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The Marchbanks of
Cowling
Supplied by:
Robert Wildeman
I discovered a few
months ago when
researching my family
tree that my Great Great
Granduncles son William
Marchbank born in 1826
in Bradford, came to
Cowling and influenced
and shaped its
development.
He married into the well
known local family of
Emmott, marrying Ann
Emmott in September
1845. William was
already a successful
businessman in Bradford
and set up his Grocers
shop on Road Side in
Cowling. It is said he
invented and connected a
telephone line from his
house at Lane Ends to
the house at the other
end of the row.
When John Binns of
Cowling started to build
his first Woollen Mill
in 1851 money soon ran
out when he had only
reached the first storey
of the building. He then
found a partner in
William Marchbank who
was "of more education,
an interesting
personality and a
versatile man".
The Mill was finally
completed and they
started trading as Binns
and Marchbank and
started with 80 looms.
They also sub-let to
William Watson who also
had 80 looms and John
Snowden who had 56
looms.
The first loom was
started by a Mrs
Elizabeth Bradley in
1852. The firm were
Worsted Weavers and the
cloth woven was known as
“Camlet”. It was 33
inches wide by 57 yards
long and weighed 19 ˝
lbs. It was sold through
the Bradford merchants
to the Russian and
Baltic armies.
In 1865 the tenants were
given notice to leave
and Binns and Marchbank
bought some power looms
from William
Shuttleworth who had
tried power weaving and
failed. They then became
the sole occupiers and
in 1867 had 260 looms
operating.
In 1872 the partnership
was amicably dissolved,
his sons John and Thomas
Binns took over the
business. William
Marchbank continued
operating at Royd Mill
Shed and in 1875 had a
total of 298 looms. This
Mill was locally known
as the “Baulk” named
after the Baulk engine
that was used in the
early days
William Marchbank laid
the foundation stone for
the Liberal Club and
Institute, now Village
Hall on 31st October
1885 and presented it to
the people of Cowling
for their social use
Thomas Watson married
Miss Mary Marchbank in
1875 and they carried on
the business after her
Fathers death in
November 1890 aged 64.
The business was
subsequently sold to
Thomas Binns in
September 1898 who's
family ran it until
1971.
William Marchbank did a
great deal for the
development of Cowling
and improved the
livelihood of its people
and ensured its
prosperity
By Robert Wildeman |
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