Individual Notes
Note for: John FEARN, Abt 1856 -
Index
Christening: Date: 12 Oct 1856
Place: St Andrew's, Ancoats, Manchester
Occupation: Cotton Mill Manager
Date: 1901
Place: Rocester, Dove Cottage
Occupation: Manager at Cotton Mill
Date: 1891
Place: Rocester
Occupation: Secretary of Tutbury Mill, Rocester
Date: 26 Sep 1896
Place: Rocester
Note: From Rocester-, by . Churnet Valley Press, 2003 , page 77
When Rocester mills closed in 1874, it is thought that most of the machinery was bought by the cotton mill at Mayfield, where the Simpsons were cotton doublers. The two years of unemployment that followed would have been hard indeed. Enlightened as the Victorians believed they were, in these decades prior to social reforms and state welfare, an absence of a regular wage caused great hardship.
By 1.876 a saviour was at hand. On 3rd July the Lyon brothers, Walter John and Charles William, purchased the mills. The Lyons owned the cotton mills at Tutbury and in their affection for Tutbury the Rocester Mills were renamed Tutbury Mill.* The mills, still used for spinning and doubling, now benefited from considerable investment. It is thought that 170 flyer frames were installed. The old waterwheels were replaced by vertical water turbines built by McAdams of Belfast, at a cost of £5,700. A new wing (Ref. 4 on plan) was also built and a few years later another engine was installed, although this proved unsatisfactory. Steam boilers were added in 1887 and 1889 to replace the ancient pot-type boiler which was withdrawn and used as a tar tank for the small gas producing plant. The gas was used in the factory and in some parts of the village and preceded electricity but it was probably considered a doubtful boon being both smelly and unreliable.
To finance the alterations a mortgage was raised on the property, in May 1878, of £20,000, and was renewed from time to time. On 26th September 1896, shortly after the retirement of Charles William, the mill became a limited company. Walter John Lyon became the main shareholder and William Fearn and John Fearn became a director and company secretary respectively. Why it became a limited company is unknown. Was money required to buy Charles's share? Had finances been overstretched due to expansion? How much money did the Fearns invest?
Whatever the answers, the decision did not bode well for the future. In 1900 the company went into voluntary liquidation. Initially the company was taken over by Boden & Co., lace manufacturers of Derby and Chard. Perhaps the move was predetermined because on the 13th February 1901 the company Fine Spinners
Census: Date: 1881
Place: Rocester
Census: Date: 1901
Place: Rocester, Dove Cottage
Census: British Census
Date: 1891
Place: Rocester, Dove Street
Individual Notes
Note for: William FEARN, Chr. 23 Feb 1862 -
Index
Christening: Date: 23 Feb 1862
Place: Ancoats , Manchester (St Andrew's)
Occupation: Overlooker (Cotton Mill)
Date: 1881
Place: Rocester
Occupation: Cotton Yarn Merchant
Date: 1901
Place: Fenton
Occupation: Director of Tutbury Mill, Rocester
Date: 26 Sep 1896
Place: Rocester
Note: From Rocester-, by . Churnet Valley Press, 2003 , page 77
When Rocester mills closed in 1874, it is thought that most of the machinery was bought by the cotton mill at Mayfield, where the Simpsons were cotton doublers. The two years of unemployment that followed would have been hard indeed. Enlightened as the Victorians believed they were, in these decades prior to social reforms and state welfare, an absence of a regular wage caused great hardship.
By 1.876 a saviour was at hand. On 3rd July the Lyon brothers, Walter John and Charles William, purchased the mills. The Lyons owned the cotton mills at Tutbury and in their affection for Tutbury the Rocester Mills were renamed Tutbury Mill.* The mills, still used for spinning and doubling, now benefited from considerable investment. It is thought that 170 flyer frames were installed. The old waterwheels were replaced by vertical water turbines built by McAdams of Belfast, at a cost of £5,700. A new wing (Ref. 4 on plan) was also built and a few years later another engine was installed, although this proved unsatisfactory. Steam boilers were added in 1887 and 1889 to replace the ancient pot-type boiler which was withdrawn and used as a tar tank for the small gas producing plant. The gas was used in the factory and in some parts of the village and preceded electricity but it was probably considered a doubtful boon being both smelly and unreliable.
To finance the alterations a mortgage was raised on the property, in May 1878, of £20,000, and was renewed from time to time. On 26th September 1896, shortly after the retirement of Charles William, the mill became a limited company. Walter John Lyon became the main shareholder and William Fearn and John Fearn became a director and company secretary respectively. Why it became a limited company is unknown. Was money required to buy Charles's share? Had finances been overstretched due to expansion? How much money did the Fearns invest?
Whatever the answers, the decision did not bode well for the future. In 1900 the company went into voluntary liquidation. Initially the company was taken over by Boden & Co., lace manufacturers of Derby and Chard. Perhaps the move was predetermined because on the 13th February 1901 the company Fine Spinners
Census: Date: 1901
Place: Regent Road Fenton