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MILL STONE WORK -1880

19/2/2015

2 Comments

 
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Stone carvings depicting stages in the production of cotton.

These were originally in Tootal Broadhurst and Lee's Sunnyside Mills in Bolton but now are built into the wall of the shopping centre in the town centre. There were a few other pieces I could not photograph and other pieces of stonework partially sticking out of the ground or hidden by vegetation.

They were sculpted in the late 1880's by J & T.Bonehill & Co.

Joseph Bonehill was a stonemason and in 1861 he was working in Manchester and had premesis in the city centre near Cross Street. By 1871 the firm had become J &T Bonehill sculptors in marble, wood, chimneypieces, headstones, screens, pulpits and tombs. In 1889 the companies name had changed to W. Bonehill and by 1900 a William George Bonehill was still working as a mason located in Moss Side, Manchester.

Tootal Broadhurst & Lee were cotton manufacturers, later textile spinners and manufacturers.  The company was founded in Manchester in 1799  by Robert Gardner, a textile merchant. In 1842 Tootal family involvement began and in the 1860's  Sunnyside Mills, Bolton and Newton Heath Mills in Manchester, were acquired. 

In 1888 after several name changes, the firm became Tootal Broadhurst Lee Co.Ltd. 

In 1918 a research department was established, which carried out early work on creating crease resistant fabric. The company was notable for its early use of brand names and was a leader in the field of selling direct to retailers.  By 1939 the firm had spinning, weaving and yarn dyeing factories in Bolton and factories in Newton Heath, Manchester, weaving silk and wool and producing handkerchiefs and ties. There were branches in Belfast, Birmingham, Leeds, London and Glasgow and overseas in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, and New Zealand. Subsidiaries’ activities included dress manufacture, bleaching, dyeing and crease resistant finishing.

In 1947 they exhibited at the British Industries Fair in Earls Court as manufacturers of Tobralco, Lystav, Robia and other Tootal Dress and Furnishing Fabrics including Pyramid Handkerchiefs and Tootal Ties.

In 1973 the company became Tootal Ltd and was eventually acquired by Coats Viyella in 1991.

Photographed on 28 December 2014.
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2 Comments
Larraine Clayton
10/5/2020 12:09:38 am

This work was done by Joseph Bonehill my Great Great Grandfather I know this as I was the person who informed Bolton museum through Dr John Gray when the carving got saved I gave him the details as I own the book that has all details of works done by 2x Greatgrandfather in and around Manchester. The family originally came from Warwickshire.

Reply
Peter Fleetwood
30/8/2023 10:22:18 am

Joseph Bonehill was the sculptor of the Alfred Waterhouse chapels at Ince, Wigan. Love to find more information on Joseph and his business. I hope you can help. Peter

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    My interest in ships and the sea started back in 2006 when I worked for a couple of years  on the banks of the River Mersey. I have since been on a couple of cruises around the Med and in the Far East and have started to take more interest in researching and photographing some of the ships and other vessels seen on my travels.

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