Eveleigh and Neave
of Greengate, Salford
1840 Advert: 'TO COAL OWNERS, RAILWAY CONTRACTORS, MINERS, EXCAVATORS. &c. HALL'S PATENT HYDRAULIC BELT, or WATER ELEVATOR.— By this simple, efficient, and economical invention, which has many advantages over pumps of every description, water is raised and discharged at any required elevation. - The work produced in portion to the power applied is much greater than in the case of the ordinary pump of the best construction. The apparatus is now at work on the premises of Messrs. Eveleigh and Neave, Greengate, Salford, where it may be inspected any day, from nine to ten o'clock in the morning, and from three to four the afternoon; also at Mr. Ed. Hall's, Sunny Bank, Ordsall Lane, Salford; and at the tunnel, on the Manchester and Sheffield Railway, at Salter's Brook. A working model be inspected at the King's Arms, King-street, Manchester, where Mr. Hall may be personally consulted.'[1]
1845 'Destructive Fire in Salford. Early on Thursday morning, a fire broke out in the hat manufactory of Messrs. Eveleigh & Sons, Greengate, Salford. The buildings are somewhat extensive, occupying two sides of a square, to which access is given by a large archway from Greengate, and the two buildings were connected in the angle by a wooden gangway. The fire was discovered about ten minutes before two, by a woman named Thomas, residing in Sandiwell Court, at the back, who saw a quantity of smoke issuing from the windows of the finishing room. She immediately went round to the front gates, and alarmed Mr. Turner, the overseer, whose house is just within the gateway. He found the flames bursting from the windows of the finishing room, which is in the bottom story of the building, (a three storied one) on the left of the court. An alarm was given at the Salford fire police station, and two engines, the Nile and Deluge, were speedily on the spot, accompanied by Mr. Darling, superintendent of the fire-police force. They were got into play in about fifteen minutes, but the flames, fanned by a strong west wind, and fed by the combustible materials with which the premises were filled, rapidly spread, and not only enveloped the whole of the building in which they had originated, but seized on the wooden gangway, and by that means communicated to the principal building, the one opposite the entrance, which was occupied as warehouse. This building was very full of goods, few of which could be saved, and the flames, thus fed, raged almost uncontrollably. Notice of the fire had also been given at the Manchester station, and Mr. Rose was speedily on the spot with two engines. A private engine was also sent by Mr. Huitson Dearman, of Springfield Lane ; and by the united and persevering exertions of the two forces of firemen, aided by a good supply of water, the progress of the flames was stayed in about two hours, but not until the building in which they originated, which was occupied as a silk body-making shop and finishing room, was completely gutted, and a great portion of the warehouse was destroyed. The cottages at the back were at one time thought to be in great danger, as were the other buildings in the square, one of which is occupied as a day and Sunday school, in connection with the rising church of St. Silas, in Springfield Lane, and also the house of the foreman ; but the flames were prevented from spreading in that direction. It not known how the fire originated ; the men had been at work as usual on Wednesday, and the customary precautions were taken on locking up the premises. The damage is very considerable; Messrs. Eveleigh's stock was exceedingly large, the season being one when the greatest demand occurs; and the loss is estimated at between 9 and £10,000. The building on the left of the court belonged Messrs Eveleigh, and, with the stock, was insured in the Imperial Office; the other building, the warehouse, belongs to the executors of Mrs. Norton. We have not heard whether it was insured.'[2]
Location
The 1849 OS map [3] shows the 'Hat Manufactory' comprising odd-shaped buildings, primarily an L-shaped building and a larger '7'-shaped building, part of the back of which was a few feet away from the large Green Gate Mills, the rest of the back overlooking the River Irwell. The two buildings were connected by a bridge, presumably the wooden gangway which served to spread the 1845 fire. The map shows the archway which led from Greengate to the works yard.
See Also
Sources of Information
[[Category: Town - Salford]