History Of...
PRESS RELEASE
An article that appeared in our local newspaper, “The Clitheroe Advertiser & Times”, in September 2003, intrigued us. There were photographs of three early Victorian envelopes that were about to be auctioned by Spink in London. All that was required was a trip to the Lancashire Record Office and a visit to our local library for us to come up with the following article. This was submitted to the newspaper the following day, but was held over for publication on page nine in their first tabloid format edition of March 4th…
The Whittaker Letters
Two local history researchers, Frank Watson and Mary Hornby, of the partnership “Historyof…” have taken three empty envelopes, filled them with 160 years of iron founding and bound them up with Clitheroe cotton.
The three envelopes posted from Clitheroe in the 1840’s which recently realised £1840 at auction were most likely written by mill owners who were extending or improving their factories, such as Low Moor Mill, for the recipient of the letters, Robert Whittaker, of Moons Mill, Walton-le-Dale, was a leading millwright and iron founder of the time. He was one of four brothers born between 1780 & 1790 who were all millwrights in the area & appears in various Trade Directories from 1830, along with his brother John, who died about the time that the envelopes were posted. The two brothers had been in business together since 1828. Moons Mill was described as a large village, 3 miles south east of Preston. Parts of the mill itself are still standing, though in a ruinous state.
In 1830 they supplied a 42’ diameter water wheel to Feazor Mill at Waddington and in 1865 the Whittaker’s also supplied a water wheel and other machinery to Whitendale and Brennand lead mines.
In 1851 Robert Whittaker lived at a “Gentleman's Residence”, Prospect Hill, in Walton-le-Dale. He was 67 years of age, unmarried and employed 87 men and boys. Robert died in 1856, leaving his house and land to his nephew, Thomas, eldest son of his late brother John.
In 1860 Thomas designed Clitheroe’s “Commercial Mill” on Woone Lane that in the 1960’s became “TGB Motors”.
Robert's brother James was born in Clitheroe about 1785 but lived in Walton-le-Dale
James’ son Thomas purchased Wellfold Foundry, (Tesco supermarket is now on that site), in 1859 when he moved to Clitheroe with his wife Jane and their five children, purchasing a house on Shawbridge Street. He retired in 1884 at the grand old age of 72, with his eldest son James now living next door to him.
In an 1881 Trade Directory Thomas is listed as “Thomas Whittaker esq. JP, Iron Founder and Millwright of Wellfold Foundry”. His home is shown as “Shawbridge House”. His eldest son James was listed as “Iron Founder of 4 Shawbridge Street”.
It would appear that for a time James was somewhat out of favour with brother Robert as he was only bequeathed £50 in his will of 1854, whereas the other brothers and sisters each received £500!
Luckily for James, Robert had a change of heart as a codicil dated 1855 called for an extra £350 to be given to brother James! Could this money have been passed on to his son Thomas and used to purchase Wellfold Foundry in Clitheroe only two years after Robert's will was proved?
And finally, we come to the question of who franked the postage stamps?
Henry Whalley was the Post Master in Clitheroe during the 1840’s and his business was in Castle Street, so it would be his hand that wielded the stamp. Letters were despatched daily by coach at ten minutes before five in the evening and again at half past eight.
The published article can be viewed on their website: - www.clitheroetoday.co.uk