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The
town of Ramsbottom came about as the result of the Industrial
Revolution. The age of the town is not known but there is
evidence of settlements in the area dating from at least 4,000
BC. Ancient burial sights and artefacts have been discovered on
the hills surrounding the valley in which Ramsbottom nestles.
The
valley would have been woodland in those time and eventually during
the 11th century became a Royal Forest.
During
the 16th century, deforestation of the valleys was commonplace to meet
the growing need for timber. During this period people became
agricultural and lived in Crofts spinning and weaving.
The
end of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century saw rapid
industrial growth in the area. The Industrial Revolution brought
with it factories for the spinning and weaving of wool and later
cotton. The processes of Bleaching, Dying, Printing and
Engraving also played a part in the regional growth
The
mill owners of the time included the Ashtons, Robert Peel (Senior)
and the Grants.
Much of the town as we now
know it was built by the Grant brothers,
Daniel and William, the latter of which a monument was built in his
memory. They arrived in 1806 and were subsequently immortalised
in the novel Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens as the Cheeryble
brothers. The Grants who came from Scotland built fine houses,
some of which still remain as a reminder of that period. St
Andrew's Church on Bolton Street came under construction in 1832
and is also known as Grant's Church. It was consecrated as
Scottish Presbyterian and was built from a donation of £5,000 by
William Grant who gave the Church to the Church of England in
1869. The Grant Crest over the entrance bears the date of
completion.
The Peel
Tower commemorates Sir Robert Peel, son of mill owner Robert
Peel and Prime Minister of Britain between 1841 and 1846, founder of
the modern Police Force (once named 'Peelers' and still often referred
to as 'Bobbies'). He is also renowned for repealing the Corn Laws
in 1846, this being the justification for the £1,000 cost by public
subscription. For more information about Peel
Tower visit the Tourism page.
Excavations conducted
during the 1970's by Bury Archaeological Group revealed burial sites
on the east side of the valley, close to the area later occupied
by Grants Tower. The artefacts
retrieved from excavations at Whitelow and Bank
Lane are on display at Bury Museum. Whitelow is worth a
visit as many of the stones used for the cairn still remain.
Bank Lane, however, has long since been swallowed up by the quarrying
activity at Fletcher Bank.
Among the earliest
buildings that can be seen is The School House,
on Dundee Lane dating back to 1864. This building was formerly
named Well House as its occupants maintained the local well. The
building occupies the site of the Court House built in 1664 and
includes some of the stone used in that building. Other stone
was incorporated from Manchester Cathedral being rebuilt at the same
time, hence the second date stone inscribed 1414.
Barwood
House is another example of the period. This house on Grants
Lane was first occupied by Henry Kay in the 1780's but was eventually
sold in 1819 to Charles Grant, the youngest of the Grant
brothers. Shortly after purchasing the house, Charles
Grant built a Gatehouse using this as an Estate Office; a
footpath running from Bolton Street to Grants Lane connects the two
properties. Nearby are The Stables which
also belonged to the house.
The
Grant Arms Hotel, situated in the old Market Place was originally
built as a house known as Top O'th Brow and was occupied by a Partner
of Robert Peel named Henry Warren. Later the Grant family
occupied the house and named it Grant Lodge. The scope of the
building at the time was limited to that portion now occupied by the
restaurant - Gilbert at the Grant's. The building became a hotel
in 1828 and the new frontage was added in 1852 along with the clock
inscribed with that date.
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