley Bridge, then making £30,000 per year in profit, to be stopped for such a paltry dispute . The management ceased to buy cotton, begun to work up, and dawdled the time away until Whitsuntide the year after (1861) to keep to the terms of old Joseph Fenton's will, when the mill stopped entirely, and now what was then valued at £180,000 and was making a net profit of £30,000 per year-(I have seen the books myself and also the signed balance sheets)-has been sold-minus stock and machinery-for a lump sum of £6,150 . Romance or fairy tale never told a stranger story or one more true . OHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. First mill built 1826 Shed built 1837 Chimney built 1840

134 Boiler-house built 1816 Old Joseph Fenton, originator of the firm, died June 5th 1810 James Schofield sold his third share to John Fenton of Crimble Hall for £60,000 in 1857 John Fentoa died 1863 Mills ceased working 1861 Bought by William Rufus Lee 1896

ANSWERS. [120 .] HENRY R-SSE'LL IN HEYWOOD . (See Query No . 61 .) I am, equally with Dibdin Junior, anxious to know more of the visit of Henry Russell to Ileywood, and offer the following date in the hope that some old Heywoodite will respond tiuitb further particulars : Henry Russell visited Rochdale on Novem- ber 21st, 1856, and gave his descriptive enter- tainment entitled "The Far West," in the Publio Hall . It is just possible that he visited Heywood about that time . J. CorrLE . [121 .] REV. THOMAS SELKIRK . See Query No . 114 .) A friend has kindly supplied the following extract from the "Manchester Guardian," March 8th, 1834 . Biographical particulars are desired. WELL-TIafED LIBERALITY . After the funeral of the Rev . Mr. Selkirk of Bury, last week, the situation of the widow and her eight children was mentioned, when £200 was subscribed on the spot towards their support . The subscription has since, we understand, been thrown open and a commit- tee appointed to give it the most effectual direction .