1846 Messrs. Moss and Howard possessed about 15,000 mule and other spindles, and employed 140 hands. Mr. John Lees, who erected a large addition to Spring hill mill, Waterhead mill, was in the cotton business at that place previous to 1818. In 1846 Mr. Lees employed 150 hands, and worked 15,000 mule and other spindles. Messrs. John Waring and Sons erected Coppice mill, Waterhead mill. Mr. Waring appears to have commenced business at Dowrey mill in 1802. Messrs. John and William Waring erected a mill adjacent to Coppice mill about 1809. In 1846 Messrs. Waring employed 200 hands, who worked 7000 mule spindles, and 116 power-looms.

The principal parties who were occupiers but not possessors of cotton mills during the first 25 years of the present century, were :- Messrs. Joseph Milne, North moor and Lower Sheepwashes, 1800 - 1814; Daniel Mellor, top of Water street, 1808 ; Milne and Shaw, Shaw factory, 1805 ; John Whittaker, Greaves street, 1807 - 1821; John Ashton, Rhodes mill, 1805 - 1819 ; John Cooper and Co., Bell mill, 1807 ; George Lowndes and Co., Castle mill, 1807; James Dronsfield, Francisses, 1807; Henry Fletcher, Castle mill, 1807; James Mellor, Lees hall mill, 1813-1819 ; Flintff and Butterworth, Lees hall mill, 1813; James Bailey, Copster hill, l815 - 1820; George Earnshaw, Rhodes mill, 1815 - 1819; James Mayall, Mumps, 1815 ; Matthew Hague, Mumps, 1815 ; Potter, Lees, and Co., Manchester street, 1818 ; Dronsfield, Potter, and Lees, Hartford mill, 1822; Duncuft andGreaves,Manchester street, 1822; Fletcher, Clegg, and Co., Castle mill, 1822 ; John Radcliffe and Co., Lees hall mill, 1722 -1827 ; William Bates, Lees hall, 1822 ; James Robinson, Mumps, 1822 ; Benjum Schofield and Co., Rhodes mill; George Booth and Co., Clarksfield mill; Clegg and Robinson, Castle mill; Hague and Ormerod, Castle mill; Lawrence Haigh, Dirtcar mill; Abraham and Isaac Lees, Croft bank; Lees and Milne, Shore mill; Joseph Lees, Rosehill mill;

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