The Ashton Family owned various mills including the Ashton Brothers mill where my grandparents worked.
| The story of the Ashton family is one of innovation, perseverance, and transformation, and is deeply intertwined with the industrial heritage of Gee Cross and Flowery Field. It began with Benjamin Ashton, who was born in 1718, by 1745, his company in Gee Cross, Hyde was weaving cloth using linen warp and cotton weft. This early blend of materials foreshadowed the family’s future in textiles, as they gradually evolved from small-scale weavers to influential industrialists. The Early Days: Benjamin Ashton and His Sons Around 1780, Benjamin Ashton’s sons took the first major step in expanding their family’s weaving business by constructing a cotton factory in Gee Cross. By 1810, they had extended their operations to Flowery Field, where it’s believed their mill was powered by a water wheel, a common feature of early industrial mills. Soon, all five of Benjamin’s sons joined the venture, and together they shaped the future of the Ashton name. The brothers diversified the business, and steered it towards spinning, weaving, printing, finishing, and merchanting, laying the foundation for what would become a significant force in the region’s textile industry. The Building of Carrfield Mill and the Growth of the Ashton Business In 1817-18, the Ashton brothers built Carrfield Mill, a combined weaving and spinning mill located in a hollow beside Wilson Brook and known locally as the “Hollow Factory,” Carrfield Mill marked the family’s growing prominence. At this time, they were not only cotton spinners but also coal proprietors, controlling both the textile production and the coal needed to fuel their mills. The partnership of “Samuel Ashton and Brothers” dissolved in 1821 when Samuel left the firm. The remaining brothers, trading under the name T.J. & J. Ashton, continued to expand. In 1823, John Ashton and James Ashton partnered with their brother Robert Ashton at Greencroft Mill, while Thomas Ashton assumed full control of Carrfield Mill. Expansion and Legacy: The Construction of Bayleyfield Mill Thomas Ashton’s vision didn’t stop there. In 1824-25, he built Bayleyfield Mill, and over time, the land between Carrfield and Bayleyfield was developed to include additional weaving sheds, Middle Mill, and another spinning mill. By bringing his sons Samuel Ashton and Thomas Ashton into the business, Thomas Ashton transformed the firm into “Thomas Ashton and Sons,” solidifying the Ashton family legacy. When Thomas Ashton died in 1845, his sons split the firm. The merchanting side retained the name, Thomas Ashton and Sons, while the manufacturing arm became Ashton Brothers and Company. The Rise of Ashton Brothers and Company Ashton Brothers and Company quickly grew into a powerhouse, expanding its operations beyond Flowery Field to include mills in Little Hayfield, New Mills, and Stockport. By the late 1860s, the company was thriving, marked by the construction of Throstle Bank Mill in 1869-71 and new weaving sheds in the early 1880s. In 1888, Ashton Brothers and Company became a private limited company. Further innovations would follow, in the 1890s there was the design of a new spinning block at Bayleyfield Mill and the erection of a modern engine house in 1893. By 1899, the firm had transitioned into a public limited company and cemented its role as an industrial leader. Innovation and Adaptation: The Early 20th Century Ashton Brothers were pioneers in the European textile industry and by 1905, they had expanded the weaving sheds at Flowery Field and became the first European firm to install automatic looms, revolutionising the production process. By 1913, these looms had largely replaced traditional Lancashire looms. While the early 20th century saw the company diversify into more decorative textiles, including fancy goods, the interwar period brought challenges due to international competition. Despite these difficulties, the firm was able to remain resilient during the Second World War, concentrating its operations as some mills closed. Modernisation and the Courtaulds Era In the post-war years, Ashton Brothers invested in modern machinery, replacing older equipment with new ring spindles and looms. The early 1960s saw the construction of a unique continuous bleaching and finishing plant at Flowery Field, the only one of its kind in the UK. In 1968, Ashton Brothers and Company was taken over by Courtaulds Limited, one of the largest textile firms in the world. Over the next decade, Courtaulds invested around £2.5 million in the Flowery Field site. By 1990, following Courtaulds’ demerger, Ashton Brothers became part of the Linens Group within Courtaulds Textiles. The firm, now known as Christy, continued to operate from Flowery Field, focusing on weaving, dyeing, finishing, and warehousing. The Christy Legacy and the Welspun Group Christy, another well-known Tameside company, became part of Courtaulds in 1966, and in later years, joined the Welspun Group, an international textile conglomerate. Though much has changed since Benjamin Ashton first began weaving cloth in Gee Cross, the Ashton name and its textile legacy have endured, which has shaped the industrial landscape of the region for over two centuries. From humble beginnings to international recognition, the Ashton family’s journey through the textile industry is a story of innovation, adaptation, and success—a testament to their pivotal role in shaping the industrial heritage of Gee Cross, Flowery Field, and beyond. #AshtonFamily #GMLives #Ashton #AshtonBrothers #AshtonBrothersandCompany #GeeCross #BenjaminAshton #ThomasAshton #Flowery Field #Weaving #Carrfield Mill #BayleyfieldMill #BayleyfieldColliery #Courtaulds #CourtauldsLimited #CourtauldsTextiles #WelspunGroup #Christy #LinensGroup #ThrostleBankMill #LittleHayfield #NewMills #Stockport #ThomasAshtonandSons #SamuelAshton #MiddleMill #ThomasAshtonandSons #Carrfield #BayleyfieldMill #Bayleyfield |
Rachel Bakewell 