Even good Sir Walter Scott wrote from London that “a madman is proposing to light London with – what do you think? Why, with smoke.” Sir Humphrey Davy, it is said, did not take kindly to gas, and when two men such as these had set up their opposition, we need not wonder what ignorant people would say. The London Gas Light Company did not come into existence till 1831, so that Oldham was 17 years in advance of the metropolis in the matter of forming a gas company. Up to the passing of the New Police Act the foremost citizen appears to have been the churchwarden. Accordingly a numerously signed petition was presented to the churchwarden, overseers of the poor, and the constables of the township of Oldham, dated January 28th, 1823, stating that the undersigned requested a public meeting to be called to consider the question of “mending their ways”, and of lighting, cleansing, and also of supplying with water the town of Oldham and its vicinity. Among many others who signed I find the names of James Mayers Taylor, Joseph Jones, William Jones, John Clegg, Thos. Clegg, Jonathan Mellor, John Worthington, John Bamford, Thomas Barker, John Taylor, Richard Fawcett, Robert Wrigley, Richard Fletcher, Thomas Potter, John Neild, William Campbell, James Campbell, Joseph Riley, James Radley, John Travis, William Braddock, John Twemlow, James Gleadhill, John Whitehead, Geo, Bentley, John O’Neil, Thomas Neild, William Bamford, Henry Barlow, John Lees, George Evans, George Wright, junr., Joseph Hartley, Peter Corns, George Barlow, Thomas Cassons, Benjamin Clegg, Ralph Mellor, and many others., after which meetings were held at the “Angel,” and a committee was formed in 1824. Mr. William Johnson, of Manchester, was engaged to survey, and Mr. Malam, of Rochdale, was to give estimates for erecting gas apparatus. A petition was drawn up to Parliament and a bill was obtained for gas and water supply, and on the 2nd December, 1824, the subscribers to the gas scheme met. £47,360 was the amount subscribed by 121 persons, who paid a deposit of £5 per cent on each share. John Boardman was first chairman, and among others who joined the gas scheme, I find George Nelson, Samuel Radcliffe, Enoch Dunkerley, Joseph Rowland, Andrew Schofield, Samuel Lees, Wainwright, Waterhouse, and many others. Mr. Henry Barlow had charge of the legal part of the business. I believe I am right in saying Mr. George Emmott was the first gas manager, and I believe he is one of the few who survives of those whose names are first mentioned in connection with this gas scheme. The scheme progressed, and as we see, our mills and shops were first lighted with gas on the 3rd March, 1827. March 12th – Joseph Travis, commonly called Joe Crab, was commited to the New Bayley on the charge of robbing a garden. March 15th – Hannah, wife of Michail Rowbottom, with her sons George, John, and James, left Burnley-lane on their rout to join her husband in America. March 21st – Died Robert, son of Thomas Ogden, of Burnley Brow. He had been a long time afflicted with fits; his age near 25 years. |
March 21st – A large meeting was held on Bent Green, Oldham, to petition for a redress of greivances; Mr. James Mills in the chair. This meeting was addressed by the redoubtable John Knight, and by one Walker from Ashton, and Brooks from Manchester. It was held for the purpose of petitioning Parliament for the free importation of foreign grain, for a reduction of public expenditure, for the adoption of annual Parliaments, universal suffrage, and election by ballot. March 27th – Hannah, wife of Michael Rowbottom, and family set sail from Liverpool, on board the Mentor. March 18th – A lamentable misfortune happened at Holebottom, near Oldham. Two young men where killed at a coalpit there. Hay is very scarce and dear; it is selling at 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. per truss. April 12th – Thursday, William Dyson, of Chadderton Mill, as a recruit, set out to join his regiment, the Foot Guards, at London. April 30th – Died at Oldham, Thomas Howarth, formerly an eminent butcher of that place; his age upwards of 80 years. April 2nd – Died, at Oldham, Mr. Edward Halkyard, surgeon; age 47 years. April 24th – For several days past most severe cold, with slight falls of hail, rain, and snow. April 16th – Yesterday a most tremendous cold roof day, with a large fall of snow, and at night it terminated in severe freezing. April 26th – Was interred at Oldham, Anna, daughter of John Wild, of Busk; she was a cripple. Same day, from same place, wife of Oliver, a woman who had been a long time afflicted with lameness in consequence of rhumatism; and same day was interred Mally Booth, mistress of the Dog public-house, Cowhill; age, 78 years. April 29th – Was intered at Oldham, William Beswick, of Cowhill, comonly called Will of Scool, age 68 years. April 30th – The fine weather which comenced on the 28th still continues, and this day has been the hottest and finest day ever remembered as last day of April, and grass was never known to grow so rapidly as within these few days. Hay is selling from 14d. to 16d. a stone, or 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. a truss. Beff is 9d., and mutton 9d. a pond. All kinds of labour scarce and wages low, especially all kinds of weaving. May 3rd – There was a grand gala or ball at the Spread Eagle, Oldham, for the benefit of the poor, wich was numerously attended. According to the Manchester Guardian of that period this was a fancy dress ball, the proceeds of which were applied to the relief of 300 distressed people. The promoters gave away food in the Oldham Theatre, which was attached to the Spread Eagle, and such was the success that another ball was proposed to be held for the relief of the poor.
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. CXI 1827 At the sessions at Manchester, wich commenced on the 30th of last month, Garside, and another of the refractory spinners from Oldham, where sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment in Lancaster Castle. May 13th – Richard Hurst, late of Broadway-lane, who it apears to have been at the head of a numerous gang of robers, was this day taken off for Lancaster Castle on a charge of housebreaking. May 12th – Last night, or early this morning, John Wood, of Northmoor, had a one-year-old heifer slaughtered in the field, and a part of the carcass conveied away. May 18th – Died at near Bent Green,, Oldham, Betty, wife of Robert Lees, weaver of that place; her age 79 years. May 24th – Was a second fancy ball for the benifit of the poor. May 22nd – The refractory spinners of Oldham and its neighbourhood where called up this day in the Court of King’s Bench, when the following sentences were passed by Mr. Justice Bailey, when some where ordered to be imprisoned twelf months, some nine months and one six months. They where in the whole 26. These workpeople had got into a sad mess. They had been found guilty at previous trials of grievous assaults on several persons, among whom, besides those already mentioned, I see was Mr. Samuel Radcliffe, who was badly used by them. Time had been given for popular indignation to simmer down, some of these riots having occurred seven or eight months before. The majesty of the law, which these good people had laughed at, must, however, be maintained, and among others who pleaded for mercy for them was Mr. afterwards Lord Brougham. A cudgel was produced in court, loaded at one end with lead, found in one of the mill yards which these rioters had visited. Judge Bayley addressed the prisoners in a temperate manner, and sentenced them as follows:- Thomas Dyson, Joseph Woolley, Benjamin Clegg, Robert Garland, Isaac Wylde, John Dearden, one year’s imprisonment at Lancaster Castle; Joseph Marsland, Enoch Dunkerley, John Crosby, Edward Hill, Thomas Patten, Josh Hurst, Benjamin Broadbent, Isaac Leach, John Ratcliffe, James Halkyard, Addington Booth, Frederick Howard, James Newton, John Hanson, George Chandler, Henry Chandler, John Pallard, Aaron Jones, Thomas Booth, nine months in Lancaster; Samuel Knott, six months ditto. |
This settled the great strike business of 1826. During its progress I am told attempts were made to import new labour from other towns, it is said sometimes in a packing skip. This became too dangerous an experiment to try too often, for it is said the “flints” obtained bayonets which they plunged into any suspected cargoes. May 30th – Was intered at Oldham, Anna, daughter of James Lees, of Pipe Roe, near Uin Nook, Northmoor; her age 29; of consumption. June 1st – Flour of an exalent quality is now selling at 2s. per 12 pounds, or peck; the very best at 2s. 2d. per peck. And James Mills, saddler, of Oldham, died this day; his age, 50 years. June 4th – An unfortunate death happened to Thomas Watson, of Grosvenor-street, Oldham, who was unfortunately killed at the collory at Werneth. His father had a similar misfortune in July, 1825. Progress of crime: In the Hundred of Salford at July Sessions, at Manchester, 1762, where then holden at the Old Exchange; at that time there were only five prisoners, three of whom where females, which, with one mail prisoner, where transported for seven years, and one female was publicly whipped. In April Sessions, 1827, the number of prisoners where three hundred and forty-seven. June 2nd – Died awfully sudden at Manchester, where he was attending his usial buisness, Mr. James Gleadel, of Greenacres Moor, a very considerable manufacturer, having a very large factory there. E. Butterworth says:- Mr. James Gleadhill, a native of Yorkshire, originally a shoemaker, entered into the cotton business prior to 1805, for at that time he had a small cotton manufactory at Mumps. By extreme industry and prudence he was enabled in course of the succeeding five years to rent a cotton mill at Shore, Greenacres Moor, which in 1815, or five years later, he so materially extended it as to render it one of the largest mills in the town. |
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