Higher Walton, formerly Moon’s Mill
Higher Walton, was located within Walton-le-Dale, and has a history intertwined with the area’s industrial development. The village was formerly known as Moon’s Mill, a name that reflects its early association with textile production during the industrial era.
Moon’s Mill was part of the wave of cotton and textile mills that transformed the landscape of Lancashire in the 18th and 19th centuries. Positioned near the River Darwen, it benefitted from water power in its earliest days before later adopting steam power as technology advanced. The mill played a role not just in local industry but also in shaping the community, providing employment and influencing the growth of housing and infrastructure in Higher Walton.
Over time, the area around the mill came to be known as Higher Walton. While the mill itself is no longer involved in the textile industry, it still dominates the skyline. Its legacy also remains in the layout of streets, some older buildings, and in the memory of local families who lived and worked nearby. Historical maps and records indicate that Higher Walton developed gradually around the industrial hub, reflecting a common pattern in Lancashire where mills spurred the growth of small communities.
Today, Higher Walton retains a blend of residential and industrial heritage. While much has changed since the days of Moon’s Mill, the area continues to reflect its industrial past through surviving buildings, street names, and its place within the wider story of Walton-le-Dale.
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Higher Walton Mill
A water-powered mill appears at this location on Yates’ map of 1784, situated on the Manybrooks at the foot of Kittlingbourne. In 1790, a deed refers to a ‘carding engine dam’ at Many Brooks, and in 1796 a local newspaper advertised a ‘cotton weft factory to let, at Kitlin Burn, Walton-le-Dale…details from Mr Swainson of Preston’. During this period, the mill appears to have been used both for cotton spinning and corn milling: in 1799, John Maude, a cotton spinner, insured machinery in a water corn mill at Kiltingburn, Walton-le-Dale, for £100, with stock valued at £70.
In 1833, a newspaper advertisement offered for sale, by order of the assignees of Robert Haslam, a quantity of cotton-spinning machinery at the cotton mill at Many Brooks, Walton-le-Dale. The machinery included 12 carding engines, two drawing frames, two dyers’ frames, four mules of 156 spindles each, two mules of 172 spindles each, two bobbin and fly frames, one double blowing machine, and other equipment.
The mill, referred to as Many Brooks Mill, was advertised for let with immediate possession in 1840 and was described as suitable for spinning or power-loom cloth manufacture. The offer also included 22 cottages adjacent to the mill. The 1848 first edition Ordnance Survey 1:10,560 map identifies the site as a cotton factory, showing a relatively small complex on the south side of the River Darwen.
The mill expanded over time, eventually covering 7.21 acres, with sheds containing 600 looms. In 1860, the western block was constructed. The site included two engine houses: one at the east end serving the original spinning block, and another at the west end serving the 1860 addition. By 1865, the mill housed 41,100 mule spindles and appears to have been operated by the Rodgett Brothers, who are mentioned as mill owners in an 1867 newspaper advertisement. However, Worrall (1891) records the mill as owned by G & R Dewhurst, operating 77,288 spindles and 1,168 looms.
The mill was surveyed on 19 October 1897 by Myers, Veevers & Myers, valuers. At that time, it was occupied by G & R Dewhurst and powered by a four-cylinder beam compound engine. The complex included offices, scutching room, boiler house, engine house, mill, sheds, a sizing and taping room, cloth and winding warehouse, weaving shed, yarn warehouse, and two chimneys.
The mill survives to the present day.
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Township Walton-le-Dale – A History of the County of Lancaster
Higher Walton, formerly called Moon’s Mill, is a village situated a mile east from Walton-le-Dale on the Blackburn road. There are two cotton factories, also yarn and piece dyeing works. Darwen Bank, standing in its own grounds of 70 acres, occupies an eminence near the village from which extensive and beautiful views of the neighbourhood may be obtained. Prospect Hill, the residence of Mr. William Gent, occupies a similar position.
From ‘Townships: Walton-le-Dale’, in A History of the County of Lancaster:
Volume 6, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1911), pp. 289-300.
Access via British History Online at:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol6/pp289-300
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Moon’s Mill
Moon’s Mill had become established for cotton spinning by 1793, when the partnership of Timothy Pollard and Hugh Moss, cotton weft spinners there, was dissolved. Soon after, Robert Hilton and Nicholas Rigby appear to have taken over, since they insured machinery at a Walton cotton mill in 1794. In 1798 the mill was advertised for sale by Hilton’s assignees following his bankruptcy. The notice described it as a newly erected four-storey building, 21 yards long by 10½ yards wide, partly used as a corn mill and partly for cotton spinning. The spinning section contained six mules (each with 228 spindles), one carding engine and one drawing frame.
The purchaser was Messrs Salisbury & Co., who adapted the premises for cotton spinning alone. A serious fire in February 1811 led to the sale of the Salisbury estate in 1814 to Livesey and Bailey. The mill was noted in the 1816 House of Commons Select Committee report on the employment of children in manufactories, and James and John Livesey were listed as manufacturers there in 1818. By 1829 James Livesey was named alone.
The mill was advertised to let in 1834, and was subsequently acquired by Miles Rodgett, cotton spinner. The first edition Ordnance Survey map records the site as Moon’s Mill. Around 1850 Rodgett built a second mill alongside the first as part of his expansion. By 1865 the works contained 32,960 mule spindles across 16 mules, together with 41,200 throstle spindles.
Although later adapted for use as a foundry, parts of the original complex still survive.
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HIGHER WALTON, formerly Moons Mill
HIGHER WALTON, formerly called Moons Mill, is an ecclesiastical parish, formed 7 February, 1865, from Walton-le-Dale; it is a compact village, on the Blackburn old road, containing rows of cottages. The church of All Saints, standing on an eminence overlooking the village and built in 1861—2, at a cost of £6,000, is an edifice of stone in the Early English style, from designs by Mr. E. G. Paley, architect, of Lancaster, and consists of chancel, nave, transept, south aisle, south porch and a tower, with spire, which was added in 1871 at a cost of £700: in the tower are 7 bells, of which 6 were presented by the late Edward Rodgett esq.: the chancel is handsomely decorated and there are three stained windows at the east end, erected by the late Edward Rodgett esq. to the memory of his brother Richard Bashall Rodgett, besides others, two of which were added in 1886 by the parishioners in memory of the Rodgett family, and there is one, erected in 1891, to the late G. Dewhurst esq. by his work people: the pulpit is of stone and marble; the brass eagle lectern and reredos were given as a memorial to the late Edward Rodgett esq. by his widow: there are sittings for 604 persons, half of which are free. The register dates from the year 1862. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £290, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Manchester and the vicar of Blackburn alternately, and held since 1892 by the Rev. George Bladon B.A, of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. The Wesleyans have a chapel here. Here are the cotton factories of Messrs. G. and R. Dewhurst Limited and the Gregson Lane Co. Lim. and the yarn and piece dyeing works of Messrs. F. A. Gatty and Co. Lim. Darwen Bank, now (1904) unoccupied, is pleasantly situated on an eminence on the south bank of the river Darwen, standing in its own grounds of about 70 acres, which are well laid out and beautifully wooded and contain two large rookeries. Prospect Hill, the residence of William Gent esq. is also on an eminence, and commands very extensive and beautiful views of the surrounding neighbourhood. Lieut.-Col. Sir James de Hoghton bart. of Hoghton Tower, Preston, is lord of the manor. Mrs. Kynnersley and Mr. Whittaker and G. and R. Dewhurst esqrs. are the principal landowners. The soil is various, partly clayey and sandy; subsoil, various, chiefly pasture land and market gardens. The population of the ecclesiastical parish in 1901 was 2,640.
Taken from Kelly’s Directory of Lancashire (published in 1905)