Cotton manufacturing became the largest employer in Preston in the 19th Century. It developed from the first mill in Preston in 1777 and by the middle of the 19th Century 80% of the population of Preston depended on it.
Prior to then there had been a significant spinning and weaving industry based on traditional home based methods. Spinning was the first element to become mechanised in factories. The factory owners putting work out to handloom workers in weavers cottages and bringing it into factories to be finished - bleached, dyed. Ultimately the weaving became mechanised and factory based.
After the Spinning Jenny was invented and enabled multi-spindle spinning it still had to be hand powered. Preston born Richard Arkwright developed the Water Frame in Preston that enabled it to be powered by a water mill which greatly expanded output.
Mill building started in the late 18th century and stopped in the mid-19th century. It resumed from 1890 up to WW1 when a number of large mills were built such as Centenary Mill on New Hall Lane. After that Courtaulds built a rayon mill in 1939. In the 1950's the mills began to close and were used as retail or warehouse centres. In the 2000's mills continued to be demolished and some were converted into apartments. Preston council has cause to retain some mills due to their historic interest and has been seeking interested parties in their local plan 2004.
In 1981 Courtaulds closed their mill and Horrockses moved work from Centenary Mill to the Courtaulds site. In 1986 Centenary Mill was taken over for blue jean manufacture and 50% of UK jean manufacturing was done here employing 3000. A regeneration plan for Centenary Mill (a listed building) was made in 1996 involving restoration and setting up training courses for NVQ at Preston College. In 2005 it was decided the main building would be converted into apartments.
Link to an interesting website about Centenary Mill
1732 Richard Arkwright (1732-92)
Richard Arkwright invented the Water Frame that enabled powered multi-spindled cotton spinning and took advantage of James Hargreaves Spinning Jenny. The new technology put home spinners out of business. This was coupled with the fast weaving enabled by John Kays Flying Shuttle putting home weavers out of work. Groups of workers, called Luddites, broke and burnt the new factories which were the beginning of the 'factory system' on the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.
Arkwright was born in Preston and trained as a barber and wig maker. He set up his first business in Bolton. In 1769 he rented a room at the house of the Headmaster of Preston Grammar School which is preserved as Arkwright House and is located at the end of Stoneygate next to the Minster. It is said that the first water frame was tested in the arch next to the entrance to the Red Lion pub on Church Street.
Arkwright patented the device in 1769 but the patent was later disputed and withdrawn. Arkwright moved to Derbyshire to use his device in a mill at Cromford that had good water supply and was isolated so less likely to be hit by Luddites. Later Arkwright had mills all over Britain and died a wealthy man after being knighted and made High Sheriff of Derbyshire.
The Harris Museum in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery has recently acquired a significant artwork of Richard Arkwright that is expected to be put on display in 2009 and to alternate between the two galleries.
Reference: The following information from the Harris Museum website:
Sir Richard Arkwright (1732-1792)
by Joseph Wright of Derby, ARA (1734-1797)
three-quarter length portrait
oil on canvas, circa 1783--1785
1260 x 1020 (49 5/8 x 40 1/8”)
Inscribed on the reverse by C. M. Hurt, December 1852: ‘His son, Richard Arkwright, and his daughter the late Mrs Charles Hurt always considered this the best portrait of their farther [sic]’.
http://www.harrismuseum.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=291&Itemid=340
1768 John Horrocks (1768-1804)
John Horrocks is probably the most important person in the history of Preston's cotton industry. He set up the Horrockses company, which made cotton goods in Preston that were sold all over the world for over 150 years.
John Horrocks was born in Edgeworth, son of a Quaker, near Bolton in Lancashire in 1768. He was the youngest of two sons in a family of 16 children. His father John Horrocks owned a millstone quarry.
Sometime during the 1780s John began buying cotton and producing yarn which he then took to Preston to sell to John Watson owner of the first cotton mill in Preston. After a disagreement with Watson John was encouraged to set up on his own.
In 1791 John moved to Preston starting off carding cotton and weaving muslin in a building in Turks Head Court. Later, he built the Yellow Factory then a number of other mills followed built with the help of Richard Newsham and John Greaves.
Trade improved dramatically after the East India Company awarded Horrocks the right to become the sole manufacturer of cotton goods exported to India.
Outside his cotton interests John pursued family and political life. He married Mary Lomax of Edgworth in 1790. After renting several houses in Preston they built their first house in 1793 called Golden Square, near to the Yellow Factory and Yard Factory.
In 1801 John Horrocks built himself a mansion in Lower Penwortham known as Penwortham Lodge or Hall. It was like his brother Samuel's house, built in the most up-to-date and fashionable style with all the rooms and facilities that a man with his money and status could afford.
John Horrocks became very rich an important in his own lifetime. He became MP for Preston in 1803 and an advisor on the cotton industry to the government. When he died in 1804 he was believed to have a personal fortune of £750,000.
1766 Samuel Horrocks (1766-1842)
Samuel Horrocks was one of the most successful cotton manufacturers in Preston. His brother John Horrocks was the founder of the Horrockses company who made cotton yarn and cloth in Preston.
Samuel Horrocks was born in Edgworth, near Bolton in 1766.
Samuel became a manager and partner in the cotton spinning and manufacturing business founded by his brother John Horrocks.
Samuel and his family then settled in Preston. In 1797 he built Lark Hill. This was a large house where he lived until his death in 1842. Lark Hill later became a convent school and is now part of Cardinal Newman College.
Samuel Horrocks became a very rich and important person in Preston. He became a very important councillor called an Alderman. He was also Mayor from 1801-1802.
After the death of John Horrocks in 1804 Samuel became MP for Preston. He was MP for 22 years. Unfortunately he is remembered as 'the silent member for Preston'.
Samuel Horrocks died aged 76 in 1842, the year his son Samuel was Guild Mayor. He was buried in St George's churchyard in Preston.
Thomas Miller 1768-1840
Born in Bolton he was brought to Preston by John Horrocks and he eventually became a major shareholder and board member of Horrocks, Whitehead & Miller.
Thomas Miller 1811-1865
Thomas Miller ran the Horrocks company after the death of Samuel Horrocks having inherited his fathers share. His wealth grew and he developed Singleton Hall in the Fylde and bought fine art. His town house being in Winckley Square. He bequeathed the land on which the ornamental Miller Park is located.
Horrockses, Crewdson & Co Ltd
Following a merger with Hollins Brothers in 1885 there was another merger in 1887 with Crewdson.
Link to Courtaulds Rayon page.
