Trance from 26th April 2009
Maurice
and Sarah Trance
This appears to be the place Sarah seems to be
talking about
Two Brooks Valley lies deep within
Hawshaw valley between Turton Road and Bolton Road.
In the 18 and 19 centuries, the valley sustained
a community in itself, with a number of mills, works,
farms and several groups of cottages. The remains
of many of these can still be seen within the valley,
and the network of public paths in the area is evidence
of the previous acitivity.
These paths, once busy links for
horses, carts and workers, now provide the opportunity
for a leisurely stroll in the delightful setting
of woods, brooks, lodges and fields, or for a more
depth exploration of the wildlife, industrial and
architectural interest of the valley.
Two Brooks Mill
Until industry came to the area
in the 1700s the whole of the Tottington, Greenmount
and Hawkshaw area was little more than a collection
of hamlets scattered around the hill sides and valley
bottoms. The industrial revolution brought some
of the larger textile manufacturers of the time
to the area, making use of the damp atmosphere and
the plentiful supply of soft water and they in turn
attracted bleaching and calico printing companies.
The population grew rapidly and in 1891 had nearly
17,000 residents. Many of these lived and worked
in the Two Brooks area.
The Whowell family bought Two Brooks
Mill in 1850 and continued the bleaching business
which had been established in the mill. A stroll
through the remains of Two Brooks Mill no longer
gives the impression of the scale of the former
enterprise, where up to 200 people were employed
at its peak. Closer investigation of the many overgrown
remains which are still visible on site in the form
of stone walls, slabs, channels and lodges will,
however, give some clues as to the extent of former
activity.
Joe
Trance Part 1
Joe
Trance Part 2
