Bent grange. The other hatting manufactories in the place were extremely small, and in 1765, the number of hatting workshops in the village and its immediate vicinity was only five, namely: Joseph Clegg, Bent; Thomas Clegg, bottom of Bardsley brow; George Seddon, Fog lane; Abraham Mills, Tithebarn fold; and James Nield, Boggart hole. Mr. John Fletcher, originally of Manchester, appears to have been the first individual who established a shop in Oldham for the sale of hats. Prior to 1765, he had a small hat manufactory betwixt the top of Water street and the top of Bent, but in a few years he erected much larger premises near Holebottom. He is said to have been descended from the same family of the Fletchers of Nottinghamshire, of whom was the memorably faithful Fletcher, the distinguished servant of the late illustrious Lord Byron. The eminent Henshaw, the princely benefactor to the indigent and blind, became an apprentice in the hatting trade, to Mr. John Fletcher, about 1755. In a few years after Mr. Henshaw had completed the terms of apprenticeship to Mr. Fletcher, he entered into partnership with his late master, and they carried on business together for some time. Subsequently however, this distinguished individual, whilst a resident at the bottom of Church lane, Oldham, established a hat manufactory on his own account, and that of his brother Henry, who was a partner, at Hargreaves, about 1778, or 1780. The concern at Hargreaves ultimately became the principal hatting manufactory in the town and neighbourhood for a considerable period.

A few years prior to 1770, the mineral wealth of the parish began to be developed, and numerous small collieries existed in different localities of the district about 1780. Mr. William Jones, of Fog lane, was one of the first lessees and workers of a coal mine in this neighbourhood. Mr. John Evans, father of the late Mr. Edward Evans, of Dryclough, established a colliery

122