SOUTH PENNINE ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP (SPAG)

EIGHT members of SPAG enjoyed a walk tracing the industrial past of Goodshaw Fold, led by Craig Ellison.

We started at an overgrown area on Burnley Road, Loveclough, which was a coal staithe where wagons were filled with coal from Goodshaw Hill colliery having been brought down the hillside in buckets travelling on a long since removed tramway. Interestingly, this involved travelling over a ‘trestle’ viaduct near Loveclough Print works.

Having entered the village of Goodshaw Fold we saw a datestone of 1618 in the corner of one of the barns. Originally this was in the now demolished Mansion House.

Our walk continued across the old bridge complete with a stone chess board on the parapet where the older men played together. We then looked at the area of early carding and cotton mills; Goodshaw Fold Mill (aka Hope Mill), Bridge Mill and Sliven Clod Mill, all originally used waterpower before steam engines were introduced.

Water for the households was provided by the Spewing Duck well, dated 1855 and dedicated to John Hargreaves, this replaced an earlier well on the same site. A house, named Mill House Farm with a date stone 1659 could possibly refer to a corn mill in the area. The most likely crop to be grown locally being oats.

Fields and houses now cover the landscape but with Craig’s information plus the maps and photographs he provided, it was easy to imagine the industrial activity carried out in this quiet area.

IF you’d like to join us please email roger@ digspag.org.uk.