270 THE BRITISH ISLES. 



includes amongst its members the Cheshire towns of Stalybridge, Dukinfield, and 

 Hyde (see p. 2QÔ). In the whole of this district cotton-spinning is the leading 

 industry, hut a good deal of mucliincry is also made. ]\rosslcy, Ilurst, Droylsden, 

 and Denton are the principal villages dependent upon Ashton. 



Oldham, to the north-east of Manchester, is almost wholly devoted to cotton 

 spinning and weaving, and machine-making. The machine works of Messrs. 

 riatt are the largest in the United Kingdom. 3L'ddlcton, on the Irk, to the 

 north of Manchester, manufactures tapes and small wares, in addition to brocaded 

 silks, which are frequently sold as the produce of the looms of Bethnal Green. 



Bolton-Ie-Moors is another centre of a congeries of factory towns, and 

 scarcely yields to Oldham in population. It is a busy hive of industry, which 

 has grown up in the midst of sterile moors near the river Roach, and owes much 

 of its prosperity to Flemish, Palatine, and Huguenot emigrants. During the 

 Civil "War it was besieged by the Earl of Derby. The town is famous for its fine 

 yarns, shirtings, and cambrics, and also turns out engines, machinery, patent 

 safes and locks, and other minor articles. Amongst its buildings are a town-hall, 

 a large market hall, and a free library with museum. A monument has been 

 erected to Crompton, the inventor of the mule. Collieries are worked in the 

 neighbourhood. Fdrnicorth, Kearsley, and Halliwell are minor manufacturing 

 places near Bolton. Farther away towards the south-west are the cotton towns 

 of Leigh — where also silk is woven on hand-looms — Atherton, Tyldedey, Astley, and 

 Bedford. The country around these towns is rich in coal and building stone, and 

 the dairies supply excellent cheese. 



Bitry, on a hill overlooking the Irwell, is another centre of the cotton trade, 

 besides which the paper for the Times newspaper is made here. Sir Robert Peel was 

 a native of the town, and a monument has been erected in his memory. Summerseat 

 is higher up on the river, with the factory of Messrs. Grant, who were the original 

 Brothers Cheeryble in "Nicholas Xickleby." Raddiffe and Whitefield are in the 

 same neighbourhoo'l. Ascending the Irwell, we pass Ramsloitom and Haslingden, 

 and reach Baetip, known for its co-operative cotton factories, in the heart of the 

 Rossendale Forest, and near the head of the Irwell. 



Rochdale, on the Roch, an affluent of the Irwell, is chiefly occupied in the woollen, 

 and more especially the flannel trade. It was here that twenty-eight " Equitable 

 Pioneers" founded in 1842 a co-operative society which has served as a model to 

 similar associations throughout the world. Heywood, lower down on the Roch, is 

 engaged in cotton-spinning ; whilst Littlehoronrjh, near the head of the river, and 

 at the foot of Blackstone Edge, is noted for its pretty scenery. 



Having now dealt with the Lancashire towns which occupy the upper basin of 

 the Mersey, we return to the south, in order to descend that river as far as 

 Liverpool. On our way we pass the important manufacturing town of Warrington, 

 where the Mersey is spanned by a bridge built in the time of Henry VIL From 

 this bridge the river is navigable for vessels of 100 tons burden. Warrington 

 has iron and steel works, engineering factories, glass houses, and wire works. 

 Pins are enumerated amongst the articles made here. A few miles lower 



