The Ancient Parish of Glossop in 19th Century Trade Directories



Pigot's Directory 1821-2.

Glossop and the villages of Howard's Town, Charlesworth, Whitfield and Neighbourhoods.

Glossop is a very extensive parish, containing a township and village of the same name, in the hundred of the High peak. The village, which is one of great manufacturing consequence, situated on a rising bank, springing from one of the deepest vallies in the Peak, is distant from London 184 miles, from Derby 50, from Sheffield 25, and from Manchester 15. The church is an ancient structure, and a vicarage, in the patronage of the Duke of Norfolk, and in the incumbency of the Rev. Christopher Howe: in the church is a monument, by Bacon, to the memory of Joseph Hague, Esq. of Park hall, near Hayfield; who bequeathed the interest of £1,000 towards clothing twenty-four poor men and women of the townships of Glossopdale; and founded a public school, which has been further enriched by other charitable bequests. The Duke of Norfolk is lord of the manor, and holds courts leet at Easter and Michaelmas; at the latter court are chosen a constable and head borough, which constitute the government of the town. In this village and its immediate vicinity there are not less than forty establishments in the spinning and manufacturing cotton into various fabrics, calico printing, manufactures of woollens, &c. &c. Among the most respectable and extensive spinning concerns are those of Messrs. Sidebottoms, Mill Brook; Mr John Thorp, Glossop; Mr John Wood, Howard's Town and Charlesworth; and Messrs. Sidebottoms, near Mottram, power-loom manufacturers; altogether giving employment to a considerable population. Glossop hall, the property of the Duke of Norfolk is near to the village, and at Gamesley, about a mile to the west, is Melandra Castle, being the vestiges of a Roman station. Coal is worked about three miles hence, and from these mines Glossop and the neighbourhood are principally supplied. The country round here is very pleasing, and many of the views are romantic, enriched by plantations, which abound in the home scenery. The lands on the low grounds are fertile, but the mountainous parts are less productive. One well attended fair is held in the year, on the 6th of May, for horses, cattle, pigs, pedlary, &c. The parish of Glossop contains eighteen dependant townships, liberties, and hamlets, and in 1821 nearly 14,000 inhabitants, 1,350 of that number being in the township of Glossop, but the population has augmented since that period.

Howard's Town, lately called Bridge-end, about one mile from Glossop in that parish, is a thriving little place, called into consequence by the erection of some extensive cotton manufactories. The population is made up with Glossop.

Charlesworth, in the parish of Glossop, nine miles from Chapel-en-le-Frith, is a populous hamlet, owing its support to the manufacturing interest. The number of inhabitants is about 1,000.

Whitfield, a township and village, about one mile from Charlesworth, is like that hamlet indebted to the manufactories for its importance, and the principal support of about 1,000 inhabitants.

Post Office, Norfolk Arms inn, Howard's Town - Letters to Manchester are despatched every afternoon at a quarter past five, and arrive every morning at a quarter past nine. - To Sheffield letters are despatched every morning at a quarter past nine, and arrive every morning (sic) at a quarter past five.

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New Mills, Hayfield, Mellor and the villages of Thornsett, Roworth and Neighbourhoods.

New Mills, an extensive hamlet, in the parish of Glossop, and in the High peak hundred, is six miles from Chapel-en-le-Frith and eight from Stockport; it is pleasantly situated on the borders: of Derbyshire and Cheshire; and within a few years has risen into considerable importance in the manufacturing district; cotton spinning being carried on here to a great extent, affording employment to several hundred hands. The factories are in a great measure hid from the public view in passing through the village, being built at the foot of the stream, under high towering rocks. Here are a small neat chapel for the methodists old connexion, one for the primitive methodists, one for the calvinists; and a Sunday school. Good house coal is obtained near to the village, the top bed strata running from sixteen to twenty inches thick; the quantity raised is but trifling owing to there not being a sufficient demand for land sale, and the canal being at too great a distance. It is the intention of His Majesty's commissioners to erect a church on the opposite side of the stream, in Cheshire; a measure certainly called for from the rapidly increasing population. The village is built chiefly upon a stone quarry, but the soil in many parts is fertile, producing good crops of wheat and potatos.

Hayfield, a small hamlet, in the parish of Glossop, four and a half miles from that town, and about the like distance from Chapel-en-le-Frith, contains a small stone church, of which the Rev. John Crowther is minister; the living being in the gift of the freeholders. A small day and Sunday school, a chapel for the methodists old connexion, and one for the primitive methodists are also in the village. Five extensive cotton spinning factories, one for silk, and one for the manufacturing of woollen goods are established here. The population of New Mills and Hayfield are comprised in the returns for the parish of Glossop.

Mellor, a chapelry, in the parish of Glossop, and in the High Peak hundred, is six miles and a half from Glossop and eight from Chapel-en-le-Frith. The church, which is of stone, is erected on a commanding situation, a short distance from the village: the Rev. Matthew Freeman enjoys the curacy for life: the gift of the living is in the Thornton family. Here is a small Sunday school, belonging to the church, and one methodist chapel. The extensive concern of T. R. & S. Waller, cotton spinners and thread manufacturers, gives employment to a great number of hands. In 1821 the number of inhabitants was 2,100.

Thornsett, a hamlet, in the parish of Glossop, five miles and a half from Chapel-en-le-Frith, is a place of no particular trade: it contains about 760 inhabitants.

Roworth, a small hamlet, in the parish of Glossop, situated in Glossop dale, is six miles from that town. The inhabitants are nearly all employed in the cotton factories, there being five of those establishments in this place.

Post Office - New Mills, Receiving House, Jordan Bradbury, Mason's Arms - Letters are conveyed by foot post every morning at nine o'clock to Disley - Hayfield, Receiving House, Rachael Quarmby, George Inn - Letters are forwarded every Saturday evening by a foot post to Chapel-en-le-Frith - Mellor - Letters are conveyed to Stockport every Friday by a foot post.

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Last updated: 25 January 2012