Featuring Some of Bacup's Past Residents.

Extracts From A Article Published In The Bacup Times May 20th 1916

BACUP OLD LANDMARKS

By James Ogden

We now come to the once familiar faces at Mashwood. There was Thomas Fielding the noted plasterer

and painter, who had a wide and deserving reputation, employing a large number of assistants. For some years his foreman was Jordan Pilling, who commenced business on his own account. Fielding had a fairly numerous family, two only now remaining both now widows and  the business is now conducted by three brothers children of his son John. Then there was James Pilling,  or Henry known as

"Th owd bugler", formerly a member of the old reed band, etc. his sons being John, Richard and George Henry the famous bass vocalist and lead of the Temperance Prize Choir, which proved so successful at the Crystal Palace  some twenty years ago. James Grime, formerly a block cutter and designer, who married one of the Townsend's and father of James Grime now residing near Stubylee Hall.

 Captain Collinge, plasterer for several years in partnership with Rudman Shackleton, who when a young man was engaged to the eldest daughter of his master  Fielding, but she sickened and died about her twenty first year, next door, John and George Lord carters, and afterwards William Robertshaw oatcake baker, occupied the house and his widow still resides there, all the children but one being married. Then there was John Trickett for many years a colliery banksman and long a leading official of Zion chapel and superintendent of the Sunday school. Next door was Thomas Parkinson , son of old John Parkinson owner of former Rockliffe size works, and the wife of Thomas was a sister of George Hey son of Old Ben Hey of Broadclough the weather prophet. Three of Parkinson's children are still living. John being for many years chief inspector for a company of boiler insurers and resides at Newport. The eldest daughter resides ion the neighbourhood of Ashton, and Mrs Mottram at Lytham. Two doors away was Charles Todd, Grocer, who erected Freeholds Mill, Shawforth. John Coupe going into  the shop having married an aunt of Mrs Todd. It will be remembered that Mrs Todd was a daughter of Joshua Hoyle, cotton manufacturer, the originator of the firm of Joshua Hoyle and Sons. The eldest daughter of Todd married Thomas Owen, M .P., the head of the firm of Evans and Company general furnishers and drapers  at Bath whose business premises occupied the whole of  a terrace about the length of St James street. In addition he had paper mills and other undertakings in Wales and extensive saw mills in Norway and Sweden. Joshua Hoyle Todd, who resides at Bowden, Cheshire, is the owner of several pieces of property in his native town and is occasionally to be seen in his native  streets of his boyhood. The next house to the shop was occupied by Samuel Robertshaw ( Sam Slutch )  who in his day filled many  parts, that of a collier, a weaver, builder of houses, a chimney sweep, besides making a voyage to Australia. His neighbour was George W. Mathewman, who was in the employ of E.M.Wright, solicitor and who during the sixties was the conservative election agent.

Four old buildings adjoined Matthewmans house, one of which was occupied by a joiner named Rushton, who had married a daughter of " Old Bugler " and if one remembers rightly they removed to Hull. Another had George Howarth as a tenant. He was employed in the mill, was musically inclined and erected an organ for use at home, he being organist at one of the chapels. These buildings were pulled down, and new ones put up, the whole block of about a dozen belonging to the family of the late Rev. W. Whitworth, of St Saviours. Above these resided Thomas Brown printer and stationer who commenced to publish the " Bacup Times " in 1865. He had three sons and two daughters, John and George going to America, both of whom are dead. William who when younger had inclinations to be a missionary went to Africa, where he afterwards married. His eldest sister recently died in the south of England and the youngest Mrs John Heys resides in Accrington where the youngest son is a cashier in a bank Dr Heys is in Burnley.  Next door resided George Gowers, joiner and a fine old gentleman and much respected. He had three sons, Allen being managing clerk for E.M.Wright solicitor. but died when quite young leaving two sons. Herbert a printer in Wigan and Fred who was a candidate for Greens ward  of the Bacup town council a few years ago. For a few years Gowers neighbour was John Kenworthy manager of Irwell Mills, his son Munn Kenworthy being also employed there the proprietor being R Munn of Heath Hill, being brother in law to the elder Kenworthy. In the same house for some years also resided John Kenyon, waste dealer and  sharebroker, who also acted as property agent to the executors of the Rev. W. Whitworth though he served a apprenticeship in shoemaking and continued in that business some years after his marriage. The came James Barker millwright who erected the Henrietta Street Iron works where his five sons were employed  William, James, John, Robert and Edwin. At Lark Hill or  " The Turn" was Mrs Ashworth, with her sons John and William , who were in the counting house of Irwell Mill one marrying a sister of  Robert Schofield, registrar of births and deaths and who on the death of her husband removed to Southport.

This house was afterwards occupied by John Cowpe just mentioned and other families. Next door resided James Hoyle, mechanic a brother of Samuel Hoyle also a mechanic and mill manager who removed to Burnley. At Lark Hill resided Daniel Baron., owner of Throstle Mill who was followed by Mr Wright which was burnt down one Sunday morning about the summer of 1852-1853 shortly afterwards Daniel sickened and passed away. His two sons, Edmund and John Henry were employed for a while by John Maden and son. Captain Aitken resided next door, prior to removing to Lane End, being followed by Hargreaves Haworth cotton manufacturer. In a portion of Lark Hill about this time also resided John and Jacob Grimshaw relatives of the famous vicar of Haworth before the Brontes went there. Jacob was bookeeper at Rockliffe Mill prior to Forest mill being built.

William Heyworth and his two sons Roger and George

 William Heyworth was more commonly known as Bill O'Rogers, in 1827 he and his two sons Roger and George were executed at Lancaster Assizes  for several offences, namely Sheepstealing, Highway robbery and Burglary. Bill's son in law John Jackson was transported for life. The family were so notorious for their crimes a song was written about them and sung by the local folks of Bacup.

A handloom weaver by the name of  James Fielden " Owd Jim" who lived at Law Clough Farm with his son and daughter was disturbed one night by  sounds of his daughter crying out from the kitchen below. Jumping out of bed he confronted burglars coming up the stairs. Grabbing one of his weaving tools the "drying iron" he quickly set about the masked burglars, who loudly threatened to take the lives of all in the house. Undeterred "Owd Jim " continued his fight with Heyworth and his son Roger, George the youngest son having stayed downstairs keeping watch over the young mistress Fielden. Father and son Heyworth having overpowered "Old Jim" bound and tied him to the bed. Believing the whole family would be murdered " Owd Jims" son had escaped by climbing up through the bedroom chimney across the low roof and running to the nearest neighbours. Downstairs in the kitchen young George Heyworth's mask had slipped  aside at which point the young mistress Fielden recognised him as the young man she had danced with a few hours before at the New Inn on Rochdale Road.

Keeping the realisation to herself she said nothing until the burglars had left the house taking with them the only booty they had found the  weekly butter money. Through her identification Heyworth, his two sons and son in law John Jackson were immediately taken into custody and charge with burglary and attempted murder at Law Head Farm. Heyworth's house in St James Street was searched and articles belonging to Fielden were found along with other property, which gave a clue to many other burglaries and robberies in the Cliviger, Rossendale and Whitworth valleys. In the house were also discovered several sheepskins, which were identified by a a local farmer named Nuttall, as having , as shown by the marks, been those sheep stolen from his farm. Shortly afterwards Jackson made a full confession of all the burglaries, highway robberies and other offences committed by the gang in co-partnery. Some of the person robbed on the highway, were Mr Robert Whittaker, of Bacup grandfather of the late Dr Whittaker, J.P a county magistrate., and "Jim Blacksmith" otherwise known as James Taylor one of the local constables, or " Charlie's" as the local constabulary were known then.

Heyworth and his two sons Roger and George the latter only 19 at the time of his execution, were tried at the Autumn Assizes at Lancaster and were executed shortly after their trial, on 9th September 1827. Jackson was transported for life only being saved from execution by his willingness to confess. It is said that as the sentence was passed  young George who many people felt had been led astray by his family and therefore gained some sympathy for his plight shook his fist and called out to his brother in law Jackson "  Oh! Jack, Thous, done all this".

Father Heyworth left a detailed will  and instructions with his wife on how she should dispose of his property after his death. Rogers wife continued to live in Bacup and was still in residence 40 years later in 1867.

John Pickup

Known as " Old Baromy" father of Lord Pickup cashier at the Co-Op, was of a cheery , genial and pleasant countenance. John was a Weaver at Forest Mill. He was a keen entomologist and was well known for the dexterity he wielded with a penknife. Mr Pickup

was a patron of the Walking Stick Club which had about 30 members. Each member had to have a walking stick that was a totally different shape to that of any other member, with some peculiar and awkward looking shapes coming out of this. ( Some of which can still be seen today in the Bacup Natural History Museum). Some of the stick had heads carved into he shapes of wild animals, reptiles and other beasts carved into he handles or down the stocks of the walking sticks. John Pickup died in 1868.

John Hardman

Or " John O' Dolly's to give him is more familiar name  who died while on a trip to Blackpool in September 1876, was a descendant of a long line of Hardmans, of North East Lancashire and the South West Riding of Yorkshire. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker at Todmorden, but afterwards returned to his parents house in St James Street. Where his parents kept a grocery and shoe store, and on the death of his father " Sam O' Rodgers"  and his mother "Dolly" Hardman, whose real name was Dorothy, he and his brother Amos continued for a time the business. Afterwards he became of the partners in the Old Clough  Mill as well as being a shareholder in several other limited concerns, and an owner of cottage property.

He was a keen politician and often walked in his younger days to distant towns to listen to orations by Fergus O'Connor, Frost, Ernest Jones, and Chartists. He was fond of company and a good tale. He left £50 to the Mechanics Institute and the same sum to Waterside which he attended. 

Betty Cockroft and Family

Betty Cockroft ran a shop in Yorkshire Street right across the road from the Green Man Hotel she was also owner of that block of property. The shop had then a very small front window with a rounded top as also had the door. Betty was a neat and tidy looking woman and was known to be wealthy. One of her daughters married Mr Richard smith cotton manufacturer of tong mill. Some of Betty's neighbours were  John Pollard, Barber whose shop was part of the Beer House known as the White Horse. The shop being taken over at a later date by Betty's son " Old James Cockcroft".  James ran the barbers business for a few years but eventually turned to drinking and loafing about. His children worked in the mill owned by his sisters husband which meant he had a small income from their earnings. However it was said that whatever money Cockroft had it all went in one direction. When he left home in the morning he would be clean washed and shaved, wearing a old black cravat and his clogs shined to perfection. Towards the end of his life he was known to stand in the street and lecture to himself  (if he could not get passers by to listen to him) the scriptures, Shakespeare or poetry. He was also known to make noises something between an Indian Wo-op and a shout, thrown up his arms and perform a miniature war dance.

A Few More

In Newchurch Road there lived old James Rothwell, grocer and grandfather to Mr J.B.Taylor, dentist a very old member of Irwell Terrace Baptist church. He was a heavily built man, very calm and collected, deliberate in all his actions.

Further down the road was Richard Hargreaves spar and clay pipe maker of Back King Street, he was grandfather to Levi Bolton wholesale Potatoe merchant. Further down still was Mr Anthony Ayrton " Old Ayrton" as he was nearly always called. In his younger days he had been a architect and had built the cottage properties known as Ayrtons Buildings. He was a scotch man and the terror of all doffers and youngsters in that neighbourhood, when he was near them. On his death his property was left to a niece who had resided with her uncle and aunt from childhood. When the niece died the property was sold.

The Toll Keepers

Just before the end of 1881 the turnpike roads were freed from all Toll fares, the Bacup Toll house at the bottom of Todmorden Road was kept by Mr John Calvert who was also cashier and collector for the whole district. A member of the Society Of Friends he would walk every Sunday to Crawshawbooth in order to attend the services at the Friends Meeting house.

At Sharneyford  " Old Malley" collected the tolls and, was also popular with travellers to whom she would sell for a small charge her home made Gingerbread.

At the Broadclough toll bar was " Old Billy Colbert" father of Mr Thomas Colbert choir conductor and grandfather of Mr Lever Colbert flock dresser of Waterfoot. William or Billy was a good natured man who took up his spare time by making hand made shoes.

Rockliffe toll bar was kept by John Pilling " Old Jobber Pilling " who at times was a kind of fisherman, using lime to blind the fish. His second son John county court under bailiff was better known for running with the hounds.

Robert Ashworth or " Road Bob" was the keeper of the Height Barn toll bar at Newline, but later had charge of the Underbank toll bar at Broadclough.

Mad Ab

Was a well known Bacup figure, born in Todmorden about 1823 he had several jobs one of which was selling oatcakes, and going from door to door selling milk. His real name was Abraham Dewhurst. Originally he started work as a weaver and was by all accounts a good and conscientious worker. At some point Abraham became rather

 inattentive and lost his job, it is said that his eccentricity was due to unrequited love. He was usually seen chewing on the collar of his coat or on a piece of sacking and. Abraham however was very thrifty with his money and bought very little food, instead he would wait until the end of various parties held at the Mechanics Institute or school and then go in and make a bid for the left over crusts of bread, sometime taking away two wicker baskets full of food. In his latter days Abraham would pick up anything out of the streets that he thought useful such as pins, nails bits of iron or wood and take them home. He quite often sported a old sack which he wore slung across his shoulders, his cap tilted on one side of his head  and his trousers tied up under his knees. Tied around his waist would be his walking stick which can still be seen today in the Bacup Nat. Abraham had relatives living away from Bacup and when Abraham became ill in 1892 they were eventually contacted. Two well to do ladies arrived with fresh line and food for Abraham and though he eventually agreed for them to care for him with the lined and food he refused to leave his home and go with them to theirs to be looked after. Abraham died in the Union Workhouse in Haslingden in October 1892 and was buried in Todmorden.

A few inhabitants of Todmorden Road

Mr Thomas Barrowclough, John Lord farmer of Tong , Benjamin Thomas " Benny Mark".

James Ashworth Grocer at " Top o'th Fold" who made a pile of money out of shopkeeping.

Old John Ashworth Clockmaker, who lived in a small house in Newgate, a complete master of his craft. He made clocks for several of the gentry around Rossendale, and his name was painted on every clock face. There was also George and John Townend, sons of old Townend of Tong. George at one time kept the Hare and Hounds in Yorkshire Street. A pleasant chap with a face as radiant as he harvest moon, who's wife was also said to be a gentle and kind person. John was appointed horse keeper by the local board, because his knowledge of horses was said to be the best  for miles around. Great friends of James Heywood Blacksmith who's smithy stood upon the old fair ground, close to the site of the Old Dungeon ( now known as the area of the old Bacup Health Centre ).  James was said to be courteous to all and every inch a man. With a good sense of humour and delighted by  children.

Henry Kerr

For many years Mr Kerr was editor of the Bacup and Rossendale News, and during his lifetime in Bacup contributed many articles on bird life to the Newcastle Chronicle, The Manchester Guardian, and other newspapers. Mr Kerr was a native of Dumfries, Scotland. At one time he had a fine collection of bird eggs, on which subject and bird life generally he was a acknowledged expert.  Several years before his death the whole of his time was devoted to writing and stud of this kind of subject.