June 5th – A singular circumstance happened to-day at Oldham. James Booth, of Beartrees, mounted on horseback with the corpse of a child placed before him. The beast gave an unexpected and sudden spring; the corpse went to the ground; the coffin lid flew open, which was a sight which much distressed the feelings of its parents, Jackson, of Beartrees. June 8th – Was intered at Oldham the body of Moorton, who was found drowned in the canal near the Woodman, Newton Heath, where she had resided as a female servant. One Heywood was taken on suspicion of having murdered this young woman, and underwent a very strict investigation, but was in the end dismissed. June 15th – Was an excessive hot day, and has been so for several days; such heat that was seldom experienced before. Sudden rise of cotton, which a short time since was selling at 8p. per lb. is selling at 1s. 8d. per lb. It has caused a general gloom on the cotton manufacturers. It has again reduced wages of cotton weaving of all denominations, and the factories in a deal of places are only working four days in the week, and a general gloom hovers over all the country. In the previous year, 1824, the cotton crop was a small one. The reason for the great advance in price will be easily seen by comparing the cotton statistics of that period. In 1824 we only imported 149 million pounds, while our consumption was 141 millions. From Ellison I gather that the stock in Liverpool, and in spinners and dealers’ hands at the end of 1824 was 95,500 bales, or only three weeks’ consumption, while as a rule the stock varied from thirty-two to thirty-three weeks’ consumption at other times. The late “squeeze” in Liverpool (1888) has pushed up prices something less than a penny per pound, while at that time (1825) the prices went up one shilling per pound, according to this annal. Surely those were the days for making money. The average Liverpool prices for three years are as follows:-
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If the price in June, 1824, was 1s. 8d. to the Oldham cotton spinner, what would the price be by the time the new crop would arrive in those slow sailing days? June 14th – A child belonging to Mr. Brown, shopkeeper, opposite the Trap Inn, Royton-road, was killed by a cart. A child fell into a coal pit at Oldham Edge, and was killed; and a girl fell into the reservoir of water at Factory, near Shaw, and was drowned. June 20th – The weather has changed to a deal colder and has put on the appearance of changing to rain, although some of the hottest and best hay weather ever remembered has been, and notwithstanding being so early in the season, a deal have commenced their hay harvest, and some few have finished. June 24th – Last night some daring men broke into the counting house near Holebottom, Oldham, belonging to the firm of Messrs. Clegg, Radcliffe, Clegg, and Roe, coalpit masters, and stole and carried off the iron safe with all its contents, and the same night broke into another counting house belonging to the same firm, and robbed it of its contents. June 27th – The weather has taken a change and from very fine to wet and cold. July 3rd – Being Sunday, and during divine service in the afternoon at Oldham Church, which has long been reported in a very dangerous situation, a chimney which was at the east end of the church fell down upon the roof, which caused such a general confusion that the congregation was thrown into the greatest confusion by pressing one upon another. Some tore the windows out, and escaped that way, whilst others trampled one upon another. Some had their coats torn from their backs, several lost their hats and bonnets, and several were severely hurt, and one Peter Blaze was severely injured. E Butterworth says:- “The decayed state of the ancient church, combined with the great increase of population, led to the obtaining of an Act of Parliament in 1824 for the taking down of the old edifice, and building a new one in its place.” July 10th – An account of the uncommon quantity of gooseberries. They were sold this day in Manchester Market twelve quarts for one shilling. July 9th – Died, at Further Wood, William Hilton, brother to the late John Hilton, of that place; aged 75 years. |
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July 11th – Died, in Manchester-street, Oldham, Joseph Mellor, keeper of the British Flag public-house there. July 11th was the prize ringing at Eccles, when the first prize was won by the ringers of the Old Church, Manchester; the second prize to the ringers of Flixton, and the third to the ringers of Mottram. July 16th – Exalent hay weather at this time. July 12th was the second day’s ringing at Eccles. First prize this day was to the ringers of Prestwich; second prize, Radcliffe; third prize the ringers of Middleton. July 13th – Uncommon fine hay day, and very hot: 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th very hot days. July 18th – A very hot day, but hay is nearly all got in. July 18th – Another day which was very hot, but towards night there was lightning and loud cracks of thunder, and it terminated in raining a few hours. July 20th – Died, after a long illness, Ann, wife of Thomas Ogden, Burnley Brow; age 59 years. July 24th – Extreme hot, dry weather still continues. July 26th – The heat of this weather is such as was scarcely ever equaled on an average. The thermometer has stood at 82 ½, and as high as 83 ½. The heat is very great indeed. Mr. Hanson’s thermometer in Manchester, on Tuesday, the 19th, in the streets of Manchester, stood as high as 87; at Hull at 91; at the Royal Exchange, London, at 88; at Leeds at 86; and at Bradford at 83½ degrees. Several persons dropped down dead in consequence of the heat, and several horses dropped down dead. Hone tells us that records of summer heat in olden time must be received with caution, seeing that the sources of fallacy were numerous. There was a remarkably “hot Tuesday” in 1790, and a “hot Wednesday” in 1808, the thermometer standing at 90 degrees F. in the shade. In this particular year (1825) Hone gives the record at the Royal Exchange at 86½ degrees at four o’clock, and 87 degrees at Paris at one o’clock. This annal furnishes a good general record. The years 1790, 1808, and 1825 are evidently remarkable for hot weather. July 23rd – Died very sudden at Buxton, Frances Dukinfield Astley, Esq., of Dukinfield Lodge, a magistrate; his age 44 years. July 29th – This has been a week of uncommon heat. The earth is parched and dried with the uncommon power of the sun; nearly everything is in want of water. The gardens and pastures visably feel the effects. Gooseberries by the great drought and heat of the sun have very tough and thick skins. They were sold this day in Oldham at 2d. per quart, and an immence quantity. Several horses have dropped down dead at their labour, likewise several men have dropped down dead on the road. In consequence of the very excessive heat water has become very scarce. The springs and ponds begin the feel the effects of this unparalleled drought. August 1st was a most severe hot day, nearly as hot as any of the preceding days. August 2nd – This day thunder and lightning and some showers, which has made it much cooler. August 3rd – Very much cooler, and some heavy showers. August 9th – Was interred at Oldham John Potter an old faithful carrier for a number of years; age, 73 years. |
August 12th was the rearing of a barn at Robt. Radcliffe’s Esqr., at which farm a barn is in the occupation of John Wood as tenant. A splendid supper was given, and plenty of ale on the occasion. August 21st – Was interred at Oldham Thomas Bentley, a spinner at that place. He died very suddenly. He formerly had the honour to serve as a marine on board the San Domingo man-of-war. August 20th was a very fine day, and farmers are busy cutting their corn. August 21st – A very fine day. August 22nd – An extreme hot day. August 23rd – An extreme hot day, and the farmers very busy in their corn. August 25th – Thursday at Oldham. The Oldham Volunteers of Horse, consisting of sixty troops, had a grand day on presenting their Captain Taylor with a superb silver cup, value £100, and a gold-hilted sword. The day was very fine, and a great deal of people of all denominations. There was ringing of bells and other demonstrations of joy, and a select band of music, which played martial airs on the occasion. August 26th – As a proof of the forwardness of the corn harvest, John Haigh, farmer and innkeeper at the Lancashire Rose, near Chadderton, delivered a load of new straw this day at Oldham. Straw which had been grown this season. August 27th – Was Oldham Rushbearing Saturday. A very fine day, and one rushcart only, which came from opposite the General Abercromby public-house in Henshaw-street. August 28th – Sunday: A fine day, and moderate of company. August 29th – Monday: A wet day, moderate company. A good deal of shows, flying horses &c. There were five rushcarts – one from Bent, one from Denton-lane, one from Cowhill, one from Greenacres, and one from Glodwick. August 29th – Died after a well-spent life of upwards of 70 years, Mrs. Halkyard, widow of the late Dr. Halkyard, of Oldham. She was formerly wife of the late Mr. Thos. Hobson, of Oldham, mercer and draper. A few days since died at Hollinwood, Joseph Greaves,. commonly called Dody of Ross; age above 80 years. September 1st – Died in Burnley-lane, Thomas son of James Mellor, after a long and painful illness; aged 18 years September 2nd – A melancholy occurrence: As Bobert Phithian, a collier, was ascending from his work at a coalpit at Longsight, near Edge Lane, he had the misfortune to be knocked off his seat, and fell to the bottom of the pit, and was killed on the spot. September 2nd – Died at Oldham, Hannah, wife of Robert Rowbottom, late of Hunt-lane, hat manufacturer. The situation of this family is distressing – Robert confined at his father’s in Hunt-lane in consequence of bursting a blood vessel, and his wife died at her father’s, Joseph Chadwick, Oldham. September 3rd – Died at Oldham, John Woolstencroft, commonly called John of Mally’s, one of the old ringers of Oldham Church, his age 68 years. September 8th – Died at Jacob’s Row, North Moor, near Oldham Edge, John Jackson, commonly called Jack of Jim Chadwick’s; a man of very eccentric character. His age 34 years. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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