The Cornmill - Revision history

PhilRadford: /* New Life in Upper Mill */

2026-10-27T16:07:32Z

New Life in Upper Mill

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 27 October 2026
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	=New Life in Upper Mill=		=New Life in Upper Mill=
	WORK IN PROGRESS<br>		'''WORK IN PROGRESS'''<br>


	A Section on Industrial rejuvenation 1890 to 1910<br>		A Section on Industrial rejuvenation 1890 to 1910<br>
	The vacant buildings became a series of small start up businesses, the water power now being used to drive a Saw Mill. The documentary evidence for this period is very limited, but some records did survive. Some of the Poor Law Tax and The Highways Tax records Midgley and for Warley have survived for this period and these give us a glimpse into what was going on. These give us a different perspective from the Census returns, Census shows who was living where but the Tax records show us who owned what and lists the tennants.<br>		The vacant buildings became a series of small start up businesses, the water power now being used to drive a Saw Mill. The documentary evidence for this period is very limited, but some records did survive. Some of the Poor Law Tax and The Highways Tax records Midgley and for Warley have survived for this period and these give us a glimpse into what was going on. These give us a different perspective from the Census returns, Census shows who was living where but the Tax records show us who owned what and lists the tennants.<br>

PhilRadford at 16:04, 27 October 2026

2026-10-27T16:04:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 27 October 2026
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	Julia died in 1946 at which time the remaining estate was sold bringing 83 years of Thompson ownership to an end.		Julia died in 1946 at which time the remaining estate was sold bringing 83 years of Thompson ownership to an end.

	====The Thompson Family - Benefactors of Luddenden====		===The Thompson Family - Benefactors of Luddenden===
	To be completed		To be completed

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	Donating money towards a new road bridge Boy Bridge (1882) across the river Calder at Luddendenfoot (Luddendenfoot Local Board).		Donating money towards a new road bridge Boy Bridge (1882) across the river Calder at Luddendenfoot (Luddendenfoot Local Board).

	=The Demise of The Cornmills=		==The Demise of The Cornmills==

	Industrialisation brought people to the valley, more than the local farmers could feed.		Industrialisation brought people to the valley, more than the local farmers could feed.

PhilRadford: /* Upper Mill and The Thompson Family */

2026-10-27T16:00:11Z

Upper Mill and The Thompson Family

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:00, 27 October 2026
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	* William Henry Thompson (b.1817), one sixth share.		* William Henry Thompson (b.1817), one sixth share.

			[https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC01688%2f9%2f3&pos=10 This is mentioned ] in an 1863 document when Robert Thompson bought out some of the other share holders, but the original document has not survived.

	George, Robert and William Henry Thompson were brothers.		George, Robert and William Henry Thompson were brothers.
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	At this stage Robert is employing 2 men according to the 1861 census.		At this stage Robert is employing 2 men according to the 1861 census.

	In 1863, Robert bought William Henry's [https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC01688%2f9%2f3&pos=1) Share in the mill] for £1000.		As mentioned earlier, in 1863, Robert bought William Henry's [https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC01688%2f9%2f3&pos=1) Share in the mill] for £1000.

	By 1871, Robert and his family had moved to Carrfield (which was built for them?) and he is employing 11 men at Upper Mill.		By 1871, Robert and his family had moved to Carrfield (which was built for them?) and he is employing 11 men at Upper Mill.
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	But then, the family suffers some set backs, both of Robert and Hannah's sons died. George died in 1882 and Arthur the older son died in 1899. George's only son Frederick William died in 1894.		But then, the family suffers some set backs, both of Robert and Hannah's sons died. George died in 1882 and Arthur the older son died in 1899. George's only son Frederick William died in 1894.

	All of this is recorded on the family memorial in Luddenden Cemetery~~, the~~ monument, a tall obelisk with a pink granite top is easily located and is situated to the north side of the chapel of rest.		All of this is recorded on the family memorial in Luddenden Cemetery. The monument, a tall obelisk with a pink granite top is easily located and is situated to the north side of the chapel of rest.

	This left the family with a big problem as there were no males left to succeed Arthur and no one to run the business.		This left the family with a big problem as there were no males left to succeed Arthur and no one to run the business.

	Whether through a fall in demand ~~for milled oats and wheat or~~ through a lack of leadership, the mill ceased to produce flour in the early 1890's ~~and the~~ Thompson heirs ~~rented~~ out ~~sections of~~ Upper Mill to people with new business ventures or for businesses requiring additional space for expansion. The mill in effect became an industrial estate.		Whether through a fall in demand, through a lack of leadership or simply because the mill was too small and too remote, no chance of bulk deliveries as it was remote from the canals and railways. And mills were getting bigger and steam powered and started moving to cities and then to ports as more grain was imported. Small mills could no longer compete.<br>
	On the death of Robert's wife Hannah in 1905 the estate was left to Robert and Hannah's two daughters Mary and Julia, all the male heirs having died.
	~~To add to the family woes,~~ Mary ~~Thompson~~ lost two of ~~her~~ sons in World War One, John Oscar and Albert Louis Thompson.		The mill ceased to produce flour in the early 1890's. The Thompson heirs decided to rent out Upper Mill to people with new business ventures or for businesses requiring additional space for expansion. The mill in effect became an industrial estate.<br>

			On the death of Robert's wife Hannah in 1905 the estate was left to Robert and Hannah's two daughters Mary and Julia, all the male heirs having died.<br>

			Mary had married her cousin Albert (John William's son).
			They lost two of their sons in World War One, John Oscar and Albert Louis Thompson (both commemorated on the Family monument in Luddenden Cemetery).<br>

			Julia married Young Horsfall but he too dies in 1894.

	~~To be continued...~~ Mary ~~had married her cousin Albert (John William~~'s ~~son) and Julia had married Young Horsefall - he died 1894~~.		When Mary died in 1931, Julia was the sole heir of Robert's estate.<br>

	~~When Mary died in 1931, Julia was the sole heir of Robert's estate.~~		Julia died in 1946 at which time the remaining estate was sold bringing 83 years of Thompson ownership to an end.
	Julia died in 1946 at which time the remaining estate was sold.

	====The Thompson Family - Benefactors of Luddenden====		====The Thompson Family - Benefactors of Luddenden====

PhilRadford: /* Upper Mill and The Thompson Family */

2026-10-27T15:40:22Z

Upper Mill and The Thompson Family

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 27 October 2026
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	== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==		== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==

	~~In 1856~~, Upper Mill was Sold to:		Shortly after the proposed Limited Asset Company idea was suggested, Upper Mill was Sold (1856) to:

	* George Thompson , one third share.		* George Thompson , one third share.
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	The 1871 census shows that he is employing 16 men and 2 boys.		The 1871 census shows that he is employing 16 men and 2 boys.
	By 1881 he's employing 30 men and 2 boys and in 1891 he's retired and living in Southport where he spent the rest of his days.		By 1881 he's employing 30 men and 2 boys and in 1891 he's retired and living in Southport where he spent the rest of his days.
	[[File:WH Thompson Invoices with kind Permission of Wayne Ogden.png\|centre\|500px\|thumb\| Best flour,Thirds, Bran, Spicemeal and Rolled Oats are on these invoices]]		[[File:WH Thompson Invoices with kind Permission of Wayne Ogden.png\|centre\|500px\|thumb\| Best flour, Thirds, Bran, Spicemeal and Rolled Oats are on these invoices]]

	These invoices remind us that wheat was not the only cereal to be processed in the mill. The staple crop in the Pennines was Oats, not wheat, [[The Cornmill#Wheat, Oats and Barley but no Corn\| so what did the Cornmill produce?]]		These invoices remind us that wheat was not the only cereal to be processed in the mill. The staple crop in the Pennines was Oats, not wheat, [[The Cornmill#Wheat, Oats and Barley but no Corn\| so what did the Cornmill produce?]]

PhilRadford: /* Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company */

2026-10-20T10:27:26Z

Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:27, 20 October 2026
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	Or perhaps this gave The Thompson family the push they needed to make an offer for the business as this consortium would have had an option to buy as part of their lease agreement!		Or perhaps this gave The Thompson family the push they needed to make an offer for the business as this consortium would have had an option to buy as part of their lease agreement!

	[[File:Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company.jpg\|thumb\|center\|~~400px~~]]<br>		[[File:Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company.jpg\|thumb\|center\|600px]]<br>

	== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==		== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==

PhilRadford: /* Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company */

2026-10-20T10:22:31Z

Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:22, 20 October 2026
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	==Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company==		==Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company==

	With no buyer for the Cornmill, a group of local businessmen tried to take over the day to day running by Setting up a company using the 1855 Limited Liability Act which as the name suggests restricted the exposure ~~that~~ the prospective shareholders ~~were exposed too~~ by making sure that any creditors from the original business couldn't pursue ~~these new shareholders~~.<br>		With no buyer for the Cornmill, a group of local businessmen tried to take over the day to day running by Setting up a company using the 1855 Limited Liability Act (which as the name suggests restricted the exposure of the prospective shareholders by making sure that any creditors from the original business couldn't pursue them).<br>

	The Newspaper Article (Halifax Courier 3rd Nov 1855) advertises their intention, but no further documentation exists for this venture, so one suspects that insufficient interest was generated for this proposed company and the idea was dropped.<br>		The Newspaper Article (Halifax Courier 3rd Nov 1855) advertises their intention, but no further documentation exists for this venture, so one suspects that insufficient interest was generated for this proposed company and the idea was dropped.<br>

	Or perhaps this gave The Thompson family the push they needed to make an offer for the business ~~before~~ this consortium ~~took a short term lease with the~~ option to buy ~~the business~~!		Or perhaps this gave The Thompson family the push they needed to make an offer for the business as this consortium would have had an option to buy as part of their lease agreement!

	[[File:Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company.jpg\|thumb\|center\|400px]]<br>		[[File:Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company.jpg\|thumb\|center\|400px]]<br>


	== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==		== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==

PhilRadford: /* The Last Days of Murgatroyd Control */

2026-10-20T08:50:58Z

The Last Days of Murgatroyd Control

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:50, 20 October 2026
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	Twenty-one lots were put up for auction at the Murgatroyd Arms on 19th July 1854. Neither of the Mills sold on the day, but both change hands shortly afterwards.		Twenty-one lots were put up for auction at the Murgatroyd Arms on 19th July 1854. Neither of the Mills sold on the day, but both change hands shortly afterwards.

	[[File:1854 auction cover sheet.JPG\|thumb\|500px\|~~centre~~\|1854 Auction. Original courtesy of John Vaul]]		[[File:1854 auction cover sheet.JPG\|thumb\|500px\|center\|1854 Auction. Original courtesy of John Vaul]]<br>


	A full description of the lots going under the hammer was advertised in the [[Newspaper Cuttings#The 1854 Auction listing in the Halifax Courier\| Halifax Courier.]]		A full description of the lots going under the hammer was advertised in the [[Newspaper Cuttings#The 1854 Auction listing in the Halifax Courier\| Halifax Courier.]]
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	And here is the description of this plot from The Halifax Courier (Saturday 8th July 1854).		And here is the description of this plot from The Halifax Courier (Saturday 8th July 1854).

	[[File:Lot 14 and 15.png\|~~left~~\|		[[File:Lot 14 and 15.png\|center\|
	thumb]]		thumb]]
	The Waterwheel has been replaced by a small Steam engine, (The Uppermill has been fitted with a larger water wheel and there is no longer enough water to power both mills). It is still operating as a Corn Mill but it is recognised that Lower Mill would easily convert into a Worsted Mill and easy to expand.		The Waterwheel has been replaced by a small Steam engine, (The Uppermill has been fitted with a larger water wheel and there is no longer enough water to power both mills). It is still operating as a Corn Mill but it is recognised that Lower Mill would easily convert into a Worsted Mill and easy to expand.

	The land of Lot 14 is labelled as 'Holme' and it extends as far as the next weir on the brook. This whole area is now occupied by Blue Bell Walk. The field above Lower Mill, Lot 15 is labelled as 'Bank'. The Eastwood family bought both Lot 14 and 15 in about 1856 and immediately started to convert and extend this mill from a Corn Mill into a sizable woollen mill. A full transcript of this newspaper article can be viewed [[Newspaper Cuttings#The 1854 Auction listing in the Halifax Courier\| here.]]		The land of Lot 14 is labelled as 'Holme' and it extends as far as the next weir on the brook. This whole area is now occupied by Blue Bell Walk. The field above Lower Mill, Lot 15 is labelled as 'Bank'. The Eastwood family bought both Lot 14 and 15 in about 1856 and immediately started to convert and extend this mill from a Corn Mill into a sizable woollen mill. A full transcript of this newspaper article can be viewed [[Newspaper Cuttings#The 1854 Auction listing in the Halifax Courier\| here.]]<br>

	==Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company==		==Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company==

PhilRadford: /* THE CORNMILL AFTER 1854 */

2026-10-20T08:47:25Z

THE CORNMILL AFTER 1854

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:47, 20 October 2026
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	The land of Lot 14 is labelled as 'Holme' and it extends as far as the next weir on the brook. This whole area is now occupied by Blue Bell Walk. The field above Lower Mill, Lot 15 is labelled as 'Bank'. The Eastwood family bought both Lot 14 and 15 in about 1856 and immediately started to convert and extend this mill from a Corn Mill into a sizable woollen mill. A full transcript of this newspaper article can be viewed [[Newspaper Cuttings#The 1854 Auction listing in the Halifax Courier\| here.]]		The land of Lot 14 is labelled as 'Holme' and it extends as far as the next weir on the brook. This whole area is now occupied by Blue Bell Walk. The field above Lower Mill, Lot 15 is labelled as 'Bank'. The Eastwood family bought both Lot 14 and 15 in about 1856 and immediately started to convert and extend this mill from a Corn Mill into a sizable woollen mill. A full transcript of this newspaper article can be viewed [[Newspaper Cuttings#The 1854 Auction listing in the Halifax Courier\| here.]]

	~~Below is~~ a ~~hand traced copy~~ of the ~~previous map~~, ~~highlighting Lot 13. This copy is part of a document drawn up in 1856 when Upper Mill~~ was ~~sold by Hartley~~ and ~~John Murgatroyd~~ to the ~~Thompsons and their partner, Joseph Starkey (who bought~~ a ~~third share in~~ the ~~mill)~~.		==Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company==

			With no buyer for the Cornmill, a group of local businessmen tried to take over the day to day running by Setting up a company using the 1855 Limited Liability Act which as the name suggests restricted the exposure that the prospective shareholders were exposed too by making sure that any creditors from the original business couldn't pursue these new shareholders.<br>
			The Newspaper Article (Halifax Courier 3rd Nov 1855) advertises their intention, but no further documentation exists for this venture, so one suspects that insufficient interest was generated for this proposed company and the idea was dropped.<br>

			Or perhaps this gave The Thompson family the push they needed to make an offer for the business before this consortium took a short term lease with the option to buy the business!

			[[File:Luddenden District Union Flour and Malt Company.jpg\|thumb\|center\|400px]]<br>

	~~[[File:Detail of Upper Mill.jpg\|centre\|thumb\|1000px\|Original courtesy of John Vaul]]~~

	== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==		== Upper Mill and The Thompson Family ==
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	William Thompson (b.1786) was their father and he had an established Corn Milling business based at one of the Mills at Luddendenfoot. There were two mills on Luddenden Brook, one roughly where The Weaver's pub is situated and the other on the opposite bank. One was a woollen Mill, the other a Cornmill but the OS map of the time does not indicate which is which. The Thompson family was living at Middle foot in the 1841 census.<br>		William Thompson (b.1786) was their father and he had an established Corn Milling business based at one of the Mills at Luddendenfoot. There were two mills on Luddenden Brook, one roughly where The Weaver's pub is situated and the other on the opposite bank. One was a woollen Mill, the other a Cornmill but the OS map of the time does not indicate which is which. The Thompson family was living at Middle foot in the 1841 census.<br>


			Below is a hand traced copy of the previous map, highlighting Lot 13. This copy is part of a document drawn up in 1856 when Upper Mill was sold by Hartley and John Murgatroyd to the Thompsons and their partner, Joseph Starkey (who bought a third share in the mill).

			[[File:Detail of Upper Mill.jpg\|centre\|thumb\|1000px\|Original courtesy of John Vaul]]
	===George Thompson (b.1806)===		===George Thompson (b.1806)===
	The eldest child, we know little about him. He was single and was living at Denholme in the 1851 census with brother James. Both are listed as Cornmillers. He was living at Bankfield on or near Danny Lane in the 1861 Census by which time he had a third share in the Cornmill at Luddenden and is listed as employing 20 men on the census. By the 1871 census he had retired but was still at Bankfield.<br>		The eldest child, we know little about him. He was single and was living at Denholme in the 1851 census with brother James. Both are listed as Cornmillers. He was living at Bankfield on or near Danny Lane in the 1861 Census by which time he had a third share in the Cornmill at Luddenden and is listed as employing 20 men on the census. By the 1871 census he had retired but was still at Bankfield.<br>

PhilRadford: /* A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WARLEY SOKE MILL */

2026-09-16T14:02:44Z

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WARLEY SOKE MILL

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 16 September 2026
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	Upper Mill was sold in the 1850's to the Thompson family who continued to mill grain here until the 1890's. Their milling interests then focussed on their other mill at Denholme Mill on Burnley Road and new tenants were sought for the buildings here in the village.<br>		Upper Mill was sold in the 1850's to the Thompson family who continued to mill grain here until the 1890's. Their milling interests then focussed on their other mill at Denholme Mill on Burnley Road and new tenants were sought for the buildings here in the village.<br>

	Lower Mill was also sold in the 1850's.The Eastwood family, who already owned mills in the valley converted it into a Woollen Mill. The Eastwood's were bankrupted shortly afterwards and the building changed hands again, being bought by the Thompson family. They rented it out as a woollen Mill and later (~~1910~~-20's) it became a garment sewing shop, run by Dickinson Brothers of Hebden Bridge. Finally it became part of Lindley's Nut & Bolt Factory.<br>		Lower Mill was also sold in the 1850's.The Eastwood family, who already owned mills in the valley converted it into a Woollen Mill. The Eastwood's were bankrupted shortly afterwards and the building changed hands again, being bought by the Thompson family. They rented it out as a woollen Mill and later (1890's-1920's) it became a garment sewing shop, run by Dickinson Brothers of Hebden Bridge. Finally it became part of Lindley's Nut & Bolt Factory.<br>
	Lindley's started their business in Upper Mill in the late 1890's and gradually expanded across the road to Lower Mill and finally onto the plot of land by the river which was known as The Holme.<br>		Lindley's started their business in Upper Mill in the late 1890's and gradually expanded across the road to Lower Mill and finally onto the plot of land by the river which was known as The Holme.<br>
	The site became derelict when Lindley's shut. In the 1990's, the site was transformed into the housing estate, Blue Bell Walk.<br>		The site became derelict when Lindley's shut. In the 1990's, the site was transformed into the housing estate, Blue Bell Walk.<br>

PhilRadford: /* INTRODUCTION */

2026-09-16T13:57:55Z

INTRODUCTION

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 16 September 2026
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	<td>The buildings known today as The Cornmill are the last surviving parts of Luddenden's two historic Cornmills.<br><br>		<td>The buildings known today as The Cornmill are the last surviving parts of Luddenden's two historic Cornmills.<br><br>
	The Luddenden Cornmills were owned on and off by The Murgatroyd family since the first recorded mill in 1274. Originally known as the ~~Warkey~~ Soke Mill, there is a lot of published information about their early history (including [https://familymurgatroyd.com/mill.htm Luddenden Mills]). This article will concentrate on the post-Murgatroyd days, that is from 1854 onwards.<br>		The Luddenden Cornmills were owned on and off by The Murgatroyd family since the first recorded mill in 1274. Originally known as the Warley Soke Mill, there is a lot of published information about their early history (including [https://familymurgatroyd.com/mill.htm Luddenden Mills]). This article will concentrate on the post-Murgatroyd days, that is from 1854 onwards.<br>
	But here's a recap of the mill's early history:</td><td>		But here's a recap of the mill's early history:</td><td>
	[[File:The Cornmill 3 Storey Block.jpg\|thumb\|The Oldest surviving part of The Cornmill was rebuilt in the early 1800's]]</td></table>		[[File:The Cornmill 3 Storey Block.jpg\|thumb\|The Oldest surviving part of The Cornmill was rebuilt in the early 1800's]]</td></table>