STEANOR BOTTOM CHEMICAL WORKS

Steanor Bottom

Walsden

Map Ref. SD 943201

Known occupiers

1843

No building on site on Walsden township map

1860-1880

CRABTREE John & William

1880-1883

ELLISON Henry

1884-1895

CRABTREE & CRYER

1884

SADLER J.

1890

PEILE Henry

1907

Walsden Chemical Works on OS 25” map

1967

No building on site on 6” map

Explosion December 1882

Leeds Mercury Weekly Supplement 23rd December 1882.

A sad occurrence took place about noon on Saturday at Steanor Bottom Chemical Works, Walsden, near Todmorden, resulting in the death of two young men and injury to two others. During the storm some difficulty has been experienced in keeping the connection between the stills in working order, means having had to be adopted to thaw the contents at times. At about 11.30 on Saturday, while the foreman and another man were engaged on one of the stills, it suddenly burst, the force of the explosion tearing the upper part of the iron work away, and lifting it some distance in the air, the fragments descending almost in a perpendicular line from the seat of the explosion amongst the scattered brickwork. Two other stills were in communication with this, but they were not materially damaged. The men killed were THOMAS STANSFIELD, the foreman and analyst, about 30 years of age, and THOMAS OGDEN aged 20 years. THOMAS TAYLOR another workman, was found so badly burnt that his immediate removal to Rochdale Infirmary was deemed advisable. A fourth man was burnt about the head and hands, but not so badly as Taylor, and he was treated at home.

Annals of Todmorden 1882

At 11-40am a most shocking accident took place at the Steanorbottom Chemical Works, Walsden, by which two lives were lost and two men injured. The victims of the disaster were THOMAS STANSFIELD, manager, aged 28 years, and JOHN THOMAS OGDEN, aged 19 years. Damage to the works about £200.

Additional information

researched, recorded and referenced by Mrs Sheila Wade

Hebden Bridge WEA Local History Group

Walsden Rates Book 1860-1880

Occupiers J. and W. Crabtree; owner Nathan Firth; chemical works; Steanor Bottom; rateable value £23.6s.8d.

1866 – rateable value £26.16s.0d.

1871 – new chemical works rateable value £12.4s.6d.1874 – owners J. & W. Crabtree

1880 – rateable value £35 and new office £4.

Walsden Rates Book 1874-1880

Occupiers J. & W. Crabtree; owner James Scholfield; office; Warland Gate End; rateable value £1.8s.0d.

1880 – rateable value £1.10s,0d.

Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 15th October 1880

William Crabtree deceased; Advert of sale by auction of chemical works at Steanor Bottom.

Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser 29th October 1880

Henry Ellison of Cleckheaton paid £1000 at auction of chemical works at Steanor Bottom, land 10,567 square yards, part free and part copyhold.

Walsden Rates Book 1881

Occupier Henry Ellison; owners J. & W. Crabtree; chemical works; Steanor Bottom; rateable value £39.

Halifax Courier 23rd December 1882

Explosion at Steanor Bottom Chemical Works, 2 young men died and others injured. Occupier Henry Ellison of Cleckheaton. Fielden Bros. fire engine attended.

Halifax Courier 23rd June 1883

Explosion at Henry Ellison’s, Steanor Bottom, Walsden, damage about £100.

Halifax Courier 28th June 1884

Crabtree and Cryer, chemical manufacturers, Warland, Walsden.

Walsden Rates Book 1890

Occupier Henry Peile; owner Col. Sadler; chemical works; Steanor Bottom; rateable value £35.

Occupier Henry Peile; owner Charles Scholfield; office; Warland Gate End; rateable value £1.10s.0d.

1891 census

John Crabtree, Steanorbottom, chemical manufacturer.

Henry Peile, Dean Villas, manufacturing chemist.

Kelly 1895

Crabtree & Cryer, epsom salts, muriates of zinc etc. Steanorbottom.