Ladies of the Congregational Church, Mellor Road, in grounds of Manse.

Back row. From left: 1. Miss Woodward, 5. Miss Clara Woolley (aged about 18 years, aunt to Mrs Handford), 6. Polly Yates, 10. Mrs Whitaker, 11. Miss Alice Salisbury./ Middle row: 2. Miss Knowles, 4. Mrs Richardson ( sister to Mrs Whitaker). Front row: 1. Mrs Ruth Jepson (aged about 15 years, and sister to Miss Woolley). c:1910

A fine example of the work of New Mills photographer T Randles. In this instance Frederick Morris born 1876 New Mills and his bride.

Although Mr. Randles address is shown as 41, Bridge Street, I have reason to believe that his darkrooms were beneath 45, Bridge Street. - In the early 1950's my uncle, George Thompson rented no. 45 which had beneath it four cellars, one of which contained hundreds of glass plate negatives. There was and still is an entrance from the lane that joins Mellor Road to Bridge Street. Very sad to say they were all consigned to the dustbin over several collection days.

School group. Spring Bank Infant School. 1928 or 1929.
Back row from left: Eric Redfern, Hilda Goulding, Margaret Parsons, James Hill.

Middle row: Doreen Statham, ? Slack, Betty Wharmby, Frank Marshall, Peggy Wharmby (twin of Betty), Hilda Smith, Marjorie Wright, Sylvia White,

Front row: Doris Wild, Wright Storer, Elsie Jackson.

Funeral of Edward Godward. 1908 Loading coffin into hearse at Cliff House, Albion Road where he lived.
He was a local benefactor who left money for a scholarship at the Grammar School.

Edward Godward 1841–1908 was the owner of Brunswick Mill on the Peak Forest Canal, a cotton mill, He became the first chairman of New Mills UDC, in 1894.

It is now a sweet factory - Swizzels-Matlow.

Market Street. c.1900

In late 1920's 'Golden Boot' was run by Mr Street, Alsop and Clayton's shop also shown.
Hunter's grocery was owned by Mr George Ollerenshaw, and later became the Maypole.

Pair of large semi-detached houses on Spring Bank, near junction with Mellor Road. c1900.

Now called The Grange and Cliff Lodge. These Victorian villas were built in 1877, probably for managers at the mills. Spring Bank was just being developed as a residential area.

Fire Engine 'Susan' and firemen at Fire Station in Hague Bar Road. c.1930's

This fire engine was purchased by New Mills Council in 1936. It was first used in January 1937 at Beard Mill.

( Another engine Jean was acquired in 1936.) Man on left Councillor J W Cochrane.

Man on right with bowler hat was Mr W C Sheard (council surveyor).

Driver is Esmond Redmill. Captain to right is James Lampard. Group of 4 firemen to left of ladder: Front left: Frank Hardman, back left: Stephen Rose. Group of 3 firemen to right of ladder

" Sacred to the memory of Paul Mason who departed this life April 9th 1813, aged 33 years."
" Hannah daughter, son Paul and Margaret Mason, who departed this life Dec. 13th, 1821, aged 18 years."

At New Mills Wakes in 1812, a number of men, bent on having a lark, made a raid on the farm house at Green Head, between New Mills and Bugsworth, and finding no money, damaged the furniture and destroyed the milk and butter. In those days this was a capital offence. No one had the least idea who were the culprits, but detachments of Scots Greys invaded New Mills on several occasions, and the result was that about fifteen men were tried at Derby. The general, indeed, almost the unanimous opinion was that the witnesses were altogether wrong, and all were discharged but three. Although these three protested their innocence, they were sentenced to be hung, and one of these was Paul Mason, who was declared to be innocent, and protested to his last breath. Here is an exact copy of the letter he wrote to his wife:

Derby Gaol, April 5. 1813.

My dear and ever loving wife, - I write these my last lines to you as my last tribute of duty to you, and hoping these few lines will be of lasting importance to you when I am laid in my silent grave. I am striving to make my everlasting peace with my offended God, and rest in full hope of his acceptance of my immoral soul. My dear Wife, I cry to my God day and night, and he has promised to hear and answer all that come to him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He will in no wise cast out.
Thank God Almighty, the crime I have to suffer for, I have not to answer for before the Almighty. But we are all sinners by nature, and in the sight of God no man shall be justified, but thank God we have an advocate with the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to seek and save those who were lost. I firmly believe I am one whom he came to save, and am accepted by Him, my God and Saviour, and that I shall rest in Christ. Be sure you observe these my last words and desires, and if we never see each other in this world, grant Almighty God that we may meet again in that heavenly kingdom where parting is no more, and where to all eternity we shall rest in the arms of the Redeemer. My dear wile, I hope you will order in some way for my body to come to New Mills to be buried. But the body matters nothing; it is my soul that is of so much value, my never-dying soul - And I hope that no one will upbraid my children of my untimely end, for I am innocent of the crime for which I must suffer. I hope that the Lord will forgive these mine enemies that have taken away my innocent blood. My dear and loving wife, I hope you will make yourself as easy as you can in your distressed situation, for I hope we shall meet in Heaven to part no more, there to praise our Redeemer to all eternity. There will be no false witnesses or swearers there. for we shall be before one who knows the secrets of all hearts, and who will recompense us for all our sufferings here.
Which God knows are many, but we must put our trust in the Lord, for there is nothing done under the sun but what He is an eye-witness of. So, my dear wife, I leave you with my prayers for you and my dear children. hoping to meet you again in Heaven. When you have got my body I should wish you to ask my friends and relatives to my funeral, and to have a sermon preached over me. I hope they will not object to it because I have suffered this untimely death. but I am quite innocent of it. My other affairs about my children I shall tell my brother when he comes; if not I shall write you a few lines before I depart this life. I should like to have a stone laid over me, not for anything of a worldly nature, but to have a verse upon it to let them see that they have taken away my innocent blood. I mean to send you the words, which I should wish to be placed upon the stone.
When my body comes, you may ask who you please to the funeral, for I have no malice against anyone living. Give my best and last respects to my brother James if I don't see him, and to my brother Peter and wife and to my brother Robert likewise, to my brother John and wife also; to sister Hannah and husband, and in a particular manner to my dear sister Sophia and I could wish her to be at my funeral if possible. So farewell, my ever- loving wife; farewell to you my dear children, in hopes to see you again in heaven. I hope and trust you will observe my last word concerning my dear children and your happiness. Tell my dear Maria and Betty to live to God; and my little Hannah. and my poor little Joseph and James. which makes my heart to bleed almost. Tell them if they live to God we shall meet again. So farewell, my poor wife and children, but the Lord has promised to be a father to the fatherless, and a husband to the widow. But I must leave off writing. So farewell, farewell. I conclude, your unfortunate and innocent husband
Paul Mason

Poor Paul Mason's body was brought to New Mills, and strange to say, on its arrival the body was found to be warm. Several gurgling sounds as though life was not quite extinct, were emitted from the throat, and in the opinion of some people his life might have been saved had means been taken to resuscitate him. It will be seen his "little Hannah" lived eight years after her father, and although there are no more inscriptions on the stone, the chapel records are complete as to the occupants of the grave. Here they are:

Grave sold to Paul Mason.
Paul Mason, interred April 9th, 1813, aged 33 years.
Daughter interred Dec. 13th, 1821, aged 18 years.
Joseph Mason, interred March 13th, 1833, aged 25 years.
Ann Mason, interred Nov. 23rd 1853, aged. 77.
Ann Howard, interred June 5th, 1861, aged 13 months.
This grave is now transferred to James Mason.
James Mason, February 21st 1883, aged 73 years.
William Mason, Nov. 17th, 1900, aged 44 years.
This grave is now closed.

It will thus be seen that " poor little Joseph '' lived to be 25, and " poor little James'' to be an old man of 73.