North Shore Cotton Mill, Liverpool
This was the only cotton spinning mill in Liverpool in the mid-19th century. Its owners appear to have been relatively benevolent.
It burned down in 1853, and was rebuilt as the Liverpool and North Shore Flour and Rice Mill.
The mill was located alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, immediately north east of the Boundary Bridge, Liverpool. 1890/1893 map here.
1843 'NEW AND IMPROVED IRON ROOF.—
There is now in progress of completion, at the works of Messrs. Garstang, Turner, and North, cotton manufacturers, a shed for the stowage of cotton, the whole of the roof of which, with the exception of the slates, is of cast and wrought iron, of a construction combining great strength and security with extraordinary elegance of design and lightness of appearance. The whole is from the foundry of Mr. John Clayton, Soho Foundry, Preston, and the work is superintended by his foreman, Mr. John Beveridge, who has politely explained to us the manner in which it is put together. The building is 160 feet long and 64 feet wide, and, as there are no central pillars or other support, the span of the principals is equal to the latter. These are each in four castings, handsomely perforated and moulded, forming a flattish eliptic arch below, and carrying out the usual straight pitch of roof above, so that goods may be stowed almost to the slates without interruption, from one end of the building to the other. The castings are so made as to lock into each other with nuts and screws, and each set (forming one principal) weighs about 3 1/2 tons. No stay-bolts, posts, tension-rods, or the like, are required, these being supplied by the divisions or arms of the castings, which form a succession of arches, capable, from the bulk of the metal being on edge, of sustaining a great weight. The lower extremities of each principal, which are nearly perpendicular, up to the spring of the arch, are placed on brick pillars, about 12 feet high, topped with stone, and running down each side, the walls, of which they form part. It was apprehended, that with a great pressure above, these would be thrown somewhat outward from their position, in the absence of abutments ; but on an experiment being made upon one of them, though it was but slightly stayed to keep it upright, it was found that it bore, per se, four tons, without giving way on either side in the smallest perceptible degree ; and when the whole roof is secured together there can be no doubt but one of them would bear half as much more. The same principle of roofing might, we should think, be applied to churches, or other public buildings, even with a span of 100 feet, without any central pillars or support from below. The appearance of the castings from the interior is also highly ornamental, and if painted or otherwise decorated they would be still more so. The spars, ribs, and laths are comparatively light, and are so secured on edge as to bear the required weight of covering, whether of iron, slate, or other material. We have seen, in fine, iron roofs of various kinds, but none so compact and handsome as this; and those especially who are building fireproof warehouses, would do well to inspect it before they decide upon what kind of roof they will adopt. It is also, we think, worthy of the consideration of those engaged in the construction of our new Assize Courts. We have ourselves no acquaintance whatever with Mr. Clayton, and no interest in the matter beyond a desire to bring before the public an improvement that may be found advantageous in many of our larger buildings. The cost (owing, probably, to the present low price of iron) is, we learn, comparatively moderate.'[1]
1845 'Treat to Work-people.— The usual annual fete and rural entertainment, provided by the proprietors of the North Shore cotton factory, for the work-people in their employ, was given on Friday, when about 700 embarked on board a steamer, and were landed at Eastham, where, by dancing on the green, rambling in the wood, and wandering by the river side, they occupied the day in innocent and healthful amusement. They were regaled with sandwiches, coffee, tea, &c., and returned to Liverpool highly delighted with their day's enjoyment. Not only was the day's entertainment provided by the employers, but all of the adult hands had a handsome present of pocket-money made to them, in proportion to their respective stations. The female school-teachers were also presented with new bonnets and ribbons, and the band (24 in number) with becoming uniform—blue jackets, straw hats, dressed with blue ribbons, handsome blue silk sashes, and white trousers.— Liverpool Mercury.'[2]
1846 'THE NORTH SHORE COTTON MILL. We have on several occasions, during the last few years, had occasion to notice the kindly feeling and liberality evinced by the proprietors of this cotton factory (the only one in this town) towards their workpeople, as shown by their regard for their moral and religious welfare, and their health and domestic comfort, as well as their annual festive rural treats given to the whole, young and old. .Mr. Leonard Horner, the government inspector of factories, has, in his last report, furnished some highly interesting particulars demonstrative of the benefits to the people employed, and the system pursued, and which, indeed, go far to remove some of our main objections to the establishment of mills in our town, if they were similarly conducted.
The partners are Mr. J. Aspinall Turner and Mr. J. Garstang, of Manchester, and Mr. R. Ford North, the latter residing here and having the chief local direction. There are employed about 854 hands; of whom 68 are boys and girls under thirteen years of age; 378 young persons between thirteen and eighteen (chiefly girls); and the remainder males and females), from twenty-one to forty and upwards. Mr. Callon, the certifying surgeon appointed by the inspector, is also the medical attendant all the hands, young and old, and has a surgery on the premises, where he may be consulted daily, those confined at home being there attended. He receives from the concern £200 a year, to which all the hands earning upwards 4s. week contribute 1d. weekly, those earning less being exempt. The deficiency in the amount thus collected, which may be from £40 t0 £50, is paid by the proprietors.
There is long school-room on the premises, which is daily attended by the children employed, and also by those of the work people living in the adjoining cottages — altogether by about 200. A night school is open. The school is open for two hours every Sunday morning. Two separate rooms are appropriated to male and female adults. Instruction is given by 70 teachers, all volunteers from among the overlookers and others employed in the mill, some attending alternate Sundays, others every Sunday,— Mr. North and the book-keeper acting as superintendents. Spelling, reading, and the church catechism are taught in the Sunday school, explanations of the lessons read, &c. After this the church service abbreviated, and afterwards short practical sermon, are read by one of the proprietors, to an assemblage of to persons, chiefly composing the scholars, teachers, and the inhabitants of the cottages, and amongst them are some creditable singers, and instrumental performers (from amongst the hands), the instruments given to them by Mr. North, who has had them instructed. .......'[3]
1849 'On Christmas-day the proprietor of North Shore Cotton mill having regaled all his hands with an excellent dinner, stated to them that he should from that day raise their wages 10 per cent. — an announcement which was greeted with load cheers.— Liverpool Albion.'[4]
1853 'DESTRUCTION OF THE NORTH SHORE COTTON MILL. On Tuesday night, the North Shore Mill, on the banks of tho Leeds nnd Liverpool Canal, near Vauxball-road, the only cotton factory Liverpool possessed, was totally destroyed by fire. This, it is unnecessary to premise to the local reader, was an immense structure, even of its kind, and about one thousand people were employed within its walla. The building, which was cruciform, was eight storeys in height, and after stretching a long front to the bank of the canal extended backwards the same height for a considerable distance. Some idea of the extent of the place may be formed probably from the fact that there were 365 windows in it. The mill, which was formerly the property of Mr. R. F. North, changed hands, we believe, about two years ago, and is now the property of Messrs. John and Alexander Brogden. Attached to building, a long, low cotton shed stretches to the southward, and in this was stored a very heavy stock of cotton, valued roughly from £12,000 to £20,000. Parallel with this shed were series of terraced cottage-houses, four stories in height, erected by the late proprietor for the use of the workpeople. .....'[5]