Weaving Shed, off Flora Street, Ashton-in-Makerfield

This Company has been formed for the purpose of erecting and working a modern and well-equipped weaving shed (to contain for a commencement with about 600 looms or thereabouts) on a plot of land situate off Warrington Road at Ashton-in-Makerfield, offered by Lord Gerard to the Directors on extremely favourable terms. This land contains about 3.75 acres, is an excellent site for the erection of a weaving shed, being in the centre of a coal district and in close proximity to the Ashton-in-Makerfield Great Central Railway Station. There is also enough room to build a spinning mill, as shown on the plan attached to the prospectus. The shed will be laid out for the weaving of plain and fancy cloths, and it is considered that having regard to the neighbourhood population, and the ample supply of female labour, there is a splendid opening for a modern weaving shed with experienced workpeople employed therein. [Wigan Examiner - Saturday 19 October 1907 page 1]

SILVER SPADE TO CUT FIRST SOD - .... Mr. W. Thornley then presented Lord Gerard with silver spade, which was beautifully chased, the handle being fluted and silver mounted. The spade, which was supplied by Mr. T. H. Rigby, jeweller, of Ashton, bore the following inscription “The Makerfield Mill, Company, Limited, Ashton-in-Makerfield. Presented by the architects to the Right Hon. Frederick John Baron Gerard, of Garswood on the occasion of his cutting the first sod of the new weaving shed. Tuesday, 31 December 1907. Directors: Dr. H. Winstanley, J.P., C.C. (Bryn). William Bleakley (Swinton), James Worswick (Bryn), Jno. Rigby (Ashton), F. Prestwich (Bolton). W. D. Molyneux (Wigan), P. Partington (Pemberton). Messrs. J. B. and W. Thornley, architects. Ashton and Wigan.'* Lord Gerard cut the first sod with spade, and having done this, he said he was very much obliged them for the kind welcome they had given him that afternoon. [Wigan Observer and District Advertiser Thursday 1 January 1908 page 3}

The mill failed twice in four years. It was renamed Makerfield Mill in 1919 and operated successfully during the inter-war years. In the 1930s many of the buildings were rebuilt