TODMORDEN (“the Foxmere valley”) is a municipal borough and market and union town, with a station on the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway, and is on the Rochdale canal, 9 miles north-east from Rochdale, 12 west from Halifax, 21 north-north-east from Manchester and 207 from London, head of a county court district and petty sessional division, partly in the Middleton and Clitheroe divisions of Lancashire and partly in the Sowerby division of the West Riding for parliamentary purposes, but for civil purposes is wholly in the administrative county of W. R. Yorks; it is also in the hundred of Salford, rural deanery of Rochdale, and archdeaconry and diocese of Manchester, the Yorkshire portion being in the rural deanery sand archdeaconry of Halifax and diocese of Wakefield.

The area comprised in the former urban district and new municipal borough, which consisted of the townships of Todmorden and Walsden, Cornholme and Langfield and parts of Cliviger and Stansfield, has by Local Government Board Order, which came into operation September 30, 1897, been amalgamated into one civil parish called Todmorden, and administratively the parish is within the West Riding of Yorkshire. The town adopted the”Local Government Act, 1858,” May 3, 1861, but on June 2, 1896, a Charter of incorporation was granted, under which the borough is divided into 6 wards, with an alderman and three councillors for each ward; it is lighted with gas from works at Millwood, erected in 1847, at a cost of £10,000, and managed by the Corporation; and supplied with water from works, formerly the property of a company, but now owned by the Rochdale Corporation, constructed at a place called”Furnace,” near the head of the Ramsden Valley, Walsden, has a capacity of about 102,000,000 gallons, and cost about £21,550. The bed of the reservoir is 920 feet above sea level, while the lowest part of the borough is some 500 feet below the reservoir. The scenery of the winding vales leading from Todmorden to Halifax, Rochdale, Burnley and Manchester is very romantic. The Todmorden Corporation in 1900 began the construction of a new reservoir in the Gorpley valley, Dulesgate, from which the town will be ultimately supplied, and the Ramsden reservoir water will then be wholly taken into the Rochdale area. The capacity of the Gorpley reservoir will be 120,000,000 gallons. Mr. G. F. Deacon C.E. is the engineer.

Christ Church, erected in 1831, and since 1866 the parish church, is a building of stone partly in the Early English style, and consists of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower with pinnacles containing 11 bells, erected in 1897, by Miss H. Howorth, in memory of her brothers and sisters: in the chancel is a memorial window to the Rev. A. J. Plow, vicar, 1863—8, inserted in 1870, at a cost of £225, raised by subscription; also two memorials in mosaic to the late Abraham Ormerod esq. J.P. erected by his widow in 1894, and there are others of the same material to the Howorth family and to the late Luke Barker esq. and his wife: in the sedilia is a memorial mounted in old oak to the late Herbert Coupland Taylor esq. M.D., J.P. of Todmorden Hall, erected by his widow in 1892: in 1885 a new chancel with attached vestries was built, a carved reredos of Caen stone erected to the memory of the Rev. W. A. Conway, late vicar, by his daughter, and the church reseated throughout at a cost of £3,372: the organ was built in 1875, at a cost of £800, and in 1888 a handsome iron screen was erected; and since then several mamorial mosaics have been placed in the church: the stained west window in the tower was erected in 1892 to Edward and Mary Lord and William and Elizabeth Sutcliffe: there are 1,050 sittings, half of which are free. The register dates from the year 1686, and is in fair condition. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £350, including 51 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Manchester, and held since 1884 by the Rev. Edward James Bussell M.A. of St. Mary Hall, Oxford, hon, canon of Manchester, proctor in convocation for the diocese of Mancheater, and surrogate.

The church of St. Mary, dating originally from 1410, but rebuilt an 1770, was formerly the chapel of a chapelry, in the parish of Rochdale, but under the Rochdale Vicarage Act, 29 and 30 Vict. c. 86 (March 9th 1866) became a chapel of ease to Christ Church, and is a plain building of stone in the Jacobean style, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch and an embattled western tower containing an illuminated dock and one bell: in the chancel, erected in 1897, is a memorial window to the late John Fielden esq. of Dobroyd Castle: handsome oak screens, the gift of Mrs. John Fielden, of Dobroyd Castle, were erected about 1904: there are sittings for 270 persons.

St. Peters, WALSDEN, is an ecclesiastical parish, formed July 4, 1845; the church, erected in 1848, is a building of stone in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and a western tower with spire, added in 1863 by subscription, and containing a clock and 8 bells, placed in 1872: there are a number of stained windows, chiefly to members of the Crossly family, of Scaitcliffe, to whom the church in a great measure owes its erection, and to the late Reuben Haigh esq. of Clough House: the church was restored in 1876—91, at a cost of £710, and affords 630 sittings. The register dates from the year 1845. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £300, with residence, in the gift of the Crown and Bishop of Manchester alternately, and held since 1890 by the Rev. John Russell Napier B.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge.

St. Paul’s, CROSS STONE, is a building of atone in the pointed style, and consists of chancel, nave, south porch and an embattled western tower with pinnacles and containing one bell: the east-window is stained: the church was restored in 1889, at a cost of £2,700, and affords sittings for 700 persona. The register dates from the year 1680. The living is a perpetual curacy, net yearly value £328, with residence, in the gift of the vicar of Halifax, and held since 1882 by the Rev. John Lightfoot M.A. of the Royal University of Ireland, and D.Sci. of the University of Edinburgh, and surrogate. According to official information no ecclesiastical district has ever been legally assigned to this church.

There is a Catholic church in Ridge lane, built in 1868, and dedicated to St. Joseph: it will seat 100 persons.

The Unitarian church, built at a cost of £53,000, by Messrs. Samuel, John and Joshua Fielden, is an edifice of stone in the Perpendicular and Decorated styles, from the designs or Mr. John Gihson, architect, of London, and consists of chancel, nave, mortuary chapel, organ chamber and a tower with spire, together 192 feet in height, containing 8 bells with chimes: the chancel, mortuary chapel and organ chamber are groined and enriched with exquisitely carved bosses and the chancel is adorned with stained glass: the church will seat 600 persons.

The Town Hall, in the centre of the town, and erected in 1875, by Messrs. Fielden, at a cost of £60,000, is a bunding of Ringby stone of the Composite order, from the designs of Mr. John Gibson, architect, of London; the filled in with figures of Portland stone, emblematical of the industries of Lancashire and Yorkshire: the large hall will seat over 1,000 persons. The county court and petty sessions are held at the Town hall, the offices of the town council, county court and of the magistrates being within the same building.

The Free Library, in Rochdale road, erected in 1897, by the Todmorden industrial and Co-operative Society Limited, is a building of stone, and contains reference and lending libraries and two reading rooms. The library contains 12,011 volumes.

The Fielden Hospital, at Lee Bottom, built in 1893, by John Ashton Fielden esq, is a building of stone consisting of two blocks and a mortuary.

A bronze statue of the late John Fielden M.R. by the late Mr, J. H. Foley, sculptor, was inaugurated in April, 1875, in recognition of his persevering endeavours in obtaining the Hours Act.

The”Queen” and the “White Hart” are the principal hotels.

The population is chiefly employed in cotton spinning and the manufacture of cotton goods and fustian. There are some foundries and machine works, the latter being engaged mostly in the supply of machinery for all parts of the world.

The market days are on Wednesday and Saturday in each week, as well as on the first Thursday in each month for cattle. Two annual fairs, continuing for three days each, commence on the Thursday before Raster and on the last Thursday in September.

Todmorden Hall, an ancient gabled mansion, was occupied in the 16th and 17th centuries by the Radclyffe family, but is now divided for two families. Dobroyd Castle, a fine building on an eminence commanding an extensive view of the valleys in which the town is situated, was the seat of the late John Fielden esq. D.L., J.P.; and Centre Vale is the residence of Mrs. Fielden.

The principal landowners are the Messrs. Fielden and the trustees of the late John Arthur Ingham esq. (d. 1900), representatives of the late William Greenwood esq. of Stones, and A. G. Eastwood esq.

The Todmorden civil parish and municipal borough is 12,540 acres of land and 193 of water; rateable value, £115,538; the population in 1901 was 25,418, including 9 officials and 144 inmates of the workhouse.

The population of the wards in 1901 was: Central, 4,134; Cornholme, 5,313; Langfield, 4,109; Stansfield, 4,440; Todmorden; 3,922; Walsden, 3,500.

The population attached to Christ Church in 1901 was 3,098.

The population of Cross Stone ecclesiastical parish in 1901 was 11,578, and of All Saints, Harley Wood, 6,545, of which 4,046 are in Yorks.

Petty Sessions are held every Monday & thursday, at the Town hall, at 11 a.m. The following places are included in the Petty Sessional Division:-Todmorden. & Walsden in the county of Lancaster & Stansfield, Langfield, Heptonstall, Wadsworth, Mytholmroyd & Erringden in the county of York.

TODMORDEN UNION

Board day, fortnightly, on Wednesday, at the Union offices, Hall street, at 1.30 p.m.

Todmorden Union comprises the seven following parishes:-Blackshaw, Erringden, Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall, Mytholmroyd, Todmorden & Wadsworth; the population of the union in 1901 was 42,207; area, 40,354 acres; rateable value for 1904, £200,607.

The Workhouse, at Lee Bottom, in the township of Langfield, was erected in 1877, at a cost of over £10,000, for 100 inmates, & enlarged in 1890 to accommodate 250 inmates.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of Serves.

Christ Church, Rev. Canon Edward Janies Russell M.A. vicar Rev. John Edward Wareham B.A. & Rev. Thomas Walters B.A. curates; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; 10.30 a.m. & 7.30 p.m. daily.

St. Mary’s (chapel of ease); 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

St. Pauls, Cross Stone, Rev. John Lightfoot M.A, vicar: 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

All Saints, Harley Wood, Rev. James Herbert Lomax, vlcar; 8 & 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. Michael’s All Angels Church, Cornholme, Rev. Oswald Fielding Aston M.A. vicar: 8 & 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p m.

St. Peter's, Walsden, Rev. John Russell Napier B.A,; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. Joseph (Catholic), Cobden, Rev. Francis Joseph Oakes, priest; 9 & 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Baptist, Charlestown; 10.30 a.m. & 2.15 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, Lineholme,; 10.30 a.m. & 2.30 & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist (Mount Olivet), Rev. William Lewis Stevenson; 10.30 a.m. & 2.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, Roomfield, Rev. Henry Briggs; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, Shore,; 10.30 a.m. & 2 p.m.

Baptist, Vale, Rev. Lewis C. Hammond; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, Wellington road, Rev. Thomas Cotes; 10.30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Congregational, Patmos,; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Congregational, Clough Foot, Rev. James A. Smith; 10.30 a.m. & 2.30 p.m.

Congregational, Eastwood, Rev. John Wilson; 10.30 a.m. & 2.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Friends’ Meeting House, Bank top; 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Independent Methodist, Oldroyd; 10.30 a m. & 2.30 p.m.

Methodist Free Church, Lumbutts; 10.30 a.m. & 2.30 p.m.

Methodist Free Church, Cornholme; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Methodist Free Church, Walsden; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.: Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Methodist Free Church, Bridge street; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.: Tues. 7.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Knowlwood; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Castle street; 2.30 & 6 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Victoria road, 2.30 & 6 p.m.

Unitarian, Rev. Arthur W. Fox; 10.45 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Wesleyan, Shade; 2.30 & 6 p.m.

Wesleyan. York street; 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Eastwood: 2.30 & 6 p.m.

Wesleyan, Mankinholes; 10.30 a.m. & 2.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Walsden; 2.30 & 6 p.m.

Salvation Army Barracks, Union street; 11 a.m. & 8.30 p.m.

PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Borough of Todmorden Education Committee, formed Hay 1, 1903, & consisting, of 17 members, 16 of the Corporation & 3 co-opted; offices, Roomfield; James Whitehead, clerk; Thomas Woodhead, Millwood, attendance officer.

Fielden School of Art (borough), Burnley road; John H. Farran, master.

Municipal Technical School, Rochdale road, J. Whitehead, clerk.

Roomfield Higher Grade & Secondary School (Div. A) (boys, girls, mixed & infants), built in 1877, enlarged in 1887 & in 1892 & again in 1898, for 1,388 children; average attendance, 959.

Clough Foot (mixed), built in 1829, transferred to the Board in 1875, for; 147 children; average attendance, 46.

Walsden (mixed & infants), built in 1879, for 395 children; average attendance, 285.

Cornholme (mixed & infants), for 453 children; average attendance, 220 (boys & girls) & 60 (infant’s).

Vale (mixed & infants), built in 1880, for 350 children; average attendance, 175 (boys & girls) & 100 (infants).

Robinwood (mixed & infants), erected in 1894 & enlarged in 1896, for 262 children; average attendance, 183.

Eastwood (mixed & infants), built in 1877, for 364 children; average attendance, 240.

Lanebottom (mixed), for 166 children; average attendance, 58.

Todmorden National, Burnley road (mixed & infants), built in 1846, & enlarged in 1884, 1885 & 1897, for about 600, children; average attendance, 459.

Walsden (mixed), built in 1850 & enlarged in 1880, for 300 children; average attendance, 140.

Cross Stone (mixed & infants), erected in 1850, for 345 children: average attendance, 299.

Harley Wood, erected in 1872, for 250 children; average attendance, 100.

Shads (mixed & infants), erected in 1869 & enlarged in 1891, for 405 children; average attendance, 275.

Lumbutts (mixed), erected in 1880, for 263 children; average attendance, 77.

St. Joseph (Catholic),Cobden (mixed), built in 1868, for 144 children; average attendance, 81.

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TODMORDEN is a market and union town, a station on the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway, township, chapelry and head of a county court district, partly within the eastern boundary of Lancashire and partly in Yorkshire, 9 miles north-east from Rochdale, 12 west from Halifax, 21 north-north-east from Manchester and 207 from London, partly in Rochdale and partly in Halifax parishes; the Lancashire portion is in the petty sessional division of Middleton, and the Yorkshire portion in that of West Morley, hundred of Salford, rural deanery of Rochdale and archdeaconry and diocese of Manchester, situated on the river Calder and the Rochdale canal. Stansfield and Langfield are adjoining townships, large portions of which are embraced in the town of Todmorden, which is under the government of a local board of 15 members, and has two county police stations and ten constables. Petty sessions are held once a fortnight at the Town Hall, and the prisoners there found guilty are sent to Wakefield or Manchester prisons, according to the locality in which the offence was committed. The scenery of the winding vales leading from Todmorden to Halifax, Rochdale, Burnley and Manchester is very romantic and is much admired by all visitors. The old church of St. Mary is a plain square building, with a tower containing 1 bell and an illuminated clock, and has been restored by public subscription. Christ Church is a stone edifice, built in 1831, adjoining the new burial ground, and consists of nave with aisles and a square tower containing 1 bell: in the chancel is a stained window in memory of a former vicar, the Rev. A. J. Plow, inserted at a cost of £225, raised by subscription: there are 1,230 sittings, half of which are free. The register dates from the year 1680, and is in fair condition. The living is a vicarage with residence, net yearly value £300, in the gift of the Bishop of Manchester and held by the Rev. William Augustus Conway, surrogate, appointed in 1876 by the vicar of Rochdale, the then patron.

The Unitarian church, built at a cost of nearly £35,000 by Messrs. Samuel, John and Joshua Fielden, is a splendid structure in the Perpendicular and Decorated styles, from the designs of John Gibson esq. of London, consisting of chancel, nave, mortuary chapel, organ chamber, and a tower with spire, together 192 feet in height, and containing a peal of 8 bells and chimes, arranged to play four different tunes at intervals during the 24 hours: it is constructed of Cloughhead and native stone: the nave has an open roof of oak, that of the chancel is of red Mansfield and Yorkshire stone; the mortuary chapel and the organ chamber are groined with the same kind of stone and enriched with exquisitely carved bosses: the chancel is paved with red, green and Sicilian marble, and is enriched with stained glass: the font is also of Sicilian marble, supported by pillars of green marble and Plymouth spar, and inlaid with marbles of various kinds: the church will seat 500 persons.

There are also chapels for Wesleyans, Calvinists and New Connexion and Association Methodists, all well attended, and a Meeting House for the society of Friends.

A school Board, consisting of nine members, for the united district of Todmorden, viz.:-Todmorden and Walsden in Lancashire, the townships of Erringden, Heptonstall, Stansfield and Wadsworth in Yorkshire, was formed in August, 1874, and schools have been erected at Roomfield, Todmorden, Eastwood, Jackbridge, Cloughfoot, Corrnholme, Walsden, Heptonstall, Lanebottom and Hebden Bridge.

The County Court and petty sessions are at the Town Hall; the offices of the Local Board, County Court and of the magistrates being within the building.

The Town Hall, a handsome building of the Composite order, is situated in the centre of the town; the walls are faced with Ringby stone, the upper storey on three sides being divided into bays by columns, the north end is semicircular, and has fluted columns with richly-carved capitals, the architraves of the windows and niches are similarly treated; a bold cornice with a frieze, ornamented with carved fret work, runs continuously round the building, the frontage of the building is 130 feet by 53 feet, and the height to the top of the cornice 54 feet, and to the apex of the pediment facing the south 67 feet; the pediment is filled with figures in Portland stone, emblematical of the industries of the counties of Lancaster and York, in which the building stands: the roof is covered with lead: the large hall, 96 ft. 6 in in length. 46 ft. 6 in wide, and 34 ft. 9 in high, will seat 1,000 people: the grand entrance, at the apsidal end, is embellished with Hoptonwood polished stone columns, and has five large windows in the first stage and seven smaller ones in the second: the ceiling and cornice of the interior is elaborately decorated in gold and colours.

A bronze statue of the late John Fielden, known as the Fielden memorial, and situated on the north side of the town hall, erected by public subscription in recognition of his persevering endeavours in obtaining the Ten Hours Act, was inaugurated in April, 1875.

Gas works were erected in 1847 at a cost of £10,000: the Queen’s, the White Hart and the Golden Lion are the principal hotels.

There are two newspapers, ‘ The Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Advertiser ’ and ‘ The Todmorden and District News.’

The population is chiefly employed in the manufacture of cotton, fustians and cotton spinning. There are some foundries and machine works, the latter being chiefly engaged in the supply of machinery to manufactories in the neighbourhood.

The market day is on Saturday in each week, in the afternoon, as well as on the first Thursday in each month for cattle. Two annual fairs, continuing three days each, commence on the Thursday before Easter, and on the 27th of September for cattle, pigs and amusements.

The principal seats in the neighbourhood are The Castle, Dobroyd, a fine building, on an eminence commanding an extensive view of the valleys in which the town is situated, and the seat of John Fielden esq. J.P.,; Stansfield Hall, a Tudor building, the residence of Thomas Fielden esq.; Centre Vale, that of Samuel Fielden esq. J.P.; Ridge Foot, of Abraham Ormerod esq. J.P.; and Scarcliffe, the ancient family seat and residence of the Crossley family, now inhabited by Mrs. Crossley: there are also many handsome residences belonging to the principal manufacturers in the neighbourhood.

The principal landowners are the Messrs. Fielden and the trustees of the late William Greenwood esq. of stones.

The combined acreage of Todmorden and Walsden is 7,007, of which 30 are water; rateable value, £42,716; the population of Todmorden and Walsden in 1871 was 9,333, of which 3,507 are attached to Christchurch parish.

The population of the Todmorden Local Board District in 1871 was:

Walsden, which forms part of the township of Todmorden, is wholly in the county of Lancaster, and will be found in Kelly’s Directory of that county.

Todmorden Union

Board day, Wednesday at the station House inn. Todmorden union comprises the six townships of Todmorden & Walsden, Heptonatall, Erringden, Langfield, Stansfield & Wadsworth. A union house, situated at Leebottom in the township of Langfield, was erected in 1877, at a coat of over £10,000.

Places of Worship, with times of service.

Christ Church (St. Mary’s), Rev. W. A. Conway, vicar; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Catholic, Cobden, Rev. C. J. Huybers, priest; Sun. 10.45 а.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Baptist Chapel, Roomfield lane, Rev. Henry Briggs; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist Chapel, Lineholme (vacant); Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m; Tue. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist Chapel (Mount Olivet), Rev. James Dearden; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Baptist Chapel, Vale, Rev. W. J. Staynes; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Baptist Chapel, Wellington road, Rev. William March; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist Chapel, shore, Rev. J. K. Chappelle.

Congregational Chapel, Burnley road (vacant); Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Congregational Chapel, Patmos, Rev. John Constance; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Unitarian, Rev. L. Taplin; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m. Tue. 7 p.m.

Wesleyan Chapel. York street, Revs. J. Fletcher & W. B. Lowther; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Wesleyan Association Chapel, Rev. J. Mather, Bridge street; Sun. 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Schools

Board:—

Clough Foot, Charles Bidwell, master.

Walsden, G. F, Stacey, master.

Vale, Napoleon Kershaw, master.

Roomfield, G. Daniels, master; Miss Isabella Henderson, mistress; Mrs. H. Ash, infants’ mistress.

Eastwood, G. H. Tee, master; Miss Frances Harrison, infants’ mistress.

Lanebottom, Alfred Crossland, master.

Colden, Heptonstall, Thomas Horsfield, master.

Crunsworth. Wadsworth. Adam Gillibrand, master.

Hebden Bridge, Thomas Riley, master.

Mytholmroyd, J. L. Bond, master; Miss E. A. Cockcroft, infants' mistress.

Walker Lane, Wadsworth (mixed), W. Bradshaw, master.

National, Burnley road, John Turner, master; Miss Ogden, infants’ mistress.

Church of England:—

Wadsworth mill, John Catlow, master.

Waterside factory, J. A. Birtwistle, master.

Robin Wood factory, J. C. Quayle, master.

Lumbutt’s factory, J. G. A. Owencroft, master.

Catholic, Cobden, Miss Wells, mistress.

Todmorden Endowed (boys & girls), Church steps, Thomas Lord, master.

Centre Vale (mixed), was built in 1872, at the cost of Mrs. Samuel Fielden, by whom also it is supported, & has an attendance of 150: Miss Pilling, mistress.