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Walshaw Drake became part of the Bulmer & Lumb Group in the mid to late 1950’s when the owner, Lloyd Walshaw was nearing retirement and sold out to company that had previously been a customer. Bulmer & Lumb later became part of the Allied Textile Company and most of the group business was transferred to the Bulmer & Lumb site at Buttershaw, Bradford. This signalled the death knell for the Rosemary Works and they were subsequently demolished after just over seventy years of use. The demolition was captured in the below photographs donated by Geoff English and houses were built on the site in 1997. Thus ended almost two hundred years of textile manufacturing on the site of the former Rosemary Park, Rastrick, a name that is almost lost in the mists of time.
At the bottom of Rosemary Lane, the road name changes to Brook Grain Hill. This ancient name comes from grein, an old Norse word meaning a junction or a place where two watercourses meet. There are two streams that meet near here, the first being the one we have just mentioned that helped to power the original water mill whilst a second stream rises from the ground in the fields at Moor Hey between Pinfold Lane and Ainley Top. This stream filled the dam at John Smith’s Mill near to the Sun Inn and then travelled under Badger Hill cricket field where it then filled the dam at Spout Mills. It continued its journey on the land between Tofts Grove and Crowtrees Lane, filling a third mill dam at Crowtrees Mill before going back underground beneath The Orchards, Castlefields Drive and Thornhill Road, where it joins the other stream near Brook Grain Hill. The two streams then flow under Bramston Street recreation ground to Bridge End where they empty into the Calder behind the railway arches at Rastrick bridge.Walshaw Drake became part of the Bulmer & Lumb Group in the mid to late 1950’s when the owner, Lloyd Walshaw was nearing retirement and sold out to company that had previously been a customer. Bulmer & Lumb later became part of the Allied Textile Company and most of the group business was transferred to the Bulmer & Lumb site at Buttershaw, Bradford. This signalled the death knell for the Rosemary Works and they were subsequently demolished after just over seventy years of use. The demolition was captured in the below photographs donated by Geoff English and houses were built on the site in 1997. Thus ended almost two hundred years of textile manufacturing on the site of the former Rosemary Park, Rastrick, a name that is almost lost in the mists of time. At the bottom of Rosemary Lane, the road name changes to Brook Grain Hill. This ancient name comes from grein, an old Norse word meaning a junction or a place where two watercourses meet. There are two streams that meet near here, the first being the one we have just mentioned that helped to power the original water mill whilst a second stream rises from the ground in the fields at Moor Hey between Pinfold Lane and Ainley Top. This stream filled the dam at John Smith’s Mill near to the Sun Inn and then travelled under Badger Hill cricket field where it then filled the dam at Spout Mills. It continued its journey on the land between Tofts Grove and Crowtrees Lane, filling a third mill dam at Crowtrees Mill before going back underground beneath The Orchards, Castlefields Drive and Thornhill Road, where it joins the other stream near Brook Grain Hill. The two streams then flow under Bramston Street recreation ground to Bridge End where they empty into the Calder behind the railway arches at Rastrick bridge.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·819 Views ·0 Reviews -
The firm managed to survive the disaster and a third mill was erected on the site. The three photographs below were also kindly donated by Dave Lister and show the replacement buildings in 1932 and the motor wagons that brought raw materials to the mill and delivered the finished products to their customers.The firm managed to survive the disaster and a third mill was erected on the site. The three photographs below were also kindly donated by Dave Lister and show the replacement buildings in 1932 and the motor wagons that brought raw materials to the mill and delivered the finished products to their customers.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·818 Views ·0 Reviews
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Walshaw Drake’s prospered as slubbing dyers but were hit by a huge fire on the 31st January 1923 when the above mill was destroyed. The two photographs below, kindly donated by Dave Lister, show the extent of the damage after the fire.Walshaw Drake’s prospered as slubbing dyers but were hit by a huge fire on the 31st January 1923 when the above mill was destroyed. The two photographs below, kindly donated by Dave Lister, show the extent of the damage after the fire.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·818 Views ·0 Reviews
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In 1859, George Hepworth, a local Brighouse architect received instructions from Joshua Garside Wilson to design a new mill at Rosemary which would meet the needs of his growing business. An advertisement was placed in the Huddersfield Chronicle on the 30th July where builders were invited to tender for the work of erecting the new building.
The old mill was torn down and a new Rosemary Mill replaced it. The stream that powered the old water mill and fed the public baths was utilised to fill a new mill dam which ensured there was sufficient water for the modern new steam boiler which powered the machinery. Joshua Wilson’s brother-in-law, John Craven was a partner in the business as he is recorded as residing at Ivy House in 1861 and an employer of 30 men, 28 women and 12 boys. A later newspaper report about a fire at the mill in 1868 names it as Messrs. Craven & Wilson, manufacturers. Craven retired in 1870 and went to live in Brighouse at which point Wilson moved into Ivy House to be closer to his business premises.
Wilson resided there until his death in 1898 after which the mill was occupied by Armitage Silk Spinners who eventually sold out to Walshaw Drake, a company that had started by renting a disused weaving shed at Rosemary Mill in 1903.In 1859, George Hepworth, a local Brighouse architect received instructions from Joshua Garside Wilson to design a new mill at Rosemary which would meet the needs of his growing business. An advertisement was placed in the Huddersfield Chronicle on the 30th July where builders were invited to tender for the work of erecting the new building. The old mill was torn down and a new Rosemary Mill replaced it. The stream that powered the old water mill and fed the public baths was utilised to fill a new mill dam which ensured there was sufficient water for the modern new steam boiler which powered the machinery. Joshua Wilson’s brother-in-law, John Craven was a partner in the business as he is recorded as residing at Ivy House in 1861 and an employer of 30 men, 28 women and 12 boys. A later newspaper report about a fire at the mill in 1868 names it as Messrs. Craven & Wilson, manufacturers. Craven retired in 1870 and went to live in Brighouse at which point Wilson moved into Ivy House to be closer to his business premises. Wilson resided there until his death in 1898 after which the mill was occupied by Armitage Silk Spinners who eventually sold out to Walshaw Drake, a company that had started by renting a disused weaving shed at Rosemary Mill in 1903.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·818 Views ·0 Reviews -
The below map from 1854 shows Rastrick Common which is the road down the centre. The Red Lion public house and the National School are marked as are the Brook Grain Hill Baths and Rosemary Mill but the relatively small three storey mill was proving to be too small for Wilson’s expanding business and new premises were needed.The below map from 1854 shows Rastrick Common which is the road down the centre. The Red Lion public house and the National School are marked as are the Brook Grain Hill Baths and Rosemary Mill but the relatively small three storey mill was proving to be too small for Wilson’s expanding business and new premises were needed.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·822 Views ·0 Reviews
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This area was known as Rosemary Park and here, we once again encounter the Fryer family as Rastrick land-owners. In 1773, Sir John Lister-Kaye sold the land to Dr. Joseph Fryer. There was a further land sale in 1802 where there is mention of a newly erected water mill, steam engine and dye-house.
In 1829, Dr. Fryer’s two eldest sons, Joseph and William are shown as merchants, bombazine manufacturers and manufacturers of fancy goods in Pigot’s Directory of 1829. Bombazine was a silk and wool fabric which was highly fashionable in ladies clothing whilst the fancy goods refers to flamboyant waistcoats worn by gentlemen of that time. This suggests that Joseph & William Fryer were manufacturing textiles at Rosemary Mill in 1829 and probably several years prior to that date.
Joseph and William Fryer’s partnership was dissolved in 1836 as William spent more time in London and the business was handed to two of Joseph’s sons, Charles and Joseph Jowett Fryer but the latter named son and his father both died in 1846 at which point the family decided to off-load the land and property.
The Leeds Mercury dated 8th May 1847 carried an advert for the sale of the land. The sale was held on the 17th May 1847 at the Thornhill Arms, Rastrick. Amongst the several lots, Lot 11 was described as a substantial stone built three storey mill called Rosemary Mill measuring 60ft x 40ft. It comprised of the ‘mill, engine house, shafting, 12 horse boiler, joiners shop, cottage, outbuildings, stone bridge and approach, dam, weir, goit and a close of land called Rosemary Park in the occupation of J.J. & C Fryer’
Lot 12 was ‘all that garden with the bath, adjoining Lot 11 in the occupation of J.J. & C. Fryer containing 810 superficial square yards, more or less’
The ‘bath’ referred to in the advert was actually the public baths where, in the days when most houses didn’t have a bathroom, workers could go and have a good wash. They consisted of outdoor stone troughs which were purchased through public subscription in 1758. The baths were fed by the stream that we mentioned earlier, which springs at Lower Cote, Fixby and travels down the valley through Carr Green. I would imagine they were very cold in the winter months.
It would appear that the purchaser was Joshua Garside Wilson who we met a short time ago at Ivy House. In 1851 he was living with his sister and her husband, John Craven at Brookrennels, an old name for this area of Rastrick. Both men are shown as woollen fancy manufacturers in the census records and Wilson was running his company, J. Wilson & Co. from Rosemary Mills. The first mention of his ownership is in the 1857 electoral rolls where he is shown as owning not only Rosemary Mill but also the Oddfellows Hall in Brighouse.This area was known as Rosemary Park and here, we once again encounter the Fryer family as Rastrick land-owners. In 1773, Sir John Lister-Kaye sold the land to Dr. Joseph Fryer. There was a further land sale in 1802 where there is mention of a newly erected water mill, steam engine and dye-house. In 1829, Dr. Fryer’s two eldest sons, Joseph and William are shown as merchants, bombazine manufacturers and manufacturers of fancy goods in Pigot’s Directory of 1829. Bombazine was a silk and wool fabric which was highly fashionable in ladies clothing whilst the fancy goods refers to flamboyant waistcoats worn by gentlemen of that time. This suggests that Joseph & William Fryer were manufacturing textiles at Rosemary Mill in 1829 and probably several years prior to that date. Joseph and William Fryer’s partnership was dissolved in 1836 as William spent more time in London and the business was handed to two of Joseph’s sons, Charles and Joseph Jowett Fryer but the latter named son and his father both died in 1846 at which point the family decided to off-load the land and property. The Leeds Mercury dated 8th May 1847 carried an advert for the sale of the land. The sale was held on the 17th May 1847 at the Thornhill Arms, Rastrick. Amongst the several lots, Lot 11 was described as a substantial stone built three storey mill called Rosemary Mill measuring 60ft x 40ft. It comprised of the ‘mill, engine house, shafting, 12 horse boiler, joiners shop, cottage, outbuildings, stone bridge and approach, dam, weir, goit and a close of land called Rosemary Park in the occupation of J.J. & C Fryer’ Lot 12 was ‘all that garden with the bath, adjoining Lot 11 in the occupation of J.J. & C. Fryer containing 810 superficial square yards, more or less’ The ‘bath’ referred to in the advert was actually the public baths where, in the days when most houses didn’t have a bathroom, workers could go and have a good wash. They consisted of outdoor stone troughs which were purchased through public subscription in 1758. The baths were fed by the stream that we mentioned earlier, which springs at Lower Cote, Fixby and travels down the valley through Carr Green. I would imagine they were very cold in the winter months. It would appear that the purchaser was Joshua Garside Wilson who we met a short time ago at Ivy House. In 1851 he was living with his sister and her husband, John Craven at Brookrennels, an old name for this area of Rastrick. Both men are shown as woollen fancy manufacturers in the census records and Wilson was running his company, J. Wilson & Co. from Rosemary Mills. The first mention of his ownership is in the 1857 electoral rolls where he is shown as owning not only Rosemary Mill but also the Oddfellows Hall in Brighouse.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·818 Views ·0 Reviews -
IVY HOUSE
Just down Rastrick Common from the Red Lion public house is Ivy House. Built as a commodious family home in the late 1850’s, Ivy House became the residence of Joshua Garside Wilson, the owner of the nearby Rosemary Mill, which we will visit shortly. Wilson died there in 1898 and is buried at St. Matthew’s Church. In the 1980’s, the house was extended and converted into a residential home for the elderly. It is now known as Cygnet Lodge, a high dependency rehabilitation service, owned by the Cygnet Health Care group. We then travel down the Common a few metres and turn left into:
ROSEMARY LANE
The road surface is still constructed of old stone setts, horrendously slippery in icy weather as I once found out whilst being driven down here as a helpless front seat passenger. This road leads down to where at least three different Rosemary Mills have stood but the area is now a residential housing estate.IVY HOUSE Just down Rastrick Common from the Red Lion public house is Ivy House. Built as a commodious family home in the late 1850’s, Ivy House became the residence of Joshua Garside Wilson, the owner of the nearby Rosemary Mill, which we will visit shortly. Wilson died there in 1898 and is buried at St. Matthew’s Church. In the 1980’s, the house was extended and converted into a residential home for the elderly. It is now known as Cygnet Lodge, a high dependency rehabilitation service, owned by the Cygnet Health Care group. We then travel down the Common a few metres and turn left into: ROSEMARY LANE The road surface is still constructed of old stone setts, horrendously slippery in icy weather as I once found out whilst being driven down here as a helpless front seat passenger. This road leads down to where at least three different Rosemary Mills have stood but the area is now a residential housing estate.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·815 Views ·0 Reviews -
n 1923, one of the last tram tracks to be laid in the West Riding of Yorkshire was between Huddersfield and Brighouse via Rastrick. A triangular reverser was fitted outside the Junction which allowed some trams that had come up from Brighouse, to turn around easily and go back again without too much of a problem. This shortened service was only used at busy times, bringing people home from the mills and factories at the end of the working day. The ‘reverser’ meant that the water fountain (pictured left) in the middle of the road at the bottom of Toothill Bank and Ogden Lane had to be removed.
The tram only lasted for seventeen years on the Rastrick route as they were replaced by the electric powered trolley bus in 1940. Their life was even shorter as the bus service superseded that in 1955.n 1923, one of the last tram tracks to be laid in the West Riding of Yorkshire was between Huddersfield and Brighouse via Rastrick. A triangular reverser was fitted outside the Junction which allowed some trams that had come up from Brighouse, to turn around easily and go back again without too much of a problem. This shortened service was only used at busy times, bringing people home from the mills and factories at the end of the working day. The ‘reverser’ meant that the water fountain (pictured left) in the middle of the road at the bottom of Toothill Bank and Ogden Lane had to be removed. The tram only lasted for seventeen years on the Rastrick route as they were replaced by the electric powered trolley bus in 1940. Their life was even shorter as the bus service superseded that in 1955.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·816 Views ·0 Reviews -
MILESTONE
There is a milestone positioned under the wall of the old Vicarage on Ogden Lane which shows that the road was a branch of the Huddersfield & New Hey Turnpike, provided for in an Act of 1806. The main section of the road is now the A640 from Huddersfield through Salendine Nook, Outlane, Buckstones and out to New Hey in Lancashire. The Rastrick branch arrived in the same year, travelling to Brighouse from Lindley Moor. Both roads were given the name of New Hey Road. The milestone is a Grade 2 listed building which means that it is a building or structure that is ‘of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it.’ It is an 1893 Brayshaw & Booth cast iron replacement for the original. The Huddersfield & New Hey Trust was dissolved in 1874.MILESTONE There is a milestone positioned under the wall of the old Vicarage on Ogden Lane which shows that the road was a branch of the Huddersfield & New Hey Turnpike, provided for in an Act of 1806. The main section of the road is now the A640 from Huddersfield through Salendine Nook, Outlane, Buckstones and out to New Hey in Lancashire. The Rastrick branch arrived in the same year, travelling to Brighouse from Lindley Moor. Both roads were given the name of New Hey Road. The milestone is a Grade 2 listed building which means that it is a building or structure that is ‘of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it.’ It is an 1893 Brayshaw & Booth cast iron replacement for the original. The Huddersfield & New Hey Trust was dissolved in 1874.0 Comments ·0 Shares ·821 Views ·0 Reviews -
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