The major technical improvement had been the introduction of the cylindrical printing machine in 1784 at Mosney at Walton le Dale near Preston: its impact is seen in the great increase in output of printed pieces, from 50,000 in 1751 to 20,000,000 a century later. Although mechanical and manual printing co-existed until the 1880s, 12 machinery rapidly gained ground during the first half of the nineteenth century.
Some of the largest of the early print works, which had remained in the hands of a single operator, were not maintained once this ownership failed. Bamber Bridge and Mosney provide instances of long-established works which closed through financial ineptitude but never re-opened owing to changes in the sources of power, the use of water and the supply of cloth.
Whilst the shape of the River Darwen around Mosney is not exactly the same it is possible to deduce where an old water mill is situated on the south side of a bend in the river. The large horseshoe shaped meander to the south of here is also apparent but, during the period between the two map surveys, the river has been canalised around Can(n) Bridge. The loop is indicated as “Old Darwen” on the 1840s Ordnance Survey Map.
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This transcribed letter was written to Richard Orford, a steward of Peter Legh the Younger at Lyme Hall in Cheshire.
A letter from Henry Porter to Richard Orford in 1782
Mr: R: Orford
at Lyme
near Disley
Cheshire
Preston 24th: Decr: 1782—
Dear Sir
Inclosed I have sent you a Bill, Messrs: John
Livesey Hall & Co: on Messrs: Livesey Hargreave
Anstie Smith & Hall London, Value (£)100— for
which please to favor me with your Receipt by the
return of the Post—
I’m sorry the Bill is so long after date
Payable, but dare say it is a good one
I shall be glad to know when we may expect to
see you at Haydock — And how the Harvest
goes on in your Country, as I believe there are
many Acres of Oats & Barley to Cut, in Tarleton
Meals &c: at this very day
I am
Sr: Your Most Obedt: Servt:
Hen’y: Porter
Richard Orford (often addressed as “Mr. R. Orford”) was a prominent figure associated with Lyme Hall (Lyme Park) near Disley, Cheshire. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, he served as the land agent and manager for the historic Lyme Park estate, which was owned for centuries by the prestigious Legh family.
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Commission of Bankrupt
John Livesey, John Hargreave, Peter Anstie, Joseph Smith, and William Hall, of Mosney
THE Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt, issued forth against John Livesey, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, John Hargreave, of Manchester, in the said County of Lancaster, Peter Anstie, and Joseph Smith, both of the City of London, and William Hall, of Mosney, within Walton in the Dale, in the said County of Lancaster, Merchants, Calico-Printers and Partners, intend to meet on the 25th day of April next, at Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon, at Guildhall, London, in order to make a Final Dividend of the Estate and Effects of the said Bankrupts; when and where the Creditors who have not already proved their Debts, are to come prepared to prove the same, or they will be excluded the Benefit of the Dividend. And all Claims not then proved will be disallowed.
The London Gazette
Publication date: 24 March 1818
Supplement: 17343
Pages: 550 & 551
The London Gazette: https://beta.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/17343/page/550
The London Gazette: https://beta.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/17343/page/551
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After the bankruptcy of Livesey, Hargreave, Anstie, Smith and Hall the Mosney and Bannister Hall Estates went up for sale. This also included other land holdings all around the county.
Capital Calico Printing Manufactory
LANCASHIRE. To be SOLD by AUCTION, By Messrs. Skinner and Dyke,
On Tuesday the 3d of March, at the Bull’s Head, Manchester,
On Thursday the 5th, at the Hare and Hounds, Bury, On Friday and Saturday the 6th and 7th, at the Bull, in Preston, And on Monday the 9th, at the Bear’s-Paw, Wigan, To begin each Day at 2 o’Clock, by Order of the Assignees of Messrs. Livesey, Hargreave, Anstie, Smith and Hall, TERY VALUABLE FREEHOLD, COPYHOLD and LEASEHOLD ESTATES, in SIXTY LOTS, the Rentals amounting to V Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Pounds per Ann. (exclusive of rich Mines of Coal and Cannel)
Comprising a spacious Dwelling-House, Offices, Warehouses, Manufactory, and various other Premises and Land, in and near the Town of Manchester, and four Pews in St. John’s and St. Mary’s Churches at Manchester, ten Dwelling-Houses and Messuages, and fifteen Clofes of Land at Bury, Tottington, and Haslingden, and nine Pews in Bury.
The MOSNEY and BANASTRE HALL ESTATES at Walton in the Dale, consisting of a capital Calico Printing Manufactory, Moon Water Mill, two excellent new-erected Dwelling Houses, Offices, Coach houses and Stabling, and several Farms. A Printing Shop and Dwelling-house at Preston. Fifty Acres of Bleaching Grounds and Pasture Land, with Buildings, at Hoghton Tower. Sundry Farms at Pleasington, Rishton, and Clayton in the Dale. A Capacious House, Offices, Coach-houses, Stabling and Warehouses at Blackburn Seven Farms and valuable Mines of Coal and Cannel at Shevington and Coppull. The extensive Coal and Cannel Colliery, called Standish, near Wigan. And a Capital and well-constructed Cotton Mill and Manufactory, with every proper Building, Workmens Mefluages, and a Farm at Clithero.
The Estates are advantageously situate in and near capital Market Towns, and on the Banks of the Liverpool and Leeds Navigation, the Rivers Ribble, Darwen and Irwell, which will ever render them truly desirable, the whole Quantity of Land Nine Hundred and Sixty Acres of the customary Measure, naturally Fertile and capable of great Improvement, and with the different Buildings, are exceedingly well calculated for Manufactories, Farms, and Gentlemens Residencies.
To be viewed 21 Days preceding the Sale, when printed Particulars may be had on each Estate, of Mr. Jackson, Quay-street, or Mr. Wardle, Crow-alley, Manchester, at the Places of Sale, of the Printer of the Liverpool Advertiser, of Meflrs. Turner and Kerfoot, Solicitors, Warrington, of Meilrs. Westons, Solicitors, Fenchurch-street, London, and of Meflrs. Skinner and Dyke, Aldersgate-street, London.
Advertisement and Notices
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1789
Publication: Manchester Mercury
Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CL3241471869/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=2&xid=4b3664c2
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Similarly, later, estates including in the Pleasington area of Blakburn came up for sale. It is interesting to note that this includes a coal mine and associated machinery attached to the Tongue Hill Estate.
LANCASHIRE.
To be SOLD by AUCTION,
By Messrs. Skinner and Dyke,
On Tuesday the 10th of March 1789, at seven o’clock, at the Bull, at Blackburn, in Ten Lots, by order of the assignees of Messrs. Livesey, Hargreave, Anstie, Smith and Hall,
Eligible FREEHOLD and LEASEHOLD ESTATES situate at Blackburn, Rishton, Clayton-in-the-Dale, Pleasington, and Hoghton Tower, about thirty miles from Manchester, of the annual value of near
FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS.
Consisting of a leasehold commodious dwelling-house, neatly and genteelly fitted up and finished, replete with offices, coach-houses, stabling and warehouses; and a freehold house and two cottages in the town of Blackburn; and two subscription shares in St John’s Church; the moiety of one hundred and seventy-six acres of land, with dwelling-houses and outbuildings, and twelve cottages at Rishton; Harwood Fold Farm at Clayton-in-the-Dale, containing forty-five acres of land. A moiety of Tongue Hill Estate and colliery, containing fifty-three acres, with a dwelling-house and outbuildings, and an engine for working the coal mines, situate on the River Darwen at Pleasington, and eighty acres of land, with proper buildings for the bleaching (or weaving/working) business at Hoghton Tower.
To be viewed until the sale. Particulars may be had at the place of sale; of Messrs. Turner and Kerfoot, solicitors, Warrington; the printer of the Liverpool Advertiser; Mr Jackson, Quay Street; Mr Wardle, Crow Alley, Manchester; or Messrs Westons, solicitors, Fenchurch Street, London; and of Messrs Skinner and Dyke, Aldersgate Street, London.
Advertisement and Notices
Date: Tuesday, Mar. 3, 1789
Publication: Manchester Mercury
Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CL3241471909/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=2&xid=0094c9a6
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Papers of John Adams, volume 19 (From John Brown Cutting)
The Adams Papers (Papers of John Adams), which have been transcribed into the Adams Papers Digital Edition by the Massachusetts Historical Society include a letter from John Brown Cutting that was written in London on 17th May 1788. This letter highlights the far reaching impact of the bankruptcy on the firm, which is referred to here as the House of Livesey and Co.
Before this can reach Boston you will have heard of the enormous bankruptcies which have lately caused such commotion not only in the metropolis but nearly throughout the kingdom. The failure of Fordyce in 1772 was a light business comparatively speaking. The engagements of the single House of Livesey and Co—whose paper circulated throughout the nation—are said to be for no less a sum than fifteen hundred thousand pounds—not one half of which can ever be paid.
The full letter from John Brown Cutting can be read online here:
https://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/index.php/volume/PJA19/pageid/PJA19p300
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References
Journal Article
The Calico Printing Industry of Lancastria in the 1840s by K. L. Wallwork
Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers,
No. 45 (Sep., 1968), pp. 143-156 (14 pages)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/621398
JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/stable/621398
.
A letter from Henry Porter to in 1782
The English language of the north-west in the late Modern English period:
A Corpus of late 18c Prose, part 3
David Denison: https://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/oldmedia/david-denison/orford3.htm
.
Roller Printing
Stories from Lancashire Museums
Cloth printing by machine was first perfected and patented at Walton le Dale at Mosney print works in November 1783 by an engraver from Scotland.
Lancashire Museums: https://lancashiremuseumsstories.wordpress.com/2020/11/20/roller-printing/
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