Rossendale Town Trail

Rossendale stone in the local urban setting

1 Natural History 2 Wall of History 3 Forest Mill was built in 1854 Society, 24 Yorkshire Street In the gardens next to 1, there is for James Howarth and two brothers, This late 18th century building was an unusual collection of sandstone and continued to produce cotton for originally the Hare and Hounds and gritstone carved display stones longer than most mills in the district. pub, and is now the headquarters and datestones that mark buildings The main building has thick beds of of the ‘Nats’ who moved here and events in Bacup’s history. The strong, ‘pitch-faced’ local in 1948. The front sandstone is large grindstone and crushing circle Flag. Although the chimney has gone slightly ‘water-shot’ and the stone were removed from Guide Quarry the water tower survives. blocks are well shaped (‘dressed’); on Todmorden moor in 1979. They 2) Wall of history this stone is considered an inferior are made of gritstone and were used Return to Market Street and continue, the large product and could possibly have to produce sand in a process called turn left down Park Road, turn left grindstone and come from the old Heald Quarries ‘sand-knocking’. Before the days along New Line as far as Lane End crushing circle were north of Bacup. Wavy lines in the of linoleum and carpets, sand was Road and opposite is from Guide quarry stone indicate ‘ripple lamination’. sprinkled on the fl oors of houses. 4 4 Park Crescent, New Line: If you return to Bacup centre and Messrs Caygill Brothers built two go down the A681, Market Street pairs of semis sometime after 1938. you will see the distinctive former They quarried Haslingden Flags in and Yorkshire Bank Cragg Quarry above and (18/20 Market Street). This is built probably supplied the ‘pitch-faced’ from gritstone (Rough Rock) sourced sandstone. from an old quarry near the centre of Bacup (behind the Maden Children’s Centre). The building dates from 1877 and was designed by local architect Harry Thorndyke Percival. At Henrietta Street turn left and continue for a short distance.

4) Architects drawings of Park Crescent

3 Return along New Line towards 6 4A Lee Road. Richard 8 141A Newchurch Road. Market Street passing St Saviours Williams, ‘Owd Williams’, a locally This recently sandblasted terrace Church built in 1864-65 and well known architect, surveyor shows courses of ‘pitch-faced’ designed by architect Edward and stone dealer, is linked to this Haslingden Flags with door frames, Whyndam Tarn who opened a new building. He took a lease out on windows and quoins (corner local quarry on the Holt estate to land in 1871 and is recorded as stones) finished in smoother finish the building. Gritstone was stone dealing in an 1875 trade gritstone. There is a good contrast used with an interplay of ‘pitch- directory. He ran a stone rubbing with the next terrace 141 – 131, faced’ and smooth ashlar textures. mill on land through the adjoining with its coarser white to ginger Continue down Market Street square arch. His initials are carved gritstones of the Rough Rock. which becomes Newchurch Road. in the 1873 dated window, with Detour left down Farholme Lane. intricate Masonic symbolism, so 5 Lee Mill Furnishings he probably lived or worked here. 9 Farholme Mill, Farholme 121/125 Newchurch Road. The stone work is ‘pitch-faced’ Lane. Built in 1853-1854 by An 1868 datestone records this Haslingden Flagstone probably the first co-operative company building as the former Bacup Co- from a ‘proto’ Lee Quarry. - ‘The New Bacup and Wardle operative Store, Number 3 Branch. Commercial Company, this mill was The shape of the datestone 7 21 Flag Street. This small the largest of its time. It is really 4 neatly matches the upper arched ‘street-scape’, evokes all the old storeys high with arched windows windows. Although the stone work atmosphere of former quarrying. to former cellars and the coursed is painted, it is clearly ‘pitch-faced’. The terraced houses are ‘pitch- stonework is ‘water-shot’ with a Opposite building 5 turn sharp left faced’ Haslingden Flag and number punched texture. into Glen Street, leading to Lee 21, 19 and 17 were built in 1902 Return to Newchurch Road. Road and Flag Street. by Thomas Jackson of Lee Quarry. The upper section shows superb 10 6 David Street. The examples of early paving using terrace shows an original ‘street- 6) Linked to local flagstones, with flags setts scape’, with flags, setts, kerbs and architect “Owd and kerbs and most notably double channels (drains), now unusual in William’s”, his initials ‘causeys’ or causeways with Rossendale. The houses have well are carved in the grooved channels cut by the rims coursed ‘water-shot’ stonework window mullion of heavy stone trucks. with punched faces. All material Return to Newchurch Road and is Haslingden Flagstone including turn left. lintels and door jambs.

4 11 Toll Bar Business Park. Built in 1833 for Robert Munn and Brother John, it is now the oldest entire mill still standing in the Bacup area (aka Mill), and at the time, it was the largest spinning mill. Overall the material appears to be Haslingden Flag with roughly punched ‘water-shot’ stonework and punched flagstone 13) Atherton Holme sills. Mill chimney, one of the few surviving 12 366 Newchurch Road. chimneys in Bacup The cottage is reported to date from 1838 and its most distinctive feature is an outside flight of 12) Cantilvered ‘taking-in’ steps to an upper door. steps of roughly A short detour turn left down carved stones and datestones The steps are cantilevered in part punched Baldwin Street. are preserved here. There are also from the wall and made from Haslingden flags named bricks from companies who roughly punched Haslingden Flag. 13 Atherton Holme Mill (later worked the local quarries and were The facade is smoothly punched, Rossendale Mill). Dated 1860 trying to diversify into bricks around ‘water-shot’ sandstone coursing and originally run by the Spencer 1900 (County, Siddalls, , and the sills and jambs have a Brothers, this was a relatively and Diamond at Horncliffe). finely ridged texture, perhaps made large mill for the spinning and by pointed chisels. manufacture of cotton waste. It 14 520 Newchurch Road. has strongly ‘pitch-faced’ masonry A possible 1930s terrace built Taking-in Doors and Steps known to be from Henry Heys’ by Messrs Caygill Brothers who Some buildings have ’taking-in’ doors on the upper quarry at Brandwood, Stacksteads. worked Cragg Quarry. The row storey, often with steps to the door indicating the has 3 projecting facades and property had a dual role. As well as allowing entry Return to Newchurch Road, after the main stonework is ‘pitch- of goods, employees could reach upper workshops the Hare and Hounds on the right is faced’ Haslingden Flag with stone (mostly for handloom weaving) whilst respecting the ‘The Stacksteads Path of History’. dressings and quoins in smoother privacy of the domestic owners below. More sandstone and gritstone ashlar.

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7 15 Village Pine, Glen Top 16 Glen House, 652 Bacup are from Nuttall’s Lee Moor works. The datestone JB 1868 Road. Dated 1850, the building quarries. indicates this was built as the has evidence of upper ‘taking-in’ former stables of John Baxter’s doors on the gable. Stonework From Baltic Bridge are good Glen Top Brewery. Brewing ceased is Haslingden Flag, including sills views of the back of a ‘pitch-faced’ in 1955. The main masonry is and jambs and the side is roughly terrace and Haslingden Flagstone punch faced, Haslingden Flag, punched ‘water-shot’. back ‘landings’ over the River and only slightly ‘water-shot’ Whitewell , with chamfered stone with strong ashlar gritstone quoin 17 The Royal Hotel, 729 supports. stones. Bacup Road. Built around 1864, this distinctive building has pitch 18 Waterfoot Conservative faced coursing; the door head Club, 40 Burnley Road East. appears to be a softer rock. A Dating from 1889, the architect bay window was added in 1876 was P.D Lodge of Manchester and for Baxter’s Brewery, and the the builder George Benson. The datestone is signed by ‘Owd ‘pitch-faced’ stone is Haslingden Williams’ probably using stone from Flag from Windle’s Scout Bottom an early Lee Quarry. Quarry. Lighter coloured gritstone ashlar dressings are from At the centre of Waterfoot turn right Bankhouse Quarry Bacup and are at Burnley Road East, opposite is Rough Rock. a very early example of a shopping arcade – Tricket’s Arcade 7/23 Continue to the New Millennium Victoria Parade. Dating from Theatre, 89 Burnley Road East, 1897, the properties have a glazed Bethel Baptist Chapel of 1868 was canopy and were designed by demolished in 1996 but this former Samuel Taylor. Stone source is Sunday school survives. Designed 15) Punch faced known to be Siddall’s Hell Clough by ‘Owd Williams’ and built with masonry and overall quarry now known as Greens Moor ‘pitch faced’ Haslingden Flag by symmetry Quarry for the hard ‘pitch-faced’ Richard Cunliffe of Newchurch who Haslingden Flag; gritstone (Rough ran Scout Bottom Quarries. Rock) smoothed ashlar dressings

8 The next detour is a longer one, but and steps. The local nickname for mouldings. The builder was Messrs picks up on an interesting anomaly this area is ‘Little Venice’. George Parkinson and Sons, at Edgeside estate. Turn right into Continue westwards along Bacup Newchurch, who had a quarry at Booth Road, turn left along Park Road. ‘Park House’, Newchurch (possibly Road and left along Edgeside Lane. Edgeside Park Quarry). 21 Horse and Bamboo 19 153 Edgeside Lane. Under (former Liberal Club) Bacup 24 Conservative various Housing Acts from 1919 Road. Dated 1896 this building has Club, 276 Bacup Road. The to 1936 Council built interesting pediments and features. main stonework is ‘pitch-faced’ many houses entirely in local stone. The main courses are ‘pitch-faced’ Haslingden Flag sandstone with the The stone for nearly all Edgeside Haslingden Flags and the dressings dressings and window sills possibly estate is Haslingden Flag quarried and stringcourses are gritstone. sawn and smoothed. Stone source from Edgeside Quarry. Edgeside is Scout Bottom Quarry, Whitewell Lane was the last part of the estate 22 Kenyons Footwear, Myrtle Bottom. to be built including number 153. Grove Mill, Bacup Road This large mill complex has a Neighbouring Heys Street was 20 123 Edgeside Lane. 1890 dated keystone in gritstone named after major quarry proprietor Edgeside Quarry closed when it over the door, referring to Richard Mr Henry Heys, who owned was considered there was enough Rostron, felt manufacturer. The the land and probably built the stone to finish the estate. However, ‘pitch-faced’ Haslingden flag is properties. the stone supply was inadequate from Hurdles Quarry on the hill Take a short detour, turn right into and the last 4 houses (121 – 127) above the mill, and was allegedly North Road. were built with distinctly different, delivered by aerial ropeway. much coarser gritstone from the small quarry near Jack Lodge. 23 Hareholme Primitive Retrace your route back to Methodist Chapel, Bacup Road Waterfoot centre cross Bacup – now ‘Coolers’ Built in 1873, it Road and from Waterfoot Bridge was planned and superintended look southwards over the River by John Wilde of Oldham. The Irwell. The view is a complex of stonework is mostly ‘pitch-faced’ little bridges, ‘back-landings’ of Haslingden Flag, with gritstone Haslingden Flagstones and railings arching, door surrounds and

9 25 North Road (former) Continue along the right hand Return to Kay Street, turn left and Wesleyan Methodist side of Bacup Road passing three then left into Bank Street. Chapel. Burnley architect terraces with dated gable ends. William Waddington designed These show progressive infill of 28 National Westminster the chapel, dated 1874. The workers’ housing in the industrial Bank, 36 Bank Street, stone is Haslingden Flag, with heyday – Rose Vale Cottages 1875, Rawtenstall. A striking corner gritstone smooth ashlar stringers Prosperity Cottages 1879, Green edifice, built in 1868. The architects and window arches. Mr. Walton Bank 1880 – all built from ‘pitch- were Mills and Murgatroyd and of Horncliffe was contractor and faced’ Haslingden Flag. contractors Messrs Moore Bros Ltd builder, and as he owned Horncliffe Rawtenstall. The base blocks are Quarries, this is the probable stone After Rawtenstall Cricket ground gritstone from Fletcher Bank Quarry source. turn right into Kay Street and left on the Rossendale – Bury boundary Return to Bacup Road and into Annie Street. (stone from here was used to repair continue. Manchester Cathedral). The main 27 Warehouse in Annie decorative stone is York Stone, 26 St John’s (City Shoes) 204 Street, T.E. Mansergh’s. Plans favoured by architects because it Bacup Road. Architects Paley, were drawn up for the warehouse is easier to carve. Polished granite Austin and Paley designed the in 1896 for Messrs Hutchinson dressings and door surrounds are a church in 1889-90. Stonework is Bros who worked the stone mines very attractive pink colour from the recorded as coursed local stone, at Rake Head, Stacksteads, the Ross of Mull. and the texture is punch faced in a probable source of the stone. The ‘snecked’ arrangement (inserts of ‘pitch-faced’ stonework is blue- Turn left down Bank Street and smaller stones). The dressings are grey and looks like the hardest of use the road crossing aiming at St recorded as York stone, but appear any of the stone on the trail – the Mary’s Church. Go up the Church to be local gritstone in a smooth famed ‘lonkey’ stone, showing Pad by the side of the church. ashlar. hardly any wear.

10 Go into Henry Street then first left – actually Fletcher Bank Grit – at into St. Mary’s Place: Holly Mount (currently at the back west end of Asda car park). 29 10 St. Mary’s Place. The district’s best urban set of the local style of flag fencing – using upright flagstones as land dividers and taking up as little space as possible.

30) High quality It is found at Holly Mount, in a masonry from considerable depth, and was Horncliffe quarry worked there from 1820-1845 – The Queen Hotel, the Church, the 30 Hardman Business Centre Parsonage, a number of buildings (New Hall Hey Mill), New Hall at New Hall Hey, a part of the house Hey Road. This listed building of at Holly Mount and the mills of 1862 is the highest quality stone belonging to Messrs Whitehead in built mill for miles around. Serious Rawtenstall Fold were built out of fires had damaged previous this rock - The stone is excellent. mills on the site, and the owner Hardman was determined to have …go under the subway to the a fireproof mill, and employed top south side of Bury Road. Shortly quality masons. Owd Williams 29) The best urban past East Lancs Railway Station was the architect and regarded set of flag fences Return down Church Pad… turn right into New Hall Hey Road. it as one of his hardest jobs, as Continue over the level crossing to the foundations of the chimney A recently discovered document of the final plaque: are partly rafted on quicksand. 1877 by geologist J. Spencer states The Haslingden Flag came from Rawtenstall’s key early buildings Horncliffe Quarry, Rawtenstall, and were quarried from Millstone Grit the contract specifications for the stone survived.

11 Acknowledgements: Groundwork Sources: Borough of Bacup Minutes; Borough of Rawtenstall Minutes Pennine Lancashire is very grateful Ensum, J. Bacup Mill Trail pub. Rossendale Groundwork Trust c.1985 to the owners of the properties for Hartwell, C. and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of : Lancashire North 2009 allowing plaques to be installed Taylor, J.B. Stories in Stone: Datestones in Rossendale 1988 and the Heritage Lottery Fund for financial support.

For many relevant press cuttings and articles: the late John Davies and the late John B. Taylor. Grateful thanks are also due to John Simpson, Neil Caygill, Trish Kenny, Mike Rothwell and Steve Walker.

For any further information contact: Groundwork Pennine Lancashire Nova Scotia Wharf, 193 Bolton Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 3GE Tel: 01254 669060 Email: [email protected]