Quarry Bank Document Bank

Produced by the Formal Learning department at Quarry Bank.

For use within schools and across the curriculum

Archive documents with transcripts relating to different aspects of

Quarry Bank Mill

1. Mill Memoranda: 1784 Lease of the mill

and land to Samuel Greg from Lord Stamford.

1. Mill Memoranda: 1784 Lease of the mill

Mill Memoranda

The Mill Memoranda is a complied dairy of events that happened at

Quarry bank between 1784 and 1925. The hand written book

comes in two volumes, the first created by R. H Greg and the sec-

ond by mill manager John Hewitt.

Transcript:

‘1784. The first lease from Lord Stamford appears to have borne the

date from 1784 and is made to Samuel Greg and John Massey Es-

quires, The latter to be the practical partner and to work the mill.

Massey died same year and S. Greg paid his executors £1055 for mon-

ey he had personally expanded and to get clear of all claims arising out

of the partnership and lease. S. Greg had then to learn his business in

all its branches, He found the machinery of bad quality and most of it

had to be renewed but seems to have been put into action about 1785.

This was just after the termination of Arkwright's Patent.’

2. 1803. Oak Farm and Estate

Mill Memoranda

Transcript:

‘As the Oak Farm and Estate has been always to some extent connected

and identified with the mill it will be proper to mention a few particulars

concerning it. This Farm was brought by Samuel Greg about 1803, a

freehold in the middle of Lord Stamford's Estate. The reversion cost it

seems £2100, probably the lives were purchased about same time. It

consists of about 60 Statue Acres, and is cut through the middle by Lord

S’s leasehold farm of Toad Lane.’

3. Notice of workers laid of in 1931

Through out the mill history there has been many turning points.

This letter shows a difficult time where it became not economical

viable to run the mill so employees had to be sadly let go.

Transcript:

‘Notice

Owing to the difficulty of obtaining professional orders to run all the

looms it has been become regrettably necessary to cut down the work of

looms to those sufficient to weave only (10 x 11) and other that can be

obtained at a fair price.

It is regretted therefore that it is necessary to dispense with the preserve

of all but a few workers. The legal seven days notice is hereby

Weavers will finish as their weft are woven out, unless engaged

Winders on the 8th July.

Mr Henshall,

Manager

1/07/31’

3. Notice of workers laid of in 1931

4. 1929 Wage book

4. 1929 Wage book

1929 Wage book:

The page shown is just for the workers in weaving rooms two and

three. Just in these two rooms there are 32 workers. Over the next

pages for the same dates workers at the mill amount to

approximately 80.

The pages are spilt by job role, such as weavers, odd hands, and

beaming rooms.

As the years progress the number of workers declines due to

competition from the Asian rising textile industry, due to Britain not

updating the textile machinery from the 19th century.

The workers are listed in one long list rather than being spilt

according to job role. The wage book finishes in 1959 with the

closer of the mill.

The wage books where kept throughout the mills life time. Here

every employee had a number, their work was recorded to determine

their pay.

5. 1941 Wage book

5. 1941 Wage book

Wage book

This pages shows the 1941 during World War 2. Here instead of the

worker being listed into sections due to job type, the workers are

listed in one long list.

At this point there are only 17 workers. Many workers were laid off

due to it being inefficient to run the weaving sheds at full capacity.

During the war years the Greg's fought for many of their workers not

to be conscripted in to the armed services. Saying they were com-

pleting essential skilled job roles.

6. 1951 Wage book

6. 1951 Wage book

Wage Book

Here in the 1951 wage book, the workers are reduced further to 12

workers.

This continued to be due to the rising and cheap Asian textile indus-

try, as well as the lack of reliable buyers for Quarry Banks cotton tex-

tiles.

7. 1959 Wage book

7. 1959 Wage book

Wage Book

In 1959 there where only 3 workers in the mill. Due to increased

competition from abroad as well as the Greg family members

having increased interests in other enterprises instead of the mill. It

became not viable to run the mill, thus in 1959 Quarry Bank shut

down its textiles production.

8. Letter referring to the Building of the

suspension Bridge

8. Letter referencing the building of the

Suspension Bridge

Over the years during the 19th century and early 20th century, the

Greg’s spent time developing the surrounding landscape and

gardens of Quarry Bank.

This letters written in 1840 shows one of the Robert Phillip Greg

asking sister Caroline Greg about how the building of a small

suspension bridge is going.

The quote below is situated on the last line of the bottom of the

first page and carries on to the start of the next page.

In the rest of the letter Robert Philips Greg talking about what

books he is going to read as well as telling his sister about a

dream where refused to marry a lady.

Transcript

‘How is the suspension bridge on, has Mamma gone over it yet or Mrs

Radcliffe?’

9. A letter from John Colston to a Greg Son

9. A letter from John Colston to a Greg Son

John Colston was the Unitarian Minister and close friends of

the Greg’s. As the Greg’s were also Unitarians they built

Norcliffe Chapel in Styal village. Here Colston was the

Minister.

Colston took interest in the Greg family children, he often wrote

to them asking about their schooling.

An example of this is shown here in this letter. Where john

writes to Robert Phillip Greg in 1840.

Transcript:

‘My Dear Robin,

t afforded me much pleasure , under my care of friends, to know that

you and Edward are happy at school’ and I sincerely hope you will

entertain. Indeed I am sure you will if you thrive, as I believe you do,

to do your duty as a pupil to Mr Mallatow and as a companion to

your school fellows. Always strictly attend to the rules of the school

and never be unkind to your companions. If they should not be kind

to your friends and you.’

The following pages read

‘ wine and I take if four times a day for my cough, hope it will do my

good.

We are going to have an exhibition with the mechanics institute at

Stockport, and your papa has been kind enough to lend one or two

of his things for exhibition, His armour, swords, dagger and lions

head among some of the things. As long they are taken good care

of.’

10. Employing a Gardner

10. Employing a Gardner

The Greg’s employed a series of gardeners to look after the estate

and private garden at Quarry Bank.

This letter refers to the employing of Mr Watts in 1937, to maintain

the gardens and hedges as well as use the garage for storage.

Transcript:

‘Dear Mr Watts,

Mr. Greg has asked me to pass to you the enclosed draft agreement for

your personal and comments. He thinks that clause relating to the

maintenance of the gardens and hedges and the use of the garage

should be added. Also a plan of the holding which could be prepared

here.

Yours respectfully’

11. Reda Television company

11. Reda Television company

After the mill reduced production due to overseas competition in

the 1950’s, the Greg's rented out parts of the mill to different

companies for income. One of the companies was Reda TV

company, which was housed in what was the apprentice house.

This letter refers to building work and alterations at the apprentice

house by Reda. Here the mill is trying to save money and lower

costs of alterations.

Transcript:

‘ Apprentice house Reda,

I discussed the matter further with Mr Henshall on Tuesday, and I

understand that Reda consider that the works can be carried can be

carried out for a considerably less sum than has so far been mentioned;

In the circumstances, I wonder whether you would be good enough to

have an extra copy of the specification plan made, I will ask Reda if they

would like to obtain an additional tender from their own builder; the work

would of course have to be carried out to your satisfaction, but if the

tender they obtain is substantially less than the others it will prove a

saving to all concerned.’

12. Quarry Bank House gate

12. Quarry Bank House gate 1860

The Greg’s constantly built and developed the site Quarry Bank,

including the building of Quarry Bank House as a family residence

for the Greg’s. The house even had a later wing added on with

more bedrooms and servants quarters. The Greg’s also added a

gate to the entrance of Quarry Bank House and Gardens which

can still be seen today.

This document from the archive shows a blue print for the gate

1860 design. Note the specifications the Greg’s have made for the

height of the gate to allow for carriages and houseback.

Transcript:

‘Bottom of lamp to road should not be lower than 10 feet

Gate post 18 inch squared by 4.7 high for one and of 4.3 for the other

Width between centre of posts11.8 feet’

These resources are under development,

any feedback is always welcome.

Quarry.Learning@nationaltrust.org.uk

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