still the possessor of a mill in that vicinity. Messrs. John Wilde and Co., who commenced business at Castle mill in 1821, erected Union mill, Side of moor, and in 1830 employed 140 hands. About 1832-1833 Messrs. Gartside and Mayall became the principal occupiers, and in 1846 this firm, who are still the possessors, employed 250 operatives in spinning alone. Messrs. Seville and Wright erected Medlock mill, Lower moor, and in June, 1833, they employed 172 hands. Messrs. William Higginbottom and Co., who became possessed of this mill about 1841, employed in 1846 270 hands, and worked about 14,000 mule and other spindles, in addi- tion to 300 power-looms. Messrs. Gould and Cooper erected Fountain mill, Lower moor. The late Mr. Joseph Cooper was apparently a relative of Mr. John Cooper, who was in the cotton business at Bell mill in 1805. In June, 1833, Messrs. Gould and Cooper employed 82 hands in spinning, and 48 in weaving; and in 1846 they possessed about 9000 mule and other spindles, and 78 power-looms. Messrs. James Ogden and Charles Walmsley erected Pew nook mill, Hollinwood, Mr. Ogden was the grandson of one of the earliest Oldham machine makers, and Mr. Walmsley was the son of Mr. Walmsley, farmer, of Moston hall. In June, 1833, this firm employed 82 hands in spinning, and 104 in weaving. Mr. George Hinchcliffe, who was the occupier of this mill in 1846, employed 100 hands, and worked 12,000 mule and other spindles* Mr. William Bradbury, who erected Lee mill in Manchester street, employed in 1846 155 hands, and possessed 6000 mule spindles, and 150 power-looms. Mr. David Walton, once of Rhodes mill, erected Bow street mill, which, in 1846, was used for machine making purposes. Messrs. John Howard and others erected Rosehill mill, Waterhead mill, and commenced business about 1818. In

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* This mill was burned down on the 4th August, 1854, and has not been since rebuilt. It was still in the occupation of Mr. Hinchcliffe, but the business had fallen off sadly, the number of hands employed for some time previous to its destruction not having much exceeded a dozen.

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