January 1st -The New Theatre or Play House at Spread Eagle commenced.
According to James Butterworth, this place was in 1817 used as a school, and in 1826 as a workshop. It was very near the old Methodist Chapel in Manchester-street. Mrs. Jordan once trod its homely boards. During a musicale exhibition, the floor gave way, just as one of the musicians was enchanting the audience with a concerto, and says J. B., “It was believed that a triumvirate of the gods Orpheus and Apollo, aided by Aeolus, being enraged at this performance so superior to their own, that they concerted the destruction of the place.” Whether these good-natured, but sometimes envious, gods had anything to do with it or not, it is not for me to say; but ever after that accident, in which we are told, the confusion of the audience, occasioned the crash of the timbers, and the screams of the descending multitude, who fell together in one confused heap into the lower apartment, this place was “ever after” much forsaken, so that it is now (1826) disused as a theatre. January 3rd -James Scofield, of Hollinwood, a man far advanced in years, and a partner in the Werneth Collorey, was found drowned near is own house. The price of weaving is Talbis 13s to 20s. per cut, 30 yards, 40 to 45 hank weft, 5lb. 8oz. to 6lb. 4oz. in a cut; velveteens, cords, &c., from 2s. 2d. to 2s. 7d. per pond, according to their goodness; light goods; the wages pretty high. The earnings of the hand weavers would be little more than one penny per hour. The day’s work often lasted well into the dark hours in winter, a day of 15 hours’ duration being common enough in our old loom houses; 13s. to 20s. was a good price though we have seen Tabbys done for 12s. to 14s. in these annals. The following is an accurate statement of the prices:- Meal, 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d; flour, 3s. 8d. to 3s. 11d.; malt, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 4d. per peck; treacle, 5d., butter, 13d. (new, 15d.), candles 1s., chese 8d. to 8 1/2d., pork 7 1/2d. to 8d., beff 8d. to 8 1/2d., mutton 8d., bale cotton 2s. 1d., bacon from 9d. to 11d., hops 18d. to 21d., salt 4d., onions 1d., sugar 9d. to 10d., soap white or brown 11 1/2d. to 12d. per pond. Pottatoes 7d. to 8d. per score, white pease 6d., green pease 8d. per quart,; hay 7 ½ to 8d., straw 3d. to 3 1/2d. per stone,; white cotton wool 1s. 11d. Hatting owing to stuff being so bad the work is very tedious to perform. Out work is torable plenty. All sorts of timber dear; pitchpine, deal, is selling 6s. a foot. Weavers’ brushes, which 30 years ago sold 1s. per pair, now sell 3s. 10d. per pair. A common large tonge brush for house use is now selling 3s. 7d. a piece.
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These weavers brushes were used for “deeting” the “yorn” in the loom and had to be furnished at the weavers’ expense, as also were the “sow” and the drying irons. What a tedious thing it must have been to size the warps in the loom! I suppose there must have been a great scarcity of bristles made the brushes be so dear. January 9th -Died, John Hall, of Cowhill, millwright, of the wounds he received a few days since on the factory at Lees Hall. January 8th -Died, William, son of Adam Whitworth, of Royton Walk Mill, disorder, consumption. January 7th -Was interred at Oldham, James Hall. He was far advanced in years and formerly kept the Joyners’ Arms public house, Oldham, and was posesed of considerable property. He died in Oldham Workhouse. January 10th -This morning died James Scofield, of May Gate-lane, disorder surfiet, age 38 years. The weather has been such as was never known before for some time past; it has been so fine and warm, and the ellement so serene and clear as rarely to resemble a fine spring, and all sorts of vegetation is visible apearances. January 12th -Died, William Hall, of Royton. He died awfully sudden. January 12th -An uncomon rainy day. January 13th -Last night the wind rose astonishingly high at East, and commenced a severe frost. January 14th -The wind continues east and the frost severe. January 2nd. -A mare belonging to Mr. Thomas Whitaker, with saddle and bridle, was stole, about five o’clock last night, from the front door, Swan Inn, Oldham. January 11th -At a very numerous meeting of the principal freeholders of the township of Oldham, holden at the Spread Eagle, it was resolved to oppose john Lees, Esquire, taking toll there, so that custom, wich has been established only a few years, is abolished. |
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John Lees, Esq., of Werneth, as Lord of the Manor of Oldham, claimed tolls on the stalls in the Market-place and in the streets on market day, which was Saturday, and at the fairs. Has he had no precedent for this, no market having been held in former times, he gave up his claim. The authorities of the town afterwards imposed these tolls, but of course they were liable for street repairs and other expenses. January 20th -Abraham Cromton, of High Crompton, paid the purchase money for his houses he bought of John Rowbottom, of Hunt-lane wich houses are at Carrington, Top of North Moor, and now in the possession of Jonathan Mellor, and Peter Wood. January 22nd -The frost still continues, but is very pleasant; it is so calm that scarce a twig stirs. January 22nd -This morning died very sudden John Winterbottom, schoolmaster, in Oldham, formerly of Royton. January 25th -The weather is still frosty, but extreemly fine. January 28th -Died Mally, wife of John Lees, of Bottom of North Moor, brick maker; disorder, dropsey; age, 58 years. January 31st -Last night the frost broke, which has been an uncomon pleasant one, and never a finer winter seen thus far. January 27th -Some villains stole half a load of malt out of the lobby at Samuel Horrocks’, Lamb Inn, Oldham, about ten o’clock last night, and about the same hour a tub of butter was stole from the door of Thomas Greaves, grocer, of Oldham, and no trace left of either of the robberies.
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A few days since one Cowper, a young woman of Narrow Gate Brow, near Royton, made a cake, in which she put poyson, with an intent it is supposed to poyson the wife of one Greenwood, of the same place. She sent the cake as a present, and several ate of it. Happily a pig had been killed in the neighbourhood, and a deal of the neighbours ate of a large dish of browess, made of fat. Happily these cake eaters had some, wich had such an effect on the poyson that they all threw it off their stomachs. This infatuated young woman Cowper had a child by Greenwood, husband of the woman she intended to despatch.
February 3rd -Sarah, widdow of the late James Woolstoncroft, fell into a stonepit near Mumps, last night, and was very much bruzed; and a person fell into one near the same, and was much bruzed on the 2nd of December last. Uncomon fine open weather, such as was never known before. February 10th -The weather still continued as fine to astonish and delight every beholder. The earth is dry, as in a fine March, and the air is dry and perfectly warm, such a fine open winter was never seen by the oldest person. Trade of al denominations is uncomonly brisk, weaving especially. Mr. Ashtons, of Heywood are giving 3s. 6d. per pond for about 30 hanks woven into sattinett, and for slender velveteens they are giving 3s. a pond for 24 hanks, tabbys are very flat and the worst article going. Light goods are still better, as very good prices are given, and at the factory, the work is plenty, and the wages good, but to counterbalance, this beff and mutton 9d., and bacon 1s., and cheese 8 1/2d., a pond. Mr. Ashton, of Heywood, was evidently flourishing like a “bay tree”, and so must have been his workpeople who got 3s. 6d. per lb. For weaving 30’s. This was equal to about 2d. an hour – 2s. 6d. a day was a good wage, but who would work 15 hours to-day? |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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