Cayley Banks Mill
of Manchester.
See also John Roberts and Co (Manchester)
1841 'Fire.— On Wednesday afternoon, about three o'clock, a fire broke out in the premises of Mr. Edward Norton, pasteboard manufacturer, Wakefield-street, Oxford-road. An alarm being conveyed to the police-yard, Mr. Rose was speedily on the spot with two engines. The roof and the upper story of the building were then in flames; but it was only necessary to work one of the engines, the Neptune, which being well supplied with water from the river Medlock, which runs close to one end of the building, the fire was extinguished in about three quarters of hour. The building, which is an old one, known as the Cayley Banks Mill, is in three separate occupations. Mr. Norton occupies the three upper stories; the first floor was occupied by Messrs. Blackburne and Sons, machinists; and the basement story by Messrs. P. Sutton and Brothers, spindle makers. The top story is used by Mr. Norton as a drying stove ; and here the fire is supposed to have originated, owing to some paper being hung too near the stove. Fortunately the hands were at work in other parts of the premises, and it was soon discovered. The danger done to Mr. Norton's stock, which consisted principally of paper and pasteboard, is not very serious, but the amount cannot be exactly ascertained. Messrs. Blackburne and Sons did not suffer by the fire, but owing to the wet, and a portion of their machinery being removed, it was damaged to the amount of £50 or upwards. The property of Messrs. Sutton and Brothers was also damaged slightly by the removal. None of the parties are insured. The building belongs to Mr. Heron; it is insured in the West of England. The damage will probably be about £100.'[1]
1847 'Dreadful Accident by Machinery.
A very shocking accident took place on Wednesday in the Cayley Bank Mill, Little Ireland. The machinery in the third story has been kept idle lately, but the upright shaft revolves with the machinery in the other part of the mill, and around this shaft on Wednesday a number of little children were playing, when the clothes of a boy three years of age was caught by the shaft. Two girls of about 12 years old liberated the boy, but their own clothes got entangled, and they were carried round the shaft and dashed with fearful violence against the wall at each revolution. Two minutes elapsed ere the machinery could be stopped, when one of the girls, Bridget Ginty, was quite dead, her head being broken and her brains scattered about the room. The other girl is alive, but not likely to survive the injuries. An inquest has been held on the body of Bridget Ginty before Mr. Chapman, when a verdict of accidental death was returned.—The children had got into the mill unknown to the managers and proprietors.'[2]
1848 Advert: 'Extensive Sale of Valuable Building Materials. By Mr. CANDELET (by order of the directors of the South Junction Railway Company), on Wednesday, the 12th April, 1848, upon the premises: THE Whole of the Valuable BUILDING MATERIALS (except the bricks) the mill known as Cayley Banks Mill, Wakefield-street, Oxford-street, and of sixteen houses situate in John-street and Mary-street, and also of eight houses, situate in Great Marlborough-street and Winkley-street, Oxford-street, Manchester. The sale to commence at ten o'clock. Catalogues may be had two days prior to the sale, at the company's offices in Fountain-street; or from Mr. Candelet, at his offices, 16, Old Millgate. Manchester.'[3]. Note: The mill and adjacent houses were demolished to make way for the M&SJR Oxford Road Station.