Forest of Rossendale. 285 



weaving were entirely domestic processes, almost every cottage and 

 farmstead having its loom-house, or chamber, containing one, two, 

 or more looms, and very often its spinning-loft. The proximity of 

 the Forest of Rossendale to Rochdale, formerly, if not still, the 

 centre of the flannel and baize trade, naturally favoured the growth 

 of the manufacture in this district. The father of the Hardmans 

 of Rochdale, {£) wool-staplers, celebrated for their enterprise as 

 merchants during last century, was a Rossendale man, and is said 

 to have had Spotland literally covered with sheep for the purposes 

 of his business. Prior to the erection of our large factories, and 

 the congregating of numerous workers under one roof, the capital- 

 ists engaged in the woollen manufacture " put out " the warp and 

 wool to their several hands living in the district. The warp which 



Bacup, were convicted for reeling false and short yarn, and paid the respective 

 penalties by statute inflicted upon them, with all costs of prosecution." This 

 evidently refers to an Act passed in the previous year, entitled — 



An Act for the more effectually preventing frauds and abuses committed 

 by persons employed in the manufacture of combing wool, worsted yarn, and 

 goods made from worsted, in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire and 

 Cheshire; which recites that 



It shall be lawful to and for every inspector or inspectors from time to time, 

 as occasion shall require, to demand entrance at all seasonable hoiys into the 

 dwelling house or dwelling houses, shop or shops, outhouse or outhouses, of 

 any agent or persons hired or employed to put out wool to be spun within 

 the said counties of York, Lancaster and Chester, to inspect the yarn in the 

 custody of any such agent or person hired or employed as aforesaid within the 

 counties of York, Lancashire and Cheshire, where he has any information, or 

 suspects any false or short reeled yarns ; and in case of refusal by any agent 

 or person hired or employed to put out wool to be spun into worsted yarn to 

 permit or suffer such inspection, he, she, or they so refusing shall forfeit and 

 pay such sum of money not exceeding ;^io nor less than ;^5, as such justice 

 or justices before whom he or they shall be convicted shall think proper to be 

 recovered. — Note by Fred Leary. 



{d) Lawrence, the father of John and James Hardman, was born at Greens, 

 near Acre Mill, Spotl.ind, in the year 1664. At 17 years of age he removed 

 to Rochdale, and shortly became established as a wool-stapler in that town. 

 At his death, which occurred in the year 1715, at Toad Lane, Rochdale, his 

 two sons, John and James, succeeded to the business, and carried it on in 



