Part 7 of Henry Harrison's articles appeared in the Cleckheaton Guardian on 10 Feb 1911.

Landmarks

In continuation of a previous article, allow me before leaving the Spen side of the river, to refer to another once notable spot there - the strip of land lying between the stream and Mr Mann's goit. In 1842 it was called "Pythill." At the road end was a large pig cote which was a lean-to to the bridge, and there was a sloping yard extending to the smithy end down which refuse used to be washed into the river. Many were the tales told round the old smithy hearth. The building stood many a storm of flood, but recently it has been pulled down, and now another familiar landmark is missing. The land forward from the building to the tail end of the goit was covered with grass, and in summer time it was a favourite bathing place. I have gone out of the mill in the work hours for this very purpose.

At times the old miller was very much annoyed with this practice. The bathers used to put their clothes on Mr Mann's side of the beck, whilst the lookers-on generally stood on the other side, where Mr Atkinson had a stack garth. I well remember Mr Mann once coming slyly down to his plot, and hidden by the stacks he gathered up the clothes of all the bathers. He would not part with them until they had picked up all the stones which were in his plot of land, and until they had marched across the road to his mill, asked for their garments back, and promised not to offend again in future! The prank seemed to please the old gentleman mightily. After the cornmill changed hands a pig cote was erected at the south end of the smithy, but that also has now disappeared.

We will now cross over the bridge, and trace the history and development of St. Peg Mill. It was built by a Henry Birkby, who came from the Old Robin Mill. I have heard it said that he was one of the pioneers in the card trade. At St. Peg Mill he put down a few wire blocks and also some woollen machinery for doing country work. It is said that he built the pretty homestead then called Salt-Horn, now the Grove. He owned Pyenot Hall, and at one time lived there. In those days, long chimneys were few in Cleckheaton, the air was pure and clean, trees flourished in their broad-leaved beauty, and the song of the tuneful thrush and the lark's shrill carol as he greeted the morning, were much more common than now. The richly wooded slopes of Gomersal, Hightown and Hunsworth were a pleasant sight in summer. From Brookhouses right away to Spen Mill was all park-like scenery.

In the year 1807, it is said that a worsted spinning firm commenced business at Peg Mill under the name Carter Burrows and Co. Mr Burrows for a time lived at the house called "Over t'Croft," known today as Spen House. He also carried on a malting business there. The kiln side was to the garden. Mr William Atkinson, I am told, became bookkeeper to the above named firm, and a Mr Nicholson was manager. After a time, Mr Atkinson took over the business, with a partner named Cordingley, of Lightcliffe. For a time they carried on the worsted trade, and eventually the whole business came into the hands of Mr Atkinson.

In the year 1842, the mill was a three storeyed one, with a garret. It was this place that was said to be visited by "Lady (Peggy) Martin." All the rooms of the mill were rather low. To get into the second room, one had to go up a flight of stone steps outside, and there was also a stone landing. The top room was reached by wooden steps. Mr Atkinson, at the time named, had a waggoner called John Armitage ("Johnny Tidge"). His journeys were mostly to Leeds, and he very often had to have the invaluable assistance of his little but plucky wife when he returned home with his loads of wool. I have seen her lock the waggon wheels at the top of the Bank, and take the team into the millyard.

Let me say a word here about the engine at the mill. It was a curious looking one. The fly-wheel was close to the east end of the mill, half the engine balk and spear, which were both of wood, were outside the engine house, and it was no uncommon thing for we lads to get astride and do a few "ups and downs." Prior to the new portion of the mill being built next to the road, there was an open space between the bridge wall and the mill. At times old Joseph Rodgers would send the lads with his horses to have the animals' legs washed in the stream.

Old Mr Atkinson's house stood on the present site of the offices and yarn room. His kitchen door faced south and near to it in the garden was a large Siberian crab tree. In 1842 or 1843, I was sent out of the mill to gather the "crabs," the old gentleman telling me I was to have all that fell on to the ground when I had done! The front of the house faced west, and looked upon a nicely trimmed lawn, with carpet like grass and lovely flower beds. The garden was divided with a nice looking fence. All that remains of the old place is today mostly covered with ivy and shrubs. Near to the fence were a pair of nice iron gates. The upper portion was the the kitchen garden and this can be seen today. Of both portions Mr Atkinson was very proud. He had a favourite gardener - Old Richard (Dicky) Kershaw, who hailed from the neighbourhood of Wyke or Norwood Green, and was a very well-known man. At one time he "gardened" the north, or left hand side, going down, of Brick Street on his own account. Mr William Atkinson and his wife both ended their day at the old homestead. It was in the year 1859, at the age of eighty four, that Mr Atkinson was laid to rest in the Red Chapel burial yard.

The second, or middle, lamp in the lane at that time was not far from Ing Well, and today part of the iron post is what was then a gate post into Mr Robert Heward's bottom field. Going forward up the lane there stood, and still stands today, what I regard as an eye-sore which ought to have been removed long ago. I refer to the two old houses, one a brick one. In the first lived "Johnny Tidge" and his wife and family. In the next house, a stone one, was fixed the third and last lamp in the lane from St. Peg Mill, and the hole can be seen today. In this house lived Ben Spurr, the Bradford waggoner for Mr Atkinson, and he was the first Cleckheaton man I was acquainted with. He was a great favourite of Mrs Edward's, who lived "Over t'Croft," and he never forgot to go up and see her before starting for Bradford and often when he came back. On the site of the two stone house which stand between Ben's house and what was "Old Nanny's beerhouse" stood her brewhouse.