Compstall

Last updated

Compstall
Compstall Athenaeum 0164.JPG
The Athenaeum
Greater Manchester UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Compstall
Location within Greater Manchester
OS grid reference SJ963908
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town STOCKPORT
Postcode district SK6
Dialling code 0161
Police Greater Manchester
Fire Greater Manchester
Ambulance North West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Greater Manchester
53°24′50″N2°03′14″W / 53.414°N 2.054°W / 53.414; -2.054 Coordinates: 53°24′50″N2°03′14″W / 53.414°N 2.054°W / 53.414; -2.054

Compstall is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England; it is situated between Marple Bridge and Romiley and is historically part of Cheshire. It was formerly a mill village, built by George Andrew in the 1820s to house his 800 workers. Most of the original mill cottages and other structures remain unchanged.

Contents

The waterways were also constructed by Andrew to carry water from the weir, on the River Etherow, to turn the mill wheels, which stood where the car park is today. A water wheel called "Big Lily" was the largest in England when it was built in 1839. [1] The former millpond forms part of Etherow Country Park, one of the oldest country parks in England. [2]

History

Compstall was first noted as a place where farmers would meet to trade and sell their sheep. The sheep were held at Barlow Fold, Greave Fold, Ratcliffe Fold, Beacom Fold and Lower Fold. In the market place today can be seen the touch stone where deals were made. The touch stone is a glacial erratic deposited during the last ice age. The deal having been agreed, the parties would spit on their hands and hit the stone, sealing the deal. [3]

In 1804, the Andrew family established a water-driven calico printing business downstream from the present mill site. [4] In 1821, Thomas Andrew died. The Manchester Guardian of 22 September recorded "On Friday morning the 14th inst. suddenly of angina pectoris, under which he had laboured for some years, Thomas Andrew, Esq, of Harpurhey aged 68. He has left a widow and numerous family to lament his loss." His son George Andrew I reorganised the business. He built a water-powered cotton mill and a reservoir to power the wheels. He had a steam engine to provide backup power. The earliest workers' cottages had been built in the southern side of the bridge in 1806; in 1823, cottages were built along Market Street on the north side and this became the heart of the village. With further mills, further houses were added to the north of the village and, by 1839, the village was almost complete. [4]

The Touch Stone, a glacial erratic deposited during the last ice age, is where deals were made in the Market Place. Compstall Touchstone 0243.JPG
The Touch Stone, a glacial erratic deposited during the last ice age, is where deals were made in the Market Place.

A Co-op store was opened in 1851 and further shops followed. The first church was the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. The Andrews family built the multipurpose Athenaeum in 1865. St Paul's Church of England church was built in the Early English style. [1]

Steam and gas lighting were installed in the mill by 1890 and these were replaced by electricity in 1915. [1]

Compstall Mills

George Andrew experimented with printing; then, on the death of his father, started on the mill complex on the site we know today. Between 1833 and 1833, he built Old Mill, a five-storey L-shaped building that fronted on the river and on Market Street. At the north end of the building, there was a four-storey building that housed the water wheel. During the six years from 1833 to 1839, the Scotland Mill, the Victoria Mill, Provans Mill and Noah's Ark weaving sheds were built. The first two water wheels, Old Josh and North Wheel, were supplemented by the giant Lily Wheel in 1838. This was 17 ft (5.2 m) wide and 50 ft (15 m) in diameter and was built by Fairburn and Lillie. [1]

The cottages on Montagu Street were built by George Andrew to house his mill workers. Compstall - Montagu Street.JPG
The cottages on Montagu Street were built by George Andrew to house his mill workers.

The North Mill was added between 1839 and 1847 and the mill office was extended. The Albert Mill and a range of riverside buildings, including the mechanics shop were extended between 1847 and 1872. Over the next 25 years, many extra weaving sheds were added and extended. By 1907, a new engine house had been added. [4]

Future developments

The first calico printing works was opened by Thomas Andrew downstream of the bridge. Compstall Mills 0161.JPG
The first calico printing works was opened by Thomas Andrew downstream of the bridge.

After a long period of consultation, planning permission was sought in July 2009 to restore and redevelop the site. It was proposed that there should be 121 residential units and 25,136 square feet (2,335.2 m2) of commercial space. The Victoria and Albert Mills would be refurbished to create 58 apartments. The Engine House would be restored and house the existing electricity sub-station and provide industrial space. The boiler house, with its traces of the Lily Wheel pit, would be restored and be used as commercial space. The Scotland Mill would be demolished and replaced with the New Scotland Mill with 32 two-bedroom duplex apartments overlooking the Country Park. The building would mirror the length, height and form of the original mill, using complementary materials. New 3- and 4-bedroom terraced family houses would be built along the north bank of the river where the mechanic shop once stood. A new clubhouse for Etherow Country Park Sailing Club would be built on or near the site of the now demolished Noah's Ark shed. [5]

As with any scheme, there would be landscaping, the site would be tidied, parking provided and public open spaces constructed.

Other landmarks

Compstall Hall was built by George Andrew in 1825 in the Grecian Villa style, with an imposing driveway and entrance. [6] It was owned by James Walton during the 1850s. [7]

Compstall Bridge is a Grade II listed building and carries the B6104 road over the River Etherow. [8]

Etherow Country Park

Etherow Country Park was established in 1968, making it one of the oldest country parks in England. It covers 240 acres and includes several millponds and other industrial relics alongside the River Etherow. The Goyt Way starts in Etherow Country Park and runs through Compstall, Marple and New Mills to Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire, a distance of 10 miles (16 km).

See also

Related Research Articles

River Etherow River in north west England

The River Etherow is a river in northern England, and a tributary of the River Goyt. Although now passing through South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Greater Manchester, it historically formed the ancient county boundary between Cheshire and Derbyshire. The upper valley is known as Longdendale. The river has a watershed of approximately 30 square miles (78 km2), and the area an annual rainfall of 52.5 inches (1,330 mm).

River Goyt River in northwest England

The River Goyt is a tributary of the River Mersey in North West England.

Porter Brook River in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

The Porter Brook is a river which flows through the City of Sheffield, England, descending over 1,000 feet (300 m) from its source on Burbage Moor to the west of the city to its mouth where it joins the River Sheaf in a culvert beneath Sheffield railway station. Like the other rivers in Sheffield, its steep gradient made it ideal for powering water mills and works associated with the metalworking and cutlery industries, and around 20 dams were constructed over the centuries to facilitate this. At its lower end, it is extensively culverted, but parts of it are gradually being restored to open channels, as part of a daylighting scheme for the city.

Quarry Bank Mill National Trust preserved textile mill in Cheshire, England

Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, Cheshire, England, is one of the best preserved textile factories of the Industrial Revolution. Built in 1784, the cotton mill is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. Quarry Bank Mill was established by Samuel Greg, and was notable for innovations both in machinery and also in its approach to labour relations, the latter largely as a result of the work of Greg's wife, Hannah Lightbody. The family took a somewhat paternalistic attitude toward the workers, providing medical care for all and limited education to the children, but all laboured roughly 72 hours per week until 1847 when a new law shortened the hours.

Etherow Country Park Park in Compstall, England

Etherow Country Park is situated at Compstall, England, between Marple Bridge and Romiley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester. It is a Local Nature Reserve and the starting point of the Goyt Way.

The Moss

The Moss is a brook in North East Derbyshire, England.

Romiley Human settlement in England

Romiley is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, it borders Marple, Bredbury and Woodley. At the 2011 census, the Romiley ward, which includes Compstall, Bredbury Green and a large part of Bredbury, had a population of 14,139.

Sarehole Mill Water mill on the River Cole in Hall Green, Birmingham, England

Sarehole Mill is a Grade II listed water mill, in an area once called Sarehole, on the River Cole in Hall Green, Birmingham, England. It is now run as a museum by the Birmingham Museums Trust. It is known for its association with J. R. R. Tolkien and is one of only two working water mills in Birmingham, with the other being New Hall Mill in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield.

Bredbury Town, Greater Manchester

Bredbury is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, 7.9 miles (12.7 km) south-east of Manchester, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) east of Stockport and 3.2 miles (5.1 km) south-west of Hyde. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 16,721.

Metropolitan Borough of Stockport Borough of Greater Manchester, England

The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England, south-east of central Manchester. As well as the towns of Stockport, Bredbury and Marple, it includes the outlying areas of Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme Gatley, Reddish, Woodley and Romiley. In 2001, it had a population of 284,500.

Marple Bridge Human settlement in England

Marple Bridge is a district of Marple in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, on the River Goyt, which runs through the centre of the village, close to Marple.

Romiley railway station Railway station in Greater Manchester, England

Romiley railway station serves Romiley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England.

Old Hay Brook

The Old Hay Brook is a small river in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is formed from the Redcar Brook, Blacka Dike and another stream, which rise on moors to the south of Sheffield, and is joined by Needham's Dyke near Totley Grange. At Totley Rise it joins Totley Brook, to become the River Sheaf. Water from the river was used to power mills processing lead, corn and paper from at least the 17th century, which were later used for grinding scythes as the Sheffield metal industry expanded. All the mills were defunct by 1900, although some remnants including weirs and dams are still visible.

Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills

The Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills is a museum of industrial heritage located in Armley, near Leeds, in West Yorkshire, Northern England. The museum includes collections of textile machinery, railway equipment and heavy engineering amongst others.

River Whitewater River in Hampshire, England

The River Whitewater rises at springs near Bidden Grange Farm between Upton Grey and Greywell in Hampshire, England. It flows northeast and is a tributary of the River Blackwater near Swallowfield. Its headwaters flow over chalk and there is little pollution making the River Whitewater rich in wildlife. It was noted on Jansson's map of Hampshire of 1646.

Land Yeo River in north Somerset, England

The Land Yeo is a small river which flows through North Somerset, England.

Kirk Mill Cotton mill in Chipping, Lancashire, England

Kirk Mill is an early example of an Arkwright-type cotton mill and a grade II listed building in Chipping, Lancashire, in Ribble Valley, to the north of Preston, Lancashire, England. It was built in the 1780s on the site of a corn mill dating from at least 1544. The mill continued spinning cotton using water frames and then throstles until 1886, when it was sold and became HJ Berry's chairmaking factory. It was powered by a 32 ft (9.8 m) waterwheel which continued in use, generating electricity until the 1940s.

Mellor Mill Former six-story cotton mill in Marple, England

Mellor Mill, also known as Bottom's Mill, was a six-story cotton mill in Marple, Greater Manchester built by Samuel Oldknow in 1793. This was a six-storey, 42-foot (13 m) wide and 210-foot (64 m) long mill with additional three-storey wings making it 400 feet (120 m) in all. The mill was built for Samuel Oldknow and used to spin coarse counts. It was originally driven by the Wellington water wheel. The River Goyt, and with it the then county boundary between Derbyshire and Cheshire was diverted and a weir built, the leat fed a millpond that in later times was named the Roman Lakes. This in turn fed a second mill pond along with water from reservoir in Linnet Clough. Supplementary power was provided by a second exterior wheel known as the Waterloo wheel. The Mill reached its peak production in 1804, when 10,080 spindles were operating and around 550 people were employed. It was destroyed by fire in 1892.

Bredbury and Romiley are towns in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The towns, together with the area of Woodley and the village of Compstall and the surrounding countryside, contain 43 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, two are listed at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade.

Painswick Stream

Painswick Stream is a small river in Gloucestershire, England. It is a tributary of the River Frome, and flows generally southwards, passing around the village of Painswick and through the town of Stroud. It used to join the Frome at its mouth, but was diverted into the then-derelict Stroudwater Navigation as part of a flood relief scheme in the 1950s. Despite its small size, it has been used to power a significant number of mills, many of which were associated with cloth manufacture until the industry was hit by a series of depressions in the 1820s and 1830s. Some found other uses, being used for grinding corn and for the manufacture of walking sticks and umbrella sticks, another prominent local industry. Many were subsequently demolished, but a number survive which have been granted listed building status.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Conservation Area Appraisal : Compstall". Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. March 2006. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  2. "Etherow Country Park". Friends of Etherow Country Park. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  3. An interpretation board on site.
  4. 1 2 3 "Historic Development of Compstall and the mills estate" (PDF). Ask. 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Ask about Compstall- News July 2009". Ask Life. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  6. "Compstall Hall". Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  7. Williams, Richard (1894). Montgomeryshire worthies. Newtown: Phillips & Son. p. 308.
  8. Historic England. "Compstall Bridge (Grade II) (1242008)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 December 2014.