The British Picker Co. Ltd.
Sandholme Mill was a long, narrow building of three storeys. New scutching, winding and warping rooms built on left hand side of entrance gate. In 1852 they also erected a weaving shed for about 300 looms near the warp sizing works at Sandholme. A 20hp steam engine by Jonathan Barker of Millwood was installed.
The mills are of the normal type, large and solidly built stone
structures, flanked by ranges of one storey weaving sheds let from the roof.
A fine steam engine drives the looms and machinery appliances, and from two
to three hundred hands find regular employment in weaving and preparatory
operations. During the twenty years covered by their operations, their
employees have been kept in full work, with but one slight break. The
wigans, twills, domestics, sheetings and coloured goods, made by Messrs.
Sutcliffe are now generally regarded as standard articles on the market, and
are readily disposed of. Great care is constantly exercised in the selection
of yarns, and in the weaving process, so that it would not be easy to
produce better goods. Both partners are highly popular in the district, and
Mr S. Sutcliffe has just been elected an Alderman of the new borough.
Additional information
researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade
Hebden Bridge WEA Local History Group
Baines 1824
James Smith, sizer, Sandholme
Parson & White 1830
James Smith, sizers
Pigot 1834
James Smith, sizers
Bradford Observer 9th October 1834
The partnership dissolved between William Smith of Bacup and Robert Smith of Sandholme, Todmorden, cotton manufacturers.
White 1842 and 1843
Edmund Whitaker, dyers
White 1847
Edmund Whitaker, dyers
Halifax Guardian 29th April 1848
Fire at size house of Edmund Whitaker at Sandholme. Damage estimated at £400 to £500. Building was insured.
Langfield Highway Rates November 1849
Owner and occupier Edmund Whitaker; Sandholme; size house rateable value £28.18s.0d; power £4.15s.0d; mill £52.10s.0d.
1851 census
Edmund Whitaker, Sandholme, sizer employing 24 men and boys.
James Whitaker, son, clerk to his father.
White 1853
Edmund Whitaker & sons, Sandholme and Gauxholme, cotton spinners, manufacturers & sizers etc.
Langfield Rates Book 1856-58
Owner and occupier Edmund Whitaker; Sandholme; mill, size house etc. rateable value £71.13s.6d.
Langfield Rates Book 1859-62
Owner and occupier Edmund Whitaker; Sandholme; mill and size house rateable value £87.9s.0d; boiler house rateable value £5.16s.10d.
Kelly 1861
Edmund Whitaker & sons, Sandholme Mill and Copperas House, Walsden, cotton warp sizers, spinners and manufacturers.
Langfield Rates Book 1863-64
Owner and occupier Edmund Whitaker; Sandholme; mill, size house; additional shed at 10hp; rateable value £148.10s.4d.
Langfield Rates Book 1865-67
Owner and occupier Edmund Whitaker; Sandholme; mill, shed, size house and power, rateable value £208.17s.0d.
Langfield Rates Book 1868-81
Owner and occupier John Whitaker; Sandholme; mill, shed, size house and power, rateable value £208.17s.0d.
1880-81 – rateable value £241.15s.0d.
Kelly 1877
Edmund Whitaker & sons, Sandholme Mill and Copperas House, Walsden, cotton warp sizers, spinners and manufacturers
White's 1877
Whitaker, Edmund & Son – warp sizers mfrs – Sandholme.
Factory Act prosecutions
18th January 1877
E. Whitaker and Sons, Sandholme Mill, Todmorden cotton manufacturers.
Case heard before A. Ormerod and ... Sutcliffe Esqrs at Todmorden
Employing a child under 14 without causing him to attend school
Penalty of £2 and costs of 19s.6d
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 1st August 1879
Sandholme Mill, Whitaker’s, 200 looms closed.
Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 13th Feb 1880 to 18th March 1881
To let; sizing business and premises at Sandholme. Apply E. Whitaker & sons, Sandholme.
Halifax Courier 3rd January 1885
John Horsfall of Hebden Bridge has taken Sandholme Mill for the ready made clothing business. During the last 2 or 3 months, four mills or sheds in Todmorden have been taken for this business.
Halifax Courier 22nd August 1885
Accident at mill of Sugden Sutcliffe & Co. of Sandholme.
Factory Act prosecutions
1st October 1885
Sugden Sutcliffe and Co – cotton manufacturers Sandholme Shed
Case heard before Rev. T. Sutcliffe, J. A. Ingham, H.C. Taylor M.D.
Employing a child before and after 1pm. same day
Penalty 10s.0d – costs 7s.6d
Langfield Rates Book 1885-88
Occupied by Sugden Sutcliffe; owner John Whittaker trustee; loom shed, size house and steam power; Sandholme; rateable value £182.15s.0d.
1886 – size house boarded up, rateable value £125.10s.0d.
Slater 1887
John Horsfall, wholesale clothier.
Manchester Examiner 22nd July 1887
Sandholme and Hope Street Mills, 400 looms running full time.
Slater 1887
S. & J.W. Sutcliffe, manufacturers of cotton goods.
Langfield Rates Book 1890
Empty; owner Whitaker representatives; size house; Sandholme; rateable value £57.
Langfield Rates Book 1893
Occupiers Lord Fielden and John Dawson; owner Luke Barker; part of size house; Sandholme; rateable value £47.
Langfield Rates Book 1890-93
Occupiers Sugden and James William Sutcliffe; owner John Whittaker trustee; mill and power; Sandholme; rateable value £116.10s.0d.
Worrell 1891
S. & J.W. Sutcliffe, Sandholme, Anchor and Hope Street Sheds, 639 looms, wigans, domestics, sheetings, twills etc. Manchester warehouse 35, Spring Gardens.
Kelly 1893
S. & J.W. Sutcliffe, Sandholme and Roomfield Lane, cotton manufacturers.
Kelly 1897
S. & J.W. Sutcliffe, Sandholme and Anchor Sheds, cotton manufacturers.
Todmorden in Coronation Year of Edward VII 1902
Alderman Sugden Sutcliffe, Glenroyd House, senior partner in S. & J.W. Sutcliffe, manufacturers of single and double warp wigans, twills, domestics, sheetings, and coloured goods at Sandholme and Anchor Sheds.
Kelly 1908
S. & J.W. Sutcliffe, Sandholme Mills, cotton manufacturers.
John Sutcliffe, Sandholme, millwrights