a calotype of james nasmyth, pictured c. 1844 hill & adamson
in 1795 john aikin described area:
the agriculture of parish chiefly confined grazing, , more materially benefited draining; tax upon brick, essential article in process, has been great hindrance it. use of lime—imported wales, , brought inland navigations neighbourhood of our collieries—has become general in improvement of meadow , pasture lands.
during 18th century predominance of textiles in region partly demonstrated in parish registers of 1807, show 46 children baptised 34 fathers employed weavers. in memoirs of seventy years of eventful life (1852) charles hulbert wrote:
the principal employment of working population of eccles , vicinity @ time, manufacture of cotton goods on home or domestic plan. these not then, according present recollection, more 2 spinning manufactories in manchester, arkwright s loft chimney, , douglas s extensive works, on river irwell, near broken bank ... @ period of first residence in eccles parish, believe above mills chiefly supplied weavers of eccles , other parishes twist warps, purchased master manufacturers.
contemporary view of nasmyth s bridgewater foundry in patricroft. liverpool , manchester railway can seen south of building crosses bridgewater canal.
during 19th century growth of industry meant majority of area s inhabitants employed in textiles or trade, while minority worked in agriculture. factory system introduced; in 1835 1,124 people employed in cotton mills, , 2 mills used power looms. local hand-produced specialities included striped cotton ticks, checks, nankeens , camrays. 2 cotton mills visible on 1845 ordnance survey map of area. area became renowned production of silk, 2 mills @ eccles , 1 @ patricroft. many factory workers children under 12 years of age.
in 1830 james nasmyth (son of alexander nasmyth) visited newly opened liverpool , manchester railway, , on return manchester noted suitability of site alongside canal @ patricroft engineering works. , brother leased land thomas de trafford, , established bridgewater foundry in 1836. foundry completed following year design based upon assembly line production. in 1839 nasmyth invented steam hammer, enabled manufacture of forgings @ scale , speed not seen before. in same year foundry started manufacture railway locomotives, with 109 built 1853. nasmyth died wealthy man in 1890.
an edwardian mill alongside bridgewater canal in winton. built in 1906 eccles spinning , manufacturing company, mill demolished in 2010
the eccles spinning , manufacturing company came being following meeting called mayor of eccles, in concern expressed @ decline in local industry. 2 earlier eccles mills had been destroyed fire, resulting in significant local unemployment. designed potts, son , hennings of manchester, bolton , oldham, opened in 1906. imposing mill contained multi-storey spinning mill, engine house , extensive weaving sheds.
early housing in village consisted of groups of thatched cottages clustered around , near parish church. influx of workers areas around village accompanied increased demand housing. after establishment of local board of health new properties built in gardens of existing dwellings, leading severe overcrowding. in 1852 streets paved boulders, sewerage non-existent, , water supply local well. during latter half of 19th century new housing erected alongside railway, , large areas of open land occupied new housing estates built area s more wealthy residents.
the construction of manchester ship canal provided many local residents jobs; 1,888 people employed on section of new canal @ barton. stone aqueduct on river iwell dating 1761 , designed james brindley demolished , replaced new moveable aqueduct: barton swing aqueduct.
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