Stacksteads Mill was built in 1833 by Robert Munn and his brother John whilst John Munn looked after the family mill in Manchester Robert Munn remained in the area to manage the local mills such as Irwell Mill.

Robert Munn was known to have strong objections to the Ten Hour Factory Act Bill which restricted the hours of labour of women and children aged 13-18 to 10 hours a day and not more than 58 hours a week.  Robert Munn had also been one of ten people who had signed a petition against the Public Health Act of 1848 for  Bacup. Munns was however one of the first firms in the area to install a fire engine and brigade known as The Prince Albert, the engine was horse drawn and was a manual pump. In 1882 the weaving shed  was put up for sale and was bought in 1884 by Mr George Ormerod who reopened the weaving shed of the mill in 1885.  The spinning parts of Stacksteads mill  became home to various businesses including  cycle manufacturer Messer's A. Ashworth & Sons in 1898 who according to the Bacup Times of February 1898 displayed two of their cycles in the window of Stacksteads furniture dealer Messer's Worswick. In 1917 Ormerods shed had been sold to the British Clog Company. In 1928 the mill was sold to Bacup Shoe Company.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accidents and Fires at Stacksteads Mill.

 

July 1879  A mule room operative caught his arm in the machinery resulting in the flesh being completely stripped from his arm.

 

May 1906 George Ormerod was summoned for breach of The Factory Act,  namely unfenced machinery.

 

June 1911 George Ormerod  summoned for permitting excessive humidity in his weaving shed.

 

March 1914 The flag which was flying at half mast for the late Mr Wm. Mitchell of Fernhill was blown away during a gale and carried into the lodge at the back of the mill.

 

October 1917 A man named John Greenwood of Rochdale, employed by Messer's Charles Holt & Sons, a firm of contractors who were taking out the mill engine.

It seems the man Greenwood, was working on top of the engine landing when he fell backwards about 30ft to the floor below. Dr Falconer was called and dressed the mans wounds after which he was removed to Rochdale Infirmary.