58 

SUMMER EXCURSION. 
RIVINGTON. 
5th July, 1905. 

The Exeursion of the Club was made on Wednesday to 
Rivington. ‘The party, which included the President (Mr. W. 
Lewis Grant) and the Secretary (Mr. Charles Hargreaves), 
travelled by train to Bolton, and then proceeded in waggonettes 
to the interesting old manor house known as ‘ Hall i’ th’ Wood.” 
The Hall, which overlooks a valley on the outskirts of 
Bolton, is a remarkable example of the black and white ‘‘ Post 
and Plaster’ style of the Tudor period. It was probably built in 
the Vifteenth Century, and is associated with the families of 
Brownlow, Norris, and Starkie of Huntroyde. Subsequently the 
house was divided into tenements. One of these tenements was 
the home of Samuel Crompton, the inventor of the spinning 
mule. It was there that he laboured in the production of that 
machine, which made such a revolution in the spinning industry. 
Crompton died in 1827 after a life of wonderful perseverance, in 
the face of adversity, opposition, and discouragement. It was six 
years ago that Mr. W. H. Lever purchased the property, which 
was then falling into decay, and carefully carried out a scheme 
of restoration. He handed over the fine old landmark, with its 
quaint architecture and wealth of oak, to the Corporation of 
Bolton as a memorial to one of Bolton’s most worthy sons. The 
’ Hall is now used as a Museum, and the ten rooms which are 
open to visitors contain many memorials connected with Cromp- 
ton and his work; antique furniture, portraits, examples of 
ancient embroidery, drawings, and cases showing the more 
delicate fabrics of the cotton industry—the product of Bolton 
looms ; loans from the South Kensington Museum, etc. From 
here the party drove through the village of Belmont, to the 
uplands of Rivington Moor, and followed the new road which 
Mr. Lever has constructed towards the summit of the hill. The 
prospect from the road at its highest point is one of great extent. 
