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
