update 24 Januay 2009 - link to Geo/Prestwich

A Brief History of Ringley & surrounding hamlets

Early industry was farming and coal, mining started around 1300. A pottery at Clammermouth used clay from the bed of the Irwell,. In 1752 James Brindley built a water engine to drain the Wet Earth pit near the Clifton Kearsley boundary, the work of which was extended to cover the Botany Bay colliery too, but rather than raise water, this wheel raised coal. The nearby canal was extended with a cut called Fletcher's Canal to carry coal from these two pits. Other pits in the area are the Ringley Colliery, the Outwood Colliery.

The worst mining disaster in Kearsley was the Unity Brook Disaster on March 12th 1878 where 43 men and boys died in an explosion. Among those named are Thomas Lever, 18, Samuel Wolstenholme, 50, William Wolstenholme, 23, John Tickle Lomax, 31, James Beattie, 19, Robert (40), David (13) and Jonathan (12) Enions, Andrew Walker, 22. All are buried at St. Stephens. In 1885 176 were killed in the Clifton Hall Colliery Explosion.

The first Mill, built around 1780 was situated where the River Croal and River Irwell meet, and powered by a wheel from a weir on the Croal. Near this spinning mill was a chemical works owned by Benjamin Rawson producing acid for the bleach and paper industry.

Thomas Bonsor Crompton built a steam and water powered mill c1833 adding to the 16 mills already in the Farnworth and Kearsley area. In 1826 Clammermouth Mill was built by Joseph and Robert Lord. Kearsley Spinning Mill, owned by Edmund Turner, was destroyed by fire in 1832, probably caused by a candle (used for lighting). Rawson's chemical plant stop producing vitriol in around 1834 and the plant was sold to a Mr Wilson but closed in 1875. John Livesey had a small paperworks at Dye House Mill, but five years after it closed, paper was bring made at Crompton's Mill in Ringley, later to be called Robert Fletcher and Son. By 1897 the Bankerfield Mill and the New Prestolee Mill were among the largest spinning mills in the country. Wet Earth pit closed in 1928 after 180 years of working. Even L.S. Lowry painted a picture entitled Pit Head Scene at Wet Earth in 1925.

Of the paper industry, these are the recorded mills during the early 1800's. Creams Mill, Little Lever, founded by James Crompton 1670. Farnworth Bridge Mill, founded 1680 by Robert Crompton. Lever Hall Mill, Great Lever founded 1718 by Ellis Crompton. Grundy's Mill, Little Lever, founded by James Grundy in 1760. Livesey's Mill, Prestolee, founded 1770 by John Livesey. Seddon's Mill Prestolee, founded by Thomas Seddon 1780. Springfield Mill, Bolton, founded 1820 by James and John Livesey of Prestolee. Stoneclough Mill, founded 1823 by Ralph Crompton, becoming Robert Fletcher and Son in 1859, Robert Fletcher himself living from 1804 - 1865.

Later industry includes a coal fired power station. Kearsley Power station was built in the late 1920's, water for cooling taken from the Irwell. The power station was closed, and demolished on May 12th 1985.

some old pictures of Ringley

	1917 - looking down on the old river bridge with the church of St.Saviours on the left
	1917 - a similar picture but this time closer to the bridge, looking down the Old Brow
	one of the bridges over the Manchester, Bury & Bolton Canal as it passes through Ringley
Ringley Wakes A tradition in Lancashire, the Wakes holiday was a time that people could rest from work. It was a time to join in and enjoy the festivities. Ringley Village held its Wakes on the first Sunday in May. Activities included bull-baiting, quoiting, swarming the pole, grinning through a horse collar, and many other games and activities formed part of the regular programme of merriment. Lord Mayor of Ringley The highlight of the Wakes was the choosing of the Lord Mayor. This was not an official position and the powers of the office were minimal. The holder of the office was entitled to have, on each Sunday, a pint of beer, a clay pipe, a box of matches and an ounce of tobacco from each of the three public houses within the village and a further four in Stoneclough and Prestolee. To claim his weekly allowance the mayor had to dress in his best Sunday clothes, be clean shaven and have clean clogs and a clean muffler. Unfortunately as part of the proceeding the new Mayor was carried through the village and thrown from the canal bridge into the canal below.
	A picture depicting the old pub tradition of the 'Ringley Mayor'
	the Horse Shoe Inn on the 'church' side of Ringley Bridge. The Horse Shoe Inn was a scheduled stopping place for all Manchester bound canal packet boats. Setting off at 6 am. in summer from Bolton Wharf the stop at the Horse Shoe Inn was a welcome break and allowed the passengers to quench their thirst and prepare for the journey ahead.

Nathan Walworth

Nathan Walworth - Walworthe - Wallwork - Wallwerk - was born in Ringley Fold 1572. His family had been settled in the area some time, in 1420, William Walwerk is mentioned as an occupier of "a pasture called Ryngleys". Nathan was born in Lancashire, but bred in Wiltshire, most likely in the house of a relative. From the age of seventeen he occupied places of trust and he became steward to William the third Earl of Pembroke, and Philip who succeeded him in 1630. Nathan's letters are dated and sent from Baynard's Castle which stood on the North bank of the River Thames. These letters was sent to Peter Seddon, a resident of Prestolee who owned a family farm in the area. Nathan was instrumental in the building of the first chapel at Ringley which was completed in 1625.