Difference between revisions of "Shooter's Brook"
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It was too small to support much industry, although it was doubtless much abused for disposal of effluent. | It was too small to support much industry, although it was doubtless much abused for disposal of effluent. | ||
Green's map of Manchester & Salford, surveyed in 1787 - 1794, shows several buildings which may have drawn power from the stream. The most notable was Mr Salvin's Factory in Ancoats, which straddled the stream. A larger building is shown alongside, and a smaller one straddling the stream a short distance north. Salvin's was significant as the first factory used by McConnel and Kennedy (in partnership with Benjamin and William Sandford) to produce textile machinery. Slightly further downstream are shown an iron works and a pottery. | Green's map of Manchester & Salford, surveyed in 1787 - 1794, shows several buildings which may have drawn power from the stream. The most notable was Mr Salvin's Factory in Ancoats, which straddled the stream. A larger building is shown alongside, and a smaller one straddling the stream a short distance north. | ||
''''Salvin's Factory''' | |||
Salvin's was significant as the first factory used by McConnel and Kennedy (in partnership with [[Benjamin and William Sandford]]) to produce textile machinery. Slightly further downstream are shown an iron works and a pottery. | |||
'Salvin's Factory' was extensively remodelled and expanded over the years, and disappeared with Ancoat's transformation to a dense concentration of industry and housing. The area was subsequently cleared, leaving nothing of interest, with no sign of Shooter's Brook. However, the site's importance was recognised, and it underwent archaeological investigation. An excellent book, published in 2007, reveals the findings relating to Salvin's factory, to the slightly later New Islington Mill, and traces the history of the area and its industries <ref> 'A & G Murray and the Cotton Mills of Ancoats': I Miller & C Wild and S Little, R McNeil, K Moth: Lancaster Imprints: ISBN 978-0-904220-46-9 </ref> | 'Salvin's Factory' was extensively remodelled and expanded over the years, and disappeared with Ancoat's transformation to a dense concentration of industry and housing. The area was subsequently cleared, leaving nothing of interest, with no sign of Shooter's Brook. However, the site's importance was recognised, and it underwent archaeological investigation. An excellent book, published in 2007, reveals the findings relating to Salvin's factory, to the slightly later New Islington Mill, and traces the history of the area and its industries <ref> 'A & G Murray and the Cotton Mills of Ancoats': I Miller & C Wild and S Little, R McNeil, K Moth: Lancaster Imprints: ISBN 978-0-904220-46-9 </ref> | ||
Bancks's 1831 map reveals a marked change in the character of the area, with a change from a few small factories alongside a stream which meandered through fields, to an urban and industrial area. 'Salvin's Factory' had become the cotton mill of [[Sandford and Green]]. The mill had a complex shape, but seems to have been aligned to the original building which straddled Shooter's Brook, suggesting that the mill had expanded in stages from the original building. The brook had been largely culverted, with just a short exposed stretch entering the narrow northern leg of the mill. Along the south west flank of the mill was a dog-legged road called Sandford Street. | |||
The 1849 O.S. map shows little change in the shape of the mill. | |||
The 1891 O.S. map suggests that extensive remodelling had taken place. Just one wall of the premises seems to have retained its original alignment. This, and the crookedness of Sandford Street, stand out amidst the generally linear pattern of the surrounding buildings and streets, and this jaunty angularity provided the only link with the natural landscape of the past. | |||
'''Reports from the Past''' | |||
1838 Report: 'NUISANCE FROM SHOOTER'S BROOK. Charles Simpson and Thomas Yates, inspectors appointed by the nuisance committee of the Manchester police commissioners, presented Messrs. [[Joseph Whitworth and Co]]., machine-makers, of Chorlton street, and Messrs. Samuel and Sarah Isherwood, of Bloom-street, for a nuisance arising from the insufficiency of a culvert in Granby-row fields, Lower Brook Street. Mr Shorland, surveyor to the commissioners, having been sworn, stated that on the 22d of January 1835, he drew the attention of the paving and soughing commissioners to this culvert, which was then in the course of formation, and notice of its insufficiency was then given to the parties engaged in its construction. Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Isherwood had purchased the land through which Shooter's brook ran, from Aytoun's estate, and to make the whole of the land available, made the culvert, which was however very unsuitable for the conveyance of the water, and backing it up at flood times, occasioned the inundation of all the property between London-road and Granby-row fields. The tunnel in Store-street was of twenty-two feet passage, and that was very inadequate ;whilst that put in by Mr. Hadfield, and which was near the Catholic chapel, contained only sixteen feet, and that put down by Mr. Isherwood but thirteen feet and a half. The flood in the poor people's houses in that neighbourhood last December, by the backing of the water, was as high as four feet one inch. The confined part was eighty yards in length, and extended from the Bridgewater Canal to Isherwood's spindle manufactory. By getting the consent of [[Francis Egerton|Lord Francis Egerton]], the water might be turned into the tunnel by Mr. Knowles's coal-yard. Store-street was often flooded, even with a large tunnel, to the depth of two feet six inches. To make the alterations either in London-road, or to re-tunnel the land, would cost about £200, and it might be done within three months. Messrs. Whitworth and Co. had purchased the part belonging to Mr. Hadfield. The tunnel complained of lay between Chorlton-street and a branch of the canal lately cut by Mr. Green—The jury amerced the parties in £5, to be increased to £250 if the nuisance were not abated within four months.' <ref>Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 5th May 1838</ref> | 1838 Report: 'NUISANCE FROM SHOOTER'S BROOK. Charles Simpson and Thomas Yates, inspectors appointed by the nuisance committee of the Manchester police commissioners, presented Messrs. [[Joseph Whitworth and Co]]., machine-makers, of Chorlton street, and Messrs. Samuel and Sarah Isherwood, of Bloom-street, for a nuisance arising from the insufficiency of a culvert in Granby-row fields, Lower Brook Street. Mr Shorland, surveyor to the commissioners, having been sworn, stated that on the 22d of January 1835, he drew the attention of the paving and soughing commissioners to this culvert, which was then in the course of formation, and notice of its insufficiency was then given to the parties engaged in its construction. Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Isherwood had purchased the land through which Shooter's brook ran, from Aytoun's estate, and to make the whole of the land available, made the culvert, which was however very unsuitable for the conveyance of the water, and backing it up at flood times, occasioned the inundation of all the property between London-road and Granby-row fields. The tunnel in Store-street was of twenty-two feet passage, and that was very inadequate ;whilst that put in by Mr. Hadfield, and which was near the Catholic chapel, contained only sixteen feet, and that put down by Mr. Isherwood but thirteen feet and a half. The flood in the poor people's houses in that neighbourhood last December, by the backing of the water, was as high as four feet one inch. The confined part was eighty yards in length, and extended from the Bridgewater Canal to Isherwood's spindle manufactory. By getting the consent of [[Francis Egerton|Lord Francis Egerton]], the water might be turned into the tunnel by Mr. Knowles's coal-yard. Store-street was often flooded, even with a large tunnel, to the depth of two feet six inches. To make the alterations either in London-road, or to re-tunnel the land, would cost about £200, and it might be done within three months. Messrs. Whitworth and Co. had purchased the part belonging to Mr. Hadfield. The tunnel complained of lay between Chorlton-street and a branch of the canal lately cut by Mr. Green—The jury amerced the parties in £5, to be increased to £250 if the nuisance were not abated within four months.' <ref>Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 5th May 1838</ref> | ||
Revision as of 16:55, 28 December 2013
On of Manchester's minor rivers, now fully culverted.
It was too small to support much industry, although it was doubtless much abused for disposal of effluent.
Green's map of Manchester & Salford, surveyed in 1787 - 1794, shows several buildings which may have drawn power from the stream. The most notable was Mr Salvin's Factory in Ancoats, which straddled the stream. A larger building is shown alongside, and a smaller one straddling the stream a short distance north.
'Salvin's Factory
Salvin's was significant as the first factory used by McConnel and Kennedy (in partnership with Benjamin and William Sandford) to produce textile machinery. Slightly further downstream are shown an iron works and a pottery.
'Salvin's Factory' was extensively remodelled and expanded over the years, and disappeared with Ancoat's transformation to a dense concentration of industry and housing. The area was subsequently cleared, leaving nothing of interest, with no sign of Shooter's Brook. However, the site's importance was recognised, and it underwent archaeological investigation. An excellent book, published in 2007, reveals the findings relating to Salvin's factory, to the slightly later New Islington Mill, and traces the history of the area and its industries [1]
Bancks's 1831 map reveals a marked change in the character of the area, with a change from a few small factories alongside a stream which meandered through fields, to an urban and industrial area. 'Salvin's Factory' had become the cotton mill of Sandford and Green. The mill had a complex shape, but seems to have been aligned to the original building which straddled Shooter's Brook, suggesting that the mill had expanded in stages from the original building. The brook had been largely culverted, with just a short exposed stretch entering the narrow northern leg of the mill. Along the south west flank of the mill was a dog-legged road called Sandford Street.
The 1849 O.S. map shows little change in the shape of the mill.
The 1891 O.S. map suggests that extensive remodelling had taken place. Just one wall of the premises seems to have retained its original alignment. This, and the crookedness of Sandford Street, stand out amidst the generally linear pattern of the surrounding buildings and streets, and this jaunty angularity provided the only link with the natural landscape of the past.
Reports from the Past
1838 Report: 'NUISANCE FROM SHOOTER'S BROOK. Charles Simpson and Thomas Yates, inspectors appointed by the nuisance committee of the Manchester police commissioners, presented Messrs. Joseph Whitworth and Co., machine-makers, of Chorlton street, and Messrs. Samuel and Sarah Isherwood, of Bloom-street, for a nuisance arising from the insufficiency of a culvert in Granby-row fields, Lower Brook Street. Mr Shorland, surveyor to the commissioners, having been sworn, stated that on the 22d of January 1835, he drew the attention of the paving and soughing commissioners to this culvert, which was then in the course of formation, and notice of its insufficiency was then given to the parties engaged in its construction. Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Isherwood had purchased the land through which Shooter's brook ran, from Aytoun's estate, and to make the whole of the land available, made the culvert, which was however very unsuitable for the conveyance of the water, and backing it up at flood times, occasioned the inundation of all the property between London-road and Granby-row fields. The tunnel in Store-street was of twenty-two feet passage, and that was very inadequate ;whilst that put in by Mr. Hadfield, and which was near the Catholic chapel, contained only sixteen feet, and that put down by Mr. Isherwood but thirteen feet and a half. The flood in the poor people's houses in that neighbourhood last December, by the backing of the water, was as high as four feet one inch. The confined part was eighty yards in length, and extended from the Bridgewater Canal to Isherwood's spindle manufactory. By getting the consent of Lord Francis Egerton, the water might be turned into the tunnel by Mr. Knowles's coal-yard. Store-street was often flooded, even with a large tunnel, to the depth of two feet six inches. To make the alterations either in London-road, or to re-tunnel the land, would cost about £200, and it might be done within three months. Messrs. Whitworth and Co. had purchased the part belonging to Mr. Hadfield. The tunnel complained of lay between Chorlton-street and a branch of the canal lately cut by Mr. Green—The jury amerced the parties in £5, to be increased to £250 if the nuisance were not abated within four months.' [2]