MILLWOOD

Halifax Road

Millwood

Todmorden

Map Ref. SD946244

Known occupiers

1805

STANSFIELD James

1860’s

BARKER Jonathan

1867-1881

COCKCROFT Thomas

1881-1893

SUTCLIFFE Edwin

Additional information

partly researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade

Hebden Bridge WEA Local History Group

Notes from John Travis, contemporary historian:

The Barkers of Priestwell took a shaft 1½ inches diameter from Bacup to the smithy of James Stansfield at Millwood to be pieced. They could not do it with a welled joint. Eventually they brazed it together in the fire. James Stansfield was the father of William of Bridge End and Clough Hole Smithy, James the ironfounder of Salford Old Foundry, and John, whitesmith of Millwood who succeeded his father at the old place.

Valuation of Stansfield Township 1805

The building is number 40 on the plan. Millwood; house & smithy etc; owned by William Sutcliffe; occupied by James Stansfield; annual value £4.10s.0d.

1816

Building plot conveyed to Thomas Walton, cabinet-maker. The Shannon & Chesapeake Inn was erected about 1817. Thomas Walton used one of the upper rooms for his business.

Notes from John Travis, contemporary historian:

About 1860-61, Jonathan Barker built a foundry behind PHOENIX. He then went in for Room and Power speculation and built a weaving shed behind the Shannon & Chesapeake Inn near his works. It was immediately let to tenants.

Thomas Cockcroft, nephew of Henry Cockcroft of CROFT MILL Todmorden, originally a partner in Barker & Crabtree, withdrew after a short time and took part of room and power previously occupied by Jonathan Barker near the PHOENIX IRONWORKS, Millwood.

September 1864

Jonathan Barker purchased the Shannon & Chesapeake Inn, which at that time was two cottages.

The Shannon & Chesapeake Inn

Stansfield Rates Book 1867

Millwood; owned by Jonathan Barker; Henry Cockcroft has room & power; rateable value £38.6s.11d.

Stansfield Rates Book 1868-1881

Millwood; owners Jonathan Barker executors; occupied by Thomas Cockcroft (house - 14 Wellington Road); room and power; rateable value £38.6s.11d.

Kelly 1871

Thomas Cockcroft, Millwood, cotton manufacturer.

Census 1871

Thomas Cockcroft, Broadstone (Priestwell), aged 39, cotton manufacturer

Slater 1875

Thomas Cockcroft, Millwood, cotton spinner and manufacturer

Halifax Guardian 4th May 1878

Petition for liquidation – Thomas Cockcroft, Wellington Road and Mill Wood Todmorden, cotton manufacturer. Liabilities estimated at £2,445.

Halifax Guardian 18th May 1878

Meeting of creditors of Thomas Cockcroft, Wellington Road and Millwood, cotton manufacturer. Liabilities £2,264 and assets £503. 4 shillings in the pound accepted.

Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 1st August 1879

Millwood; 188 looms; full time.

Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 5th November 1880

Strike by weavers at Thomas Cockcroft, manufacturer of Millwood, against attempted reduction in wages.

Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 24th December 1880

Thomas Cockcroft, manufacturer of Millwood, weavers returned to work at old rates after 5 weeks on strike.

Halifax Courier 5th March 1881

Social for weavers of Thomas Cockcroft, Millwood.

Halifax Courier 29th October 1881

Petition for liquidation. Thomas Cockcroft, Millwood, cotton manufacturer. Liabilities estimated at £2,300.

Halifax Courier 12th November 1881

Creditors meeting, Thomas Cockcroft, Millwood, cotton manufacturer. Liabilities £2,558. Assets £896.

Stansfield Rates Book 1881-1883

Occupied by Edwin Sutcliffe; owned by Jonathan Barker executors; loomshed; Millwood; rateable value £57.10s.0d.

Slater 1887

Edwin Sutcliffe, Millwood, manufacturer of cotton goods

Stansfield Rates Book 1888-1890

Occupied by Edwin Sutcliffe; owned by Jonathan Barker executors; loomshed; Millwood; rateable value £49.

Kelly 1893

Edward Sutcliffe, Millwood, cotton manufacturer

29th June 1893

Shannon & Chesapeake Inn offered for sale but withdrawn when bidding only reached £2,600. Sold to brewer Richard Whittaker in October 1894 from the estate of the late Jonathan Barker.

Stansfield Rates Books 1894-1897

Occupied by Edwin Sutcliffe; owned by Jonathan Barker executors; loomshed; Halifax Road; rateable value £49.