Forest of Rossendale. 249 



pursue his professional duties in the district with eminent success 

 till within a few years of his death. His delicate health towards 

 the close of life prevented him from devoting much time to 

 his profession. Under a seeming abruptness of manner, more 

 assumed than real, he possessed a kind heart. He was a gentleman 

 in the true sense of the word. His charity was large and 

 unostentatious ; and, during his latter years, he kept open surgery 

 for the poor of the district. He died at his residence, Springfield, 

 Newchurch, June 6th, 1867, in the si.xty-third year of his age. 



Robert Munn, the subject of the present sketch, was a man who 

 at one time exercised greater influence than any other in the 

 Rossendale valley, and whose name was widely known and 

 esteemed in commercial circles throughout Lancashire and else- 

 where. He was born at Holt Mill, Waterfoot, on February 22nd, 

 1800, and was of Scottish descent, his ancestors having sought 

 refuge in England during the civil wars, in which they had in some 

 way been involved. The family originally settled at Manchester, 

 and it is known that the grandfather of the deceased kept a 

 considerable farm and grazed his cattle on land which is now 

 occupied by a portion of Deansgate and some of the other streets 

 diverging thence towards Salford. It is certain that during last 

 century the Munns of Manchester were fairly well to do in the 

 world, and associated with many of the best families there and in 

 the surrounding neighbourhood. It was probably through the 

 friendship existing between them and the Lord family, of 

 Broadclough, that led to the father of the deceased eventually 

 settling in Rossendale, where he engaged in business and amassed 

 a small competency. 



In the year 1824, Mr. Munn entered into partnership with his 

 younger brother John in the cotton trade at Old Clough Mill, 

 Irwell Springs, near Bacup. Previous to that time the cotton 

 manufacture in the Forest of Rossendale, as elsewhere, was in 

 quite an embryo state ; but the improved machinery then coming 

 into use began to lend it importance, and money was being made 



