Frostholme Mill, Cornholme - TAS00709

Heap and Ashworth, from Bacup and Rossendale, worked at CALDERVALE weaving shed throughout the depression of the cotton famine. After 4 or 5 years there, they built a weaving shed for 400 looms and a carding and spinning mill at Frostholme, near the Waggon & Horses, Redwaterfoot and moved there from Caldervale. They had a long run of prosperity. Later extensions included another shed for 300 looms. After the death of Mr. Heap, James Ashworth sold out to a Burnley firm who have made more extensions.

24th July 1896. A shocking accident happened at noon on this day, at the chimney just completed in connection with the erection of new premises for Messrs. Joshua Smith, Frostholme Mill, Cornholme, in place of those destroyed by fire in January last. Mr. Henry Charles Sefton, 27 years of age, of Queen Street, Cobden, Todmorden, who had acted as leading brick layer since work started in connection with the chimney, whilst working near the top filling up the scaffolding holes in the chimney, the wire broke and he fell to the bottom, a distance of about 36 yards, and was killed instantly. A great amount of sympathy was shown towards the deceased’s family and the widow and 2 young children he had left. A subscription list was started on behalf of the widow and children immediately after the sad fatality. The collectors chiefly confined their operations to the Burnley Valley, and the handsome sum of £48.0s.3d was subscribed, also £1.11s.0d from the members of the Todmorden Church Institute, of which the deceased was a member. Courtesy of Todmorden & Walsden website.

2014-09-29T19:23:11

Pennine Horizons Digital Archive

TAS00709.tif