Milltown, Off Highstreet East, Glossop,
SK13 8PX, High Peak, Derbyshire.
History Page 2
The making of these roads caused the local authorities to make connexions with other roads, and build footbridges. In 1821 the Old Town Hall, Old Cross, and Turn Lee Bridges were built. They also led to many public houses being erected. The Snake Inn was opened in September, 1821. The first tenant was John Longden, a local preacher, the second and third were Longdens, and the fourth, the present tenant, Mr. Isaac Rowarth
The tolls were sold annually, and in the advertisements the sum the tolls were sold for at the last sale was always stated, so that we get a very good idea of the state of trade by the sums the tolls fetched. The following will explain my meaning:-
Toll Bars |
1807 |
1809 |
|---|---|---|
£'s |
£'s |
|
Rose Brow |
105 |
113 |
Holehouse |
110 |
113 |
Dinting Bridge & Dinting Mill |
70 |
103 |
Milltown |
57 |
96 |
Glossop |
80 |
91 |
Wooley bridge |
108 |
126 |
In 1822 Dinting Bar tolls realised £187
Every time the trustees of the turnpikes applied for an extension of the Acts the inhabitants of the various districts throughout which the roads passed, opposed them. When the trusts were expiring, the trustees spent the least they could legally; the consequence was that local authorities had to expend large sums of money to make them good. In December, 1858, a public meeting was held in the Old Glossop Wesleyan School to get the Milltown Bar removed, but failed.
People used to wait until one minute after midnight before commencing a long journey, so as to be back within 24 hours, or they had to pay a second time. It cost Wood's 11s. 8d. in tolls for a wagon to go from Glossop to Manchester and bacK.
On the 5th April, 1860, Robert Collier was paid 3d. per yard for 231 yards of paving in Railway Street. Paving stones were obtained from the Milltown Quarry, leased by Samuel Hall, and Turn Lee Quarry, leased by William Buckley. The cost of paving stones was 1s. 6d. per yard.
5th March, 1841:- Election of Guardians.
Thomas Ellison, Glossop Hall, gentleman.
Joseph Bennett, Turnlee, cotton manufacturer.
James Bosley, Whitfield, cotton manufacturer.
John Goddard, Waterside, farmer.
Joseph Higginbotham, Mossy Lea, farmer.
John Kershaw, Hurst, cotton manufacturer.
Henry Lees, Woolley Bridge, cotton manufacturer.
Samuel Marsland, Best Hill, cotton manufacturer.
George Platt, Padfield, farmer.
Robert Shepley, Glossop, cotton manufacturer.
James Sidebottom, Waterside, cotton manufacturer.
Francis J. Sumner, Primrose, cotton manufacturer.
John Wood, Howardtown, cotton manufacturer.
Jonathan Wright, Milltown, cotton manufacturer.
Henry Brierley, Moorside, Chisworth, farmer.
John Wright, Marple Bridge, innkeeper.
The sports were many, and entered into with vigour, as each competitor was certain in his own mind of winning first prize in the event for which he had entered. Of course, each hamlet backed their local fancy. The foot racing was generally a very keen affair; the course was from "Salford Bridge" (Wellgate Bridge), "Rough Town" (Hope Street), by the Old Water Mills, the Wharf (Shepley Street), Church Street South, to starting point. For long distance running the course was from the Old Cross, down Hall Lane (Hall Street), Turn o' th'Lane, Milltown, and Howard Town (High Street East), Ellison Street, Norfolk Street, by the old Smithy (Smithy Bar), Town End, and Top o' th'Town (Church Street), to starting point.
Climbing a greasy pole for a leg of mutton generally took place in the field, where the bear baiting also took place. The last bear baiting took place in a field off Bute Street in the rear of Castle Hill. The bear was muzzled and fastened with a chain to a stake; owners of dogs paid 6d. each for the privilege of slipping their dogs at the bear, and as often as not lost their dog owing to the bear hugging them to death.
The bull baiting took place opposite the Bull's Head Inn, the stake and ring being still there but now covered up with road material. A fee was paid as in bear baiting. The sport (?) consisted in the dog seizing the bull by the nose and keeping the bull's head to the ground, as if the bull attempted to toss the dog, the weight of the dog gave the bull intense pain. The dog that held the Bull's head down the longest won the prize or bet, but the dog was not always the winner, but got tossed and was killed or injured. The bulls used were very wary and used to the game.
WHITFIELD'S DWELLINGS, ANCIENT AND MODERN.
The Buildings and the Builders
Reminiscences of well known local families.
If you want to find out the oldest houses in a hamlet, you must go to the farm houses or the houses abutting the old bridle paths and turnpike roads. The old bridle or pack saddle road in the hamlet of Whitfield was the one from Peak Forest to Woodhead. This road entered Whitfield at Gnat Hole, came along Hague Street to Whitfield Cross, where there was a branch along Cliffe Road, Cross Cliffe, Milltown to Old Glossop, for the convenience of people attending the Parish Church, Markets, and the village of Glossop. The branch road went down Whitfield Cross, Gladstone Street, Smithy Fold, Ellison Street, to Woodhead. At Freetown a branch road went down Hollincross Lane, Slatelands, and entered Simmondley at Bridgefield.
The houses at Leantown were built by Elizabeth Hampson in 1806
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