Wm Lancaster

[Atarah]

Another important person from our town.

Last Friday morning I was waiting at the garage at the bottom of Willows Lane, when my eye caught a "sign" on a building on the corner of Willows Lane and Dale Street. The building was obviously an old factory. The cast iron "sign" read "Wm Lancaster Willows Iron Works".

Have done a bit of research, sounds like another "Men of Mark" for Accrington. This gentleman, who was born in 1823 (d.1911) showed remarkable ability in the devising and improvement of textile machinery, being a born inventor and a clever mechanic. Some of his inventions in mill and other machinery may be said to have almost revolutionised the textile manufacturing industry in more than one department. He was the patentee of a number of devices that have been successfully applied to cotton machinery. He became associated with the world-known firm of Howard and Bulloughs when the Globe Works was first started. Mr Lancaster was a strenuous worker, often drawing plans for improvements in machinery in his bedroom during almost the whole night. His inventions were often more profitable to others than to himself. Leaving H & B's, he commenced business for himself in the textile manufacturing and machinery export line at the works in Dale Street, once occupied by E. J. Riley. Afterwards Mr Lancaster had his workshop in Moscow Mill, Ossy. He ended up bankrupt in 1892. At one time he brought over from their native town in Germany, two brothers called Paul and Hugo Muller, who were employed in his office in Dale Street. He gave them both a good training and eventually Paul started an export machinery business for himself in Avenue Parade. Maybe descendants of these gentleman are still around this area?