Heath Hill House

Heath Hill House was the home of Robert Munn. Of Scottish descent, Robert’s family fled to England during the Civil War. Born in Waterfoot in 1808 the family first settled in Manchester, farming land where today’s Deansgate now stands. It is thought that it was the friendship between the Munns and the Lord family of Broadclough that brought the Munns to settle in Rossendale.

In the year 1824, Robert entered into a partnership with his younger brother John in the cotton trade at Old Clough Mill, Irwell Springs. In 1826 the firm of Robert and John Munn fell foul to the power loom breakers who came to the valley from Chatterton to the source of the Irwell at Deerplay. In 1833, the firm built Stacksteads Mill better known by people today as what was once Bacup Shoe at Toll Bar. In 1838 they purchased Irwell Mill and in 1844 built Edge side Holme Mill at Newchurch.

Whilst John went off to look after the firm’s business in Manchester, Robert, who had built Heath Hill House between1834-1838, stayed to look after the business here in the valley, riding to and from the various establishments on horseback. Robert Munn qualified as a magistrate in 1847 and, on the death of James Whitaker of Broadclough Hall, he became chairman of the bench of justices for Rossendale.

Robert married Miss Margaret Howorth sister of Mr John Howorth of Bacup, and they had a family of two sons and five daughters, the eldest daughter Elizabeth eventually marrying John Whitaker of Broadclough Hall.

Various members of the Munn family occupied Heath Hill house until 1913 when the house was rented out to Dr Falconer the son of the vicar of Tunstead Holy Trinity Church who lived there until its demolition.