H. Lees and Sons
H. Lees and Sons of Park Bridge Iron Works, Ashton-under-Lyne, iron manufacturers, roller makers, and millwrights.
From the 17th century the Medlock valley had been extensively mined for coal.
1783 Business established by Samuel Lees.
1789 Lees built his first water powered mill, in the Medlock valley.
A Newcomen steam engine was installed to pump water from a 200 foot pit, at an area now called Fairbottom Bobs, named after the bobbing action of the beam engine.
1804 On his death the business was carried on by his widow, Hannah, under the title of H. Lees and Sons
1810 'SALE BY AUCTION, At the house of Edward Lees, the Globe Tavern, Ashton-underlyne, the county of Lancaster, on Wednesday the thirteenth day of June, 1810, ... All that capital Messuage or Dwelling-house, with suitable outbuildings, together with two cottages, and several fields closes parcels of land thereto belonging, containing together 3A 1q 12p of the measure there used or thereabouts, situate at a place called Dean, within Alt aforesaid, and late in the occupation Mr Samuel Lees, and of John Mellor, and Robert Lees, as undertenants thereof— And also, all that large Edifice or Building, Factory or Mill, situate at or near Dean aforesaid, 57 feet long 27 feet broad and three stories high, now in the occupation of Mrs Hannah Lees, and used for the purpose of making rollers; with the advantage of two falls of water, one upon the River Medlock of 13 feet and 8 inches, and other on Mumps Brook of upwards 30 feet. This lot is held on lease for lives under the Earl Stamford and Warrrington and will be sold for the two surviving lives in the lease, subject to a reserved rent of £19.
Lot 2. All those six substantial and well built Cottages or Dwellinghouses, situate in Alt, in the parish of Ashton-underlyne, at a place called tha, New Mills—And also—all that plot piece or of land, situate in Alt aforesaid being lately part of a close land there called the Mill Field, ...'[1]
1834 "OLDHAM, March 7. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. At one o'clock on Friday a shocking accident happened near Park-bridge, a roller making mill, in Knott-lanes, near Ashton-under-Line. Two branches of the river Medlock, forming a junction near the mill, and there being a pond above it, the building was expected to be flooded by the rains; accordingly, Thomas Buckley, the manager for Messrs. K. and S. Lees, proprietors of the shop, attempting to raise the flood gates of the dam, went upon a plank thrown across the water, which, yielding to his weight, broke, and precipitated him into the river, by the current of which he was hurried away. A blacksmith, named Daniel Rydall, caught hold of him, but was obliged to let him go, and found it difficult to preserve himself. The unfortunate man has not been discovered, though the river has been dragged in many parts. His shoes, napkin, and hat, it is reported, have been picked up at Waterhouses, two miles below Park-bridge. The deceased has left a wife and six children to lament his loss ; he was teacher in the Alt Sunday-school.'[2]. Same business?
By 1861 Samuel had stood back from running the business; John Lees was in charge but he then died.
1873 Samuel Lees (grandson of the founder) became head of the firm when his father Samuel Lees died in 1873
1884 Private company.
1891 Maker of rollers for the cotton, flax, woollen and silk machinery. [3]
1917 Advert. Rollers. Bar iron and steel forgings. Millwrights and ironfounders [4]
1961 Hot rolled bars, bright bars, textile and general engineering. 202 employees. [5]
c.1963 Park Bridge Iron Works was closed.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Manchester Mercury - Tuesday 29 May 1810
- ↑ Manchester Courier - Saturday 8 March 1834
- ↑ 1891 Worrall's Cotton Spinners Directory
- ↑ 1917 Worrall's Yorkshire Textile Directory Advert p172
- ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE