time to time. The great extension of the Brazilian trade that took place in 1808, was highly beneficial to the cotton manufacture.

Mr. James Gleadhill, a native of Yorkshire, originally an operative 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 the course of the succeeding five years, to erect a cotton mill at Shore, Greenacres moor, which in 1815, or five years later, he so materially extended as to render it one of the largest mills in the town. Mr. Abraham Hilton, the descendant of an ancient Oldham family, erected the first portion of Croft bank mill from 1807 to 1810, and such was his rapid prosperity that, about 1812, he built a new mill adjacent to the former one. Two additional mills were erected at Waterliead mill in the interval between 1807 and 1811, namely, those of Messrs. John and William Waring, and Mr. Edward Moss. In addition to these new mills, which may be regarded as comparatively large, the following smaller manufactories were commenced from 1807 to 1811 :—-Mr. James Buckley, bottom of Water street; Mr. Daniel Lees, top of Fowleach brow ; Mr. James Clough, Glodwick clough ; Mr. Edmund Tetlow, King street; and Mr. James Ogden, Hollins. It appears that from 1805 to 1811, four new cotton mills were erected, exclusive of the five small ones alluded to. The entire number of cotton mills in the township of Oldham in 1811 was 35, exclusive of the concerns previously adverted to.

The great increase of population and manufactures had by this time transformed the village of Oldham into a market town. Although a few of the butchers had commenced a sort of market on a small scale, by establishing standings in the main street on Saturday evenings, as long ago as 1788, if not earlier, the present Market place was at that period a timber yard, belong-

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