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Glossop with the townships of Hadfield, Padfield and Whitfield and the hamlets of Charlesworth, Howard's Town and Neighbourhoods.
Glossop is a village and township, in the populous and extensive parish of its name, in the hundred of High Peak. 184 miles from London, 50 NNW from Derby, 25 NW from Sheffield and 13 SE from Manchester. This village, which is one of great manufacturing consequence, is situate on a rising bank, springing from one of the deepest valleys in the Peak. the country around is very pleasing, and many of the views may be considered romantic; plantations abound in the home scenery, and the lands in the low grounds are fertile; but the mountainous parts are less productive. In Glossop and its vicinity there are upwards of forty establishments for the spinning of cotton, and the manufacture of various fabrics from that article, for calico printing also, there is an extensive concern at Dinting vale, and woollen goods are made to a limited extent. There are, besides, two paper mills in the neighbourhood, at one of which (Dinting Mill) the article is manufactured by patent machinery. Coal is worked about three miles hence, and from these mines Glossop and the neighbourhood are principally supplied. Glossop is one of the stations appointed by the new Boundary Act, for receiving votes at the election of knights of the shire, to represent the northern division of the county. The Duke of Norfolk is lord of the manor and holds courts-leet at Easter and Michaelmas; at the latter period a constable and headborough are appointed, in whom the government of the town is vested. Glossop is in the honour of Tutbury, and within the jurisdiction of a court of pleas, held there every third Tuesday, for the recovery of debts under forty shillings.
The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient structure; the body has been rebuilt, and public worship was performed in it, for the first time, after the repairs were completed, in September, 1832. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the Duke of Norfolk, and 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, ho bequeathed the interest of £1,000, towards clothing twenty-four poor men and women, of this and some of the adjacent townships. Glossop Hall, the property of the Duke of Norfolk, is near the village; and at Gamesly, about a mile to the west, is Melandra Castle, the vestiges of a Roman station. On Wednesday, the 30th of July, 1834, the neighbourhood of Glossop was visited by a most tremendous tempest; the village appeared, at one time, to be enveloped in one almost continuous blaze of lightning, while the thunder, pealing amongst the hills, was unusually loud and terrific, and the rain and hail poured down in quantities of which no description can present an adequate idea; an overwhelming flood was the consequence, which swept down the valley with impetuous force, carrying devastation in its relentless course, and striking with dismay the inhabitants. The brook which enters Glossop, increased by the streams from the hills, assumed a most appalling appearance, and, rushing onward, threatened destruction to all erections on its banks, and to bridges which crossed it. Several mills received great injury; amongst which, Mr John Kershaw's factory, at Hurst, sustained damage to the extent of upwards of £1,000; two young women and a child, belonging to these works, perished in the flood, and others were severely bruised. In addition to the mischief done to the factories and works, very extensive injury occurred to the fields, gardens, fences, roads and bridges, of which last, four were entirely destroyed. Such was the suddenness, violence, and rapidity of the torrent, that not only sheep and lambs, but hares, rabbits, and even birds, were carried away by it; and it is said that some fish were caught on the turnpike road.
A fair, for cattle and various commodities, is held on the 6th of May. The entire parish of Glossop contained, by the census taken in 1821, 13,766 inhabitants, and by that for 1831, 18,080, of which last number 2,012 were returned for the township.
Hadfield is a village, in the township of Hadfield and Dinting, in the parish of Glossop, about two miles west therefrom. About thirty years ago this township was strictly an agricultural district, with a small population; but at the last census it contained 1,270 inhabitants.
Padfield is a township, in the parish of Glossop, about two miles north-west from that village. The cotton manufacture prevails here extensively, and has been the means of more than doubling its population in ten years, as, by the census taken in 1821 it contained only 499 inhabitants, and in 1831, 1,102.
Whitfield is also a township in the parish of Glossop, situate about a mile and a half north (sic) from that village, on the road leading to Chapel-en-le-Frith. Like the neighbouring townships in this parish, it is indebted for its consequence to the manufactories established within its limits. A school was founded and endowed by the late Joseph Hague, Esq. (before-mentioned) in 1779, and the school-house was erected about 1780. A chapel, for Wesleyan methodists, is the only place of worship in this township - which contained, at the last census, 1,734 inhabitants, having nearly doubled its population in ten years.
Charlesworth is a populous hamlet, about three miles south-west from Glossop, in that parish; it contains a place of worship for independent Calvinists and a population (by the last return) of 1,206 inhabitants, who are chiefly supported by the manufacturing interest.
Howard's Town, once called Bridge-end, is a hamlet in Glossop parish, one mile from that town. This is a thriving little place - called into consequence within a comparatively few years, by the erection of some extensive cotton manufactories. Here are two respectable inns, the "Howard's Arms" and the "Norfolk Arms". Population returned with Glossop parish.
Post Office, Norfolk Arms, Howard's Town, Joseph Oates, Post Master - Letters from Manchester arrive every evening at a quarter past six and are despatched every morning at six.
Coaches:
Hayfield, an independent chapelry, generally included in the parish of Glossop, is four miles S from Glossop, and about the same distance N from Chapel-en-le-Frith. It is a populous manufacturing district, having several large cotton spinning factories, and one for woollen goods. The church is a handsome modern edifice, rebuilt by the inhabitants in 1818, and the interior is much admired for its neatness. The living is a perpetual curacy, and the resident freeholders have the privilege of nominating the minister. This peculiar right it seems was granted by Richard II, in the year 1386. the present incumbent is the Rev. Samuel Wasse, MA, who is also the head master of the free grammar school, at Sherborne, Yorkshire. Here is a large day and Sunday school belonging to the establishment; the day school having an endowment for the education of a limited number of free scholars, who, together with the children of the town and neighbourhood, are taught by Mr E. Adamson, the present master. A meeting-house is here for the methodists' old connexion, who also have a large Sunday school. About a mile from Hayfield, on the Glossop road, is situated Park hall, the beautiful seat of John White, Esq., a magistrate or the county of Derby. The population of the whole chapelry, including the out-townships, by the parliamentary returns, is about 3,600.
Post Office, George Inn, Rachael Quarmby, Post Mistress - Letters from Stockport arrive every evening at six, and are despatched every morning at a quarter before seven.
Cars & Carriers:
Mellor, a chapelry, in the parish of Glossop, in the High Peak hundred, is two miles from Marple, six and a half from Glossop, eight from Chapel-en-le-Frith, seven from Stockport, and 14 from Manchester. The church, dedicated to St James, 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 Wesleyan and primitive methodist chapels. In a vault in the church-yard is a coffin, cut out of solid stone; the lid of which is of the same material, and is covered in masonic characters cut in the stone: the person for whom this substantial and final requisite was made is still living, and personally supervised its construction. The extensive concern of T. R. & S. Waller, cotton spinners and thread manufacturers, gives employment to a great number of hand. The population of the chapelry, in 1821, was 2,099, and at the last census (1831) it had sustained a diminution of 40 persons.
Roworth, about a mile from Mellor, is a hamlet in the same parish as that town, in Glossop dale; containing several manufactories in the cotton branch, from which the inhabitants of the hamlet derive their support.
Marple and Marple Bridge, commonly called Upper and nether Marple, (Nether Marple or Marple Bridge being situate in the county of Derby), form a chapelry in the parish of Stockport, about 5 miles E & N from that town, and 12 from Manchester. The spinning of cotton, bleaching and calico printing, are carried on to some extent in the chapelry and neighbourhood, and upon the river Goyt are some corn mills. Not far from the village is a noble aqueduct of three arches, which bestrides the river Mersey. A branch from the Peak Forest canal to Macclesfield, was opened here on the 9th November, 1831; it joins the Mersey canal at Lawton, being twenty-six miles and a quarter in length, and is a most material convenience to this manufacturing neighbourhood. Wyberslegh hall, now a farm house, is noted as the birth place of the notorious John Bradshaw, who was president of the high court of justice which condemned King Charles I. In the registers of Stockport church his birth is thus entered: "1602, John the Sonne of Henry Bradshaw, of Marple, was baptized the 10th of December". In the margin is the word traitor, with a line under it. It is said the following prophetic lines were written by the staunch adherent to republican principles, on a stone in the church-yard of Macclesfield:
He died in 1659. The probate copy of his will, which may still be seen at Marple hall, contains a bequest of £700 to purchase an annuity or maintaining a free school, at Marple; the changes brought about with regard to property, at the restoration, prevented this provision from being available. Henry Bradshaw, who survived his brother, however, founded a small school here and endowed it with the interest of £100 which has since been augmented by other benefactions. Marple hall is a noble old house, finely situate on the rise of a hill above the Goyt, and is the property, as well as Wyberslegh hall, of John Isherwood, Esq. a descendant of the before-named president Bradshaw. Here is a chapel of ease to Stockport, re-built of stone, with a tower, containing the old bells of Stockport church. It is dedicated to All Saints, and the living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the rector of Stockport - the Rev W. W. Johnson is the incumbent: the registers commenced in 1655. Besides the church, here are chapels for Wesleyan and primitive methodists. The chapelry contained, in 1821, a population of 2,646, and in 1831, 1,290.
Compstall Bridge, a thriving village, in the parish of Stockport, is five miles from that town, and two from Marple. The principal employment of the inhabitants is cotton spinning, calico printing and weaving. The situation of this place is delightful, and, being surrounded by hills, cold is rarely felt here in its severity. No court in any of the neighbouring towns has jurisdiction over this place; a county court writ from Chester being the only process that can be employed. The Wesleyan and primitive methodists have each a chapel here, which are the only places of worship. Thirty years ago Compstall consisted of only a few straggling cottages, but since the establishment of the cotton manufacture, it has been gradually rising to its present thriving condition. The population is about 1,700.
Post Office, Marple, Mary Bullivant, Post Mistress - Letters arrive from Stockport every afternoon about four, and are despatched every morning at eight.
Post Office, Compstall Bridge, Thomas Dyson, Post Master - Letters arrive from Stockport every afternoon at three, and are despatched every morning at seven. By this post letters are likewise conveyed to and from Mellor.
Coaches:
New Mills, an extensive hamlet, in the parish of Glossop, and in the High peak hundred, is 14 miles from Manchester, 6 from Chapel-en-le-Frith, and 8 from Stockport. It is pleasantly situate on the borders: of Derbyshire and Cheshire; and, within a comparatively few years, has risen to importance in the manufacturing district; cotton spinning being carried on here to a considerable extent, affording employment to numerous 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. Good house coal, as well as other kinds for the purpose of machinery, is obtained near to the village, the top bed strata running from sixteen to twenty inches thick. The village is built chiefly upon a stone quarry, but the soil in many parts is fertile, producing good crops of wheat and potatos. A new road which has lately been formed to join the Buxton road, will doubtless prove a great accommodation.
The places of worship are, a new church, erected within these few years, and chapels for the use of the methodists' old connexion, primitive methodists and Calvinists. The church is a handsome building of stone, in the gothic style, and is dedicated to St George. The cost of its erection amounted to about £3,500, the parliamentary commissioners having granted £2,500 in aid of the work: the ground for its site was given my Lord George Cavendish. The living is a perpetual curacy , in the archdeaconry of Derby, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, and in the patronage of the vicar of Glossop. The edifice contains about 500 free sittings. A charity school, for the gratuitous instruction of nine poor children, is in the hamlet of Whittle, and there is an allotment of land for the support of another school. The name of New Mills does not appear in the parliamentary population returns. It was originally known as Bowden-Middle-Call comprising seven hamlets : about a century ago it was subdivided, three of the hamlets remaining attached to Hayfield, and the other four, Beard, Ollerset, Whittle and Thornsett being formed into a township. A new mill was then erected for the use of the inhabitants of these hamlets, upon the river Kinder, and the name of New Mills was, in consequence, conferred on the four before-mentioned hamlets - which, by the returns for 1831, contained, together, 3,538 inhabitants.
Disley, or Distley, anciently spelt Dystelegh-Stanlegh, is a village and chapelry, in the hundred of Macclesfield and parish of Stockport, about six miles SE of the latter town. In the time of Edward I, Disley was held by Jordan de Dystelegh, and a hamlet on the north side by Grym de Stanlegh; hence the compound modern appellation of Disley-Stanley. The situation of the village is very pleasant, on the immediate borders of Derbyshire, upon the high road to Sheffield: a respectable, convenient inn and posting-house, the Ram's Head, is in the village. St Mary's chapel here was rebuilt in 1558; it consists of a nave and chancel, with a stone tower, containing a ring of six bells; the chancel and vestry are of brick: in the chancel window are some beautiful specimens of heraldic stained glass: the curate is the Rev. William Greswell. Several cotton spinning and printing works are in the neighbourhood. Lyme hall, the seat of Thomas Leigh, Esq. is in this chapelry. In 1821, Disley contained 1,533 inhabitants, and by the last returns, made in the year 1831, the number had increased to 2,037.
Post Office - New Mills, Adam Brierley, Post Master - Letters from Stockport arrive every afternoon at five, and are despatched every morning at a quarter before seven.
Coaches. All call at the Ram's Head inn, Disley where not otherwise mentioned:
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