The earliest cotton mills were very variable in their extent. Amongst the first principal mills were Arkwright's first water mill at Cromford, 1771, which employed about 300 hands; another of his mills at Wiirksworth, 200; Mr. Jedediah Strutt's mill, at Milford, near Belper, 1775, 300; Mr. Robert Peel's first mill at Bury, 1774, 300 , Messrs. Collison and Watson, Preston, 1777, 200; Mr. Arlkwright's, at Birkacre, near Chorley, 1776, about 500; Mr. Arkwright's, at Bakewcll, 300; and Messrs. Arkwright, Simpson, and Whittenbury, Manchester, 1730, 600. Several of the smallest of the original mills in Oldham and the neighbourhood commenced business with not more than eight or ten hands each, upon an average; a few others had as many as twenty, thirty, and forty hands, but the principal concerns in this part of the country began operations with fewer than 100 hands each. It was several years after their establishment that the three principal mills in the chapelry of Oldham - Wallshaw, Mr. James Lees; Acre, Mr. John Lees; and Lees hall, Mr. William Clegg, employed more than 100 workers each. Although Oldham is still remarkable above all other places in the cotton manufacturing district for a great number of small concerns, yet there are now several extensive manufacturing establishments, as, for instance, Commercial mills, Messrs. Collinge and Lancashire, 944 hands; Lower House mills, Messrs. Samuel Radcliffe and Sons, 900; Green bank mills, Mr. James Lees, 550; Bank top mills, Clarksfield, Messrs. Robert Ogden and Sons, 500 ; Firwood mill, Chadderton, Mr. James Cheetham, 500; Werneth mill, Messrs. Dronsfield, 470; High Crompton, Messrs, Clegg, 470; Dirtcar mill, Mr. James Greaves, 450; Lyon mill, Messrs. Tattersall and Mellor, 430; Downey mills, Royton, Messrs. John Cooperand Brothers, 404; Orleans and Park mills, Messrs. Rowland, 400; Wallshaw mills, Messrs. Jones and Co., 400; Shaw mills, Crompton, Messrs. Milne, Travis, and Milne, 400; and Spring hill and Union mills, Royton, Messrs. Seville, Milne, and Co., 400. There are numerous

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