The name Stalybridge comes from the words ‘Staef’ and ‘’Leah’ which mean a stave and a clearing the wood respectively meaning Staley was a wood where staves were collected. The ‘bridge’ was added over a century later when the Saddleback Bridge was built over the River Tame in 1707. The bridge replaced earlier versions and was built to enable parishners to travel from Ashton-under-Lyne parish to the parish in Mottram in Longendale.
In 1776 Stalybridge became one of the first centres of textile manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution following the construction of a cotton mill.
Before the Industrial Revolution the population of Stalybridge was very small compared to what it is now. According to records from 1700-1750 there were no more than 140 villagers working as weavers and farmers. The villagers lived in cottages such as the ‘Bohemia Cottages’ which are still standing today. Farming and woollen spinning were the main means of subsistence at this time with some house having a loom-house attached where as many as six to eight spinners worked to supply one weaver.
There were already a number of small woollen mills by 1750 which were situated along the river to take full advantage of the supply of water power. Edward Hall built the first cotton mill in 1796 and was also the first to acquire a steam engine with a chimney to carry away the smoke. The mill was given the nickname ‘Soot-Poke Mill’. The chimney soon became one of the main features of the Stalybridge landscape. Hall was soon followed by other cotton pioneers such as John Cheetham and Abel Harrison who bought Staly Mill. Harrison went on to build Highfield House whose grounds make up Stamford Park as we know it today.
The industrialisation of Stalybridge led to a huge increase in the population of Stalybridge. From 1823-1825 the population grew from 5,500 to 9,00 and by 1851 had reached a monstrous 20,760. Due to the mass population growth the Stalybridge Police and Market Act made Stalybridge an independent town complete with a board of commissioners. The commissioners helped to from the Stalybridge Gas Company who were given the task of lighting up the town. The Town Hall and Market were officially opened on 30th December 1831. Stalybridge was made a borough on 5th March 1857.
Before the Industrial Revolution the population of Stalybridge was very small compared to what it is now. According to records from 1700-1750 there were no more than 140 villagers working as weavers and farmers. The villagers lived in cottages such as the ‘Bohemia Cottages’ which are still standing today. Farming and woollen spinning were the main means of subsistence at this time with some house having a loom-house attached where as many as six to eight spinners worked to supply one weaver.
There were already a number of small woollen mills by 1750 which were situated along the river to take full advantage of the supply of water power. Edward Hall built the first cotton mill in 1796 and was also the first to acquire a steam engine with a chimney to carry away the smoke. The mill was given the nickname ‘Soot-Poke Mill’. The chimney soon became one of the main features of the Stalybridge landscape. Hall was soon followed by other cotton pioneers such as John Cheetham and Abel Harrison who bought Staly Mill. Harrison went on to build Highfield House whose grounds make up Stamford Park as we know it today.
The industrialisation of Stalybridge led to a huge increase in the population of Stalybridge. From 1823-1825 the population grew from 5,500 to 9,00 and by 1851 had reached a monstrous 20,760. Due to the mass population growth the Stalybridge Police and Market Act made Stalybridge an independent town complete with a board of commissioners. The commissioners helped to from the Stalybridge Gas Company who were given the task of lighting up the town. The Town Hall and Market were officially opened on 30th December 1831. Stalybridge was made a borough on 5th March 1857.