A Brief History of New Mills

Little is known about north-west Derbyshire before the Domesday Book of 1086, when the New Mills district was on the southern edge of the king's estate known as Longdendale. The Domesday Book records that a thane called Ligulf had formerly held land in 'Tornesete" (Thornsett), the earliest record of a local place name.

By far the oldest identifiable man made objects in the Parish are the twin stones known as ‘˜Robin Hood Picking Rods' (SK 006909). The name is relatively modern as it was unknown in the 17th century. Older maps show them as the ‘Maidenstones’. The Rev J. Charles Cox described the stones and set forward his views in his 1910 publication, Memorials of Old Derbyshire, from which the following is taken. These two circular pillar stones stand in round socket holes, 12 inches apart in a great stone about 80 inches long and 49 inches broad. The taller of the two stands 45 inches above the base, and has a girth at the bottom of 591/2 inches; the shorter one stands only 30 inches high, but has a girth of 67 inches. They have been pulled out of their sockets more than once in the past century, and are both mutilated. Judging from an analogy of the two Bow Stones, five miles off to the north just across the Cheshire border, they originally had filleted heads of Saxon workmanship. They may be compared with a smaller filleted Saxon pillar in the porch of Bakewell church, and another taller one at Clulow, and more especially with the Saxon shaft in the grounds of a private house at Fernilee which now supports a sundial. They are beyond doubt of Saxon construction and date.

It’s likely that the Maidenstones were incorporated into a later line of boundary markers that ran roughly along Shiloh Road. These included Armfield Pole, Briergrove Cross, and Stock Rock.

Another man made item of more ancient origin found on Rowarth moor, was the discovery, around 1900 of a Neolithic Celt (polished stone hand axe) near Ring Stones Farm. It was described as a beautiful specimen with a highly polished surface and rounded edge. Measuring nine and a half inches long, with a perfect oval section. When found it bore neither chip nor scratch and was presumed therefore to be almost unused. The name Ring Stones farm is suggestive and it may well be that a stone circle once stood close by, taking occupation of the parish far back into pre history.

Although New Mills came into existence in the late eighteenth century as an industrial village involved in cotton textiles, its name is most probably derived from a hamlet which grew up around a fourteenth century manorial corn mill, 'the New Mylne', which was located near the site of the present Salem Mill on the river Sett. Here there was also an ancient bridge which provided an easy crossing of the Sett just before it enters the impressive gorge known as the Torrs.

By the thirteenth century, the area now known as New Mills was being administered as part of the royal forest of the Peak, which occupied much of north-west Derbyshire. In 1372 the manor and forest of the Peak passed into the ownership of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and so, when John’s son Henry became king, the New Mills area became part of the huge crown estate henceforth known as the Duchy of Lancaster.
The duchy tenants in the New Mills area were obliged to have their corn ground at a local mill, first recorded in 1391 and called Berde mill. According to records the local name for this mill was 'the New Mylne'

By the late sixteenth century the name New Mill was being used for the small hamlet near the mill, around a bridge over the river Sett, by the end of the eighteenth century the name had evolved to New Mills. Together with a number of other places, such as Hayfield and Chinley, the settlement was part of a large administrative area known as Bowden Middlecale which consisted of the ten hamlets. Ecclesiastically, all these hamlets, together with Mellor, were in the ancient parish of Glossop.

St George’s church was opened July 26th, 1831.The church, a handsome Gothic structure in the style of Edward III., with nave, chancel, side aisles, and lofty spire with one bell, is in a commanding situation, and will seat about 1000 persons; it was erected at a cost of £3,500. Of this sum £2,500 was paid by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and £1000 raised by subscription, The Earl of Burlington gave land for the site, stone for the building, and £150; Geo. Wm. Newton, Esq., gave £200; W. Egerton, Esq., £150; John White, Esq., £50. It was consecrated by Bishop Ryder, of Coventry. Set in isolation among the fields of Beard local people at the time complained it had been built in the country.

The Catholic Church of the Annunciation was erected in1846; at a cost of £4000 is a handsome structure in the decorated style of English architecture, and a perfect revival of an ancient parish church. It is situated on an eminence; and consists of nave, side aisles, south porch, sacristy, and tower and spire 110 feet high. The low massive pillars of the nave, with the deep solemn chancel, have a very striking effect. The east window is richly decorated with stained glass; the centre light has a beautiful representation of the Annunciation, whilst the figures of St. John and St. Joseph ornament the side lights. The altar, font, and tabernacle are richly painted and gilt after the ancient manner. A capacious font of stone stands at the west end of the south aisle, and a beautiful stone image of the Blessed Virgin is placed in a niche over the west door. The cost of the edifice was chiefly raised by the unwearied exertions of the late Rev. John Joseph Collins. Messrs. Weightman and Hadfield, of Sheffield, were the architects.

Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on St Georges Rd

The Wesleyan Methodist chapel was erected in 1810; a stone building, with one bell and clock. In 1844 a day school was added and was opened Sept. 29th, 1845. John Wesley is known to have visited and preached at New Mills on several occasions.
The first Methodist church opened on High Street in 1766. The Association Methodists stone chapel was erected in 1838, which, with four cottages, cost £700. The Primitive Methodists had one, built in 1827, at a cost of £500. The town was described as a stronghold of Methodism.

The Independents, Congregational church (Providence church) on Mellor Road opened 1823 at Whitle, a good stone building, holding 550 people, with a day school attached. Sunday schools were attached to all the chapels.

The Parochial school in Thornsett hamlet was built by subscription, in 1832, at a cost of £350; a stone building it held about 300, the average attendance at the time being about 80. The new parish of New Mills was formed later in 1844, comprising the four hamlets of Beard, Ollersett, Thornsett and Whitle. Many smaller chapels were built throughout the parish almost every community had its own place of worship.

The Ancient Order of Shepherds and Odd Fellows maintained lodges in the town from around this time (pre 1850). A fair is reported to have been held each year on the 11th of May, and the Feast first Sunday after September the 19th.

Church Lane from Spring Bank

Before industrialisation and the coming of the textile mills, the area consisted of scattered hill farms, cottages and hamlets, all with names well known today. Following removal of the deer from the royal forest and relaxation of the forest law in the seventeenth century, a division was made between crown and commoners of the commons and wastes.

The building of farms together with new tracks and roads marked the beginning of a period of prosperity with much rebuilding of farms and halls, and the opening up of many coal mines. A large amount of coal was mined in the eighteenth century and with increased demand in the nineteenth century production continued into deeper mines. Many of these mines were in areas close to the centre of town.

Around 1850 Rowarth was a scattered village in the Thornsett hamlet. It is pleasantly situated, and besides some farm-houses, it contained Ringstones bleach works, two cotton and one paper mill. The Wesleyan Methodists had a small chapel. There was also an Endowed school, where about 40 children received instruction. 

In the late eighteenth century, with the introduction of water power, mechanisation and the factory system for cotton, there was a rapid and fundamental change. New mills based on water power were built in the Torrs, the natural gorge running through the town, on the banks of the two rivers the Sett and Goyt. The Torrs were particularly suitable for mill construction. Rocky waterfalls and cascades in the beds of the rivers allowed the construction of weirs and a steady supply of water; there were good sites on a rocky terrace a few feet above the water within the bends of the river; and the sides of the gorge provided sandstone for building. From the original nucleus of houses built around the 'New Mill', a new town quickly grew up, spreading up what is now High Street and over the fields of the Torr Top estate.

Most small communities in the parish prospered at this time. Rowarth for instance, around 1850 was a scattered village in the Thornsett hamlet. It is pleasantly situated, and besides some farm-houses, it contained Ringstones bleach works, two cotton and one paper mill. The Wesleyan Methodists maintained a small chapel. There was also an Endowed school, where about 40 children received instruction.

By 1851 New Mills had 935 houses and 4,366 inhabitants, of whom 2,230 were males and 2,136 females. New Mills was a busy district, having four calico print works, of which a part were on the Cheshire side of the river Goyt, which at that time divided the counties of Derbyshire and Cheshire. 6 cotton spinners and manufacturers, and 7 candle manufacturers; Grove Mill, Rock Mill, Strines Works, Torr and Torr Top Mills were on the river Goyt. Beard Mill, Garrison Print- works, Bower's Mill, and St. George's Works, a calico printer's engraving establishment were on the river Sett.

Looking towards Birch Vale

Mr. John Potts, in 1821, had first conceived the idea of adopting the method used by engravers in the Potteries, with a view of producing a more durable and brilliant effect. His experiment was crowned with complete success, and proved the origin of a style of engraving adopted by every calico printer, not only in Great Britain and Ireland, but throughout the whole of Europe and America; previous to which, calico printing was done from wood blocks laid on by hand; it was now performed from engravings on copper rollers, moved by steam or water power, the block being superseded.

New houses and shops quickly began to appear in the early nineteenth century as the population rapidly increased. Many houses were built in cramped conditions on the steep slopes above the river Sett near to the mills; most were demolished in the l930s and l950s in clearance programmes. A few houses in New Mills were built on steeply sloping ground; it is possible to find houses which rise to two storeys on one side but three or four storeys on the other. Even today, one household occupies the upper half of such a building while another occupies the 'underliving' in the lower half. Houses on Station Road and Meal Street are examples of these.

The rapid creation of the new town, the building of new streets, houses and shops, the construction of turnpikes, viaducts and railways, schools and chapels, a public hall (later the town hall), the enlargement of mills and the introduction of steam power, the introduction of the calico printing and engraving industries, and the rise of a new industrial suburb, known as Newtown, with five new cotton mills - saw the population and prosperity of New Mills grow throughout the 19th century.

Watford Bridge Print Works

All of this took place without an urban authority. It was not until January 1876 that a municipal authority, the New Mills Urban Sanitary Authority, the local board, met for the first time. From then onwards, the development of New Mills took place within the process of municipalisation and the modern stages of the towns history have been guided first by successive local boards and later by elected councils .

 

Local names and meanings - From the ‘Place names of Derbyshire’
Present name, first appearance in any form, probable meaning.

Aspenshaw, 1285: Aspen copse.
Bankhead, 1472
Beard, 1286: Hillside or edge.
Beardhough, 1285: Nook or corner of land belonging to Beard Hall.
Beardwood, 1285: Wood on the hillside or edge
Blake Hall, 1549
Briergrove, 1538: Copse of briers
Broadhurst, 1625
Cloughhead, 1355
Cold Harbour, 1641 
Crowther, 1549: from the occupational surname Crouther
Diglands, 1511
Downs Bank, 1641: from Robert Downes.
Eaves Knoll, 1767:
Far Slack, 1842
Feeding Hey, 1631
Gibb Hey, 1631: from Robert Gibb.
Gowhole, 1587: From the family name Joule.
Hague Fold, 1776 
Hidebank, from Ralph de Hide.
Highfield, 1857
High Hill, 1842
High Lee, 1842
High Walls, 1842
Hollinhurst Head, 1330
Hollins, 1640: Holly trees.
Howcroft Farm, 1587
Jordanwall Nook, 1640 from Jordan who held the land.
Knightwake, 1285: Dairy farm of the young men.
Ladygate Farm, 1695: the Lidiattyate by others called Thornsettlaneyate.
Ladyshawe Bottom, 1306: Ladda’s copse in the valley.
Low Leighton, 1565: from leac -tun, kitchen garden
Ollersett, 1285: Pasture or fold by the Alders.
Over Lee, 1641
Pole Lane, 1640: Named after the Armfield Pole. (Boundary Pole).
Ravenslack, 1285: Shallow valley frequented by Ravens.
Ravensleach, 1285: Slow, sluggish stream frequented by Ravens.
Redishaw, 1285: Reedy copse.
Ringstones, 1665
Robin Hoods Picking Rods, 1842
Rowarth, 1285: Rough enclosure.
Shedyard, 1433: Yard with a shed.
Spinnerbottom 1546: from the occupational surname Spinnere
Strines, 1285: Watercourse or stream.
Thornsett Fields, 1634
Thornsett, 1086: Thorn tree pasture or fold.
Wethercotes, 1734
Whitle, 1282: White hill.
Whitle Bank, 1593: White bank.