Whittaker Archives

[John Chappell]

Hi all,

I live in Herefordshire but am researching a brickworks in Gloucestershire. I am sure the Hynburn area is delightful but at 82 years old can't travel up there.

The Brickworks had, by 1880, 'a nine feet clay mill or sieve pan by Whittaker and Company of Accrington' and a 'Matthews Patent semi dry double brick press Christopher Whittaker of Accrington maker'

I find that the Ledgers and other records of this Company are held at Hyndburn District Libraries.

Any chance of some kind person checking this out for me? Names of purchaser might be The Rea Brickyard, Lysons or Foster but any Gloucestershire link might give a clue.

Thanks in advance

John

[Bob Dobson]

I have just seen this thread and am surprised that it has not been answered. I cannot volunteer as I live away rom Acc and the next few weeks are spoken for. I suggest that you drop a line to Accrington.library@lancashire.gov.uk and ask to be sent photos or a photo copy of the relevant pages on Mike Rothwell's book on Hyndburn's Industrial Heritage. This company's premises were in Dowry St. Latterly, their products were called 'New Era' Another Whittaker firm in the town were brickmakers. Another
made 'Pioneer' mangles. Another made sewerage-processing products.




I cannot help with the Matthews patent.

I have never seen the Whittaker archive. By now it may have been transferred to the Lancashire Archives. These are searchable on-line using the National Archives website. It will only give you a reference number.

[cashman]

The place on Dowry St was Whittakers foundry, it had a moulding shop as well as a machine shop, me dad worked yon from after WW2 until ill health knackered him late 70s.