mill was erected in Fog lane in 1796, if not earlier, by Mr. John Ogden, father of the late Mr. Ogden, of Oak, Hollins; but this mill was originally used for the purposes of machine making, and was the first building raised expressly for that object in Oldham. It was subsequently converted into a cotton mill. Mr. John Buckley, of the family of the Buckleys of Buckley fold, Cowhill, erected a cotton mill in Manchester street, apparently from 1791 to 1796. Mr. John Taylor, of Side of moor, uncle of Mr. Christopher Taylor, of that place, built the first portion of Mount pleasant mill, about 1792. Mr. John Lees, son of Mr. Daniel Lees, of Great-field gate, farmer and fustian manufacturer, and nephew of John Lees, Esq., of Pit bank, commenced a spinning concern at Mount pleasant in 1796, if not earlier, which was moved by horse power. He continued in business at Mount pleasant mill till he erected Green bank mill, which ultimately became, during the life of himself and son, the present James Lees, Esq., now of Green bank, one of the greatest manufactories in this part of the country. The late John Lees, Esq., of Green bank, died May 15, 1828. Mr. Booth, who had erected the mill near Millbottom, called Dowrey mill, about 1791, became about 1796, a partner with a Mr. Lees, apparently Samuel Lees, Esq., afterwards extensively engaged in the cotton trade at Manchester. From 1791 to 1796, four other spinning concerns were in existence, but they appear to have been large spinning rooms, rather than mills. The names of the owners and their situations were - Mr. Henry King, bottom of Goldbourn, ancestor of Messrs. King, of Moss mill, Rochdale; Mr. Thomas Kay, Dolstile; Mr. John Cooper, Count hill; and Mr. Jonathan Taylor, Moor hey. The increase of cotton mills from 1791 to 1796 was four, exclusive of spinning rooms, so that the number of cotton mills in the township of Oldham in 1796 was 22.

The inevitable result of the prevalence of spinning machinery was to increase to an extent previously un-

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