LOMAX BANK PAPER MILL

Though there were earlier paper mills operating in Little Lever the first definite reference to this mill is in the early 1830's. It was run by Peter Lomax until 20 September 1831 when he sold the mill to the Hughes and Stones partnership of Daniel Hughes and John Stones.

"The Bolton Chronicle" - 19 April 1834	"The Bolton Chronicle" - 17 May 1834

Daniel Hughes and John Stones ran the mill from 1831 to 1834. Daniel Hughes then withdrew from the partnership and John Stones continued as sole proprietor until c1850.

About 1850 Robert Hughes, a son of Daniel Hughes, took over the mill and ran it until 1856. In 1855 the mill had an office at 20 Cannon Street, Manchester.

The Wilkinson family are believed to have had a financial interest in the mill and managed it for Robert Hughes. Following his bankruptcy in 1856 they gained control, though Robert was back living at Lomax Bank House in February 1857 when his daughter was born. The mill was then run by Henry Wilkinson and his sons Thomas and Richard Wilkinson. In 1858 the mill had an office at Exchange Arcade, Manchester.

In 1860 this mill was listed in a papermaker's directory though no mention was made of the types of paper they were producing. In 1861 there were 12 men, 5 boys and 2 women employed at the mill; in 1871 they were employing 11 men, 11 boys and 3 women, and in 1881 there were 9 men, 8 boys and 1 girl working there.

In 1876 this mill had one 72" paper machine making glazed and common browns.

On 7 June 1880 the T. and R. Wilkinson partnership between Thomas and Richard Wilkinson was dissolved and the business was then carried on by Thomas Wilkinson alone.

On 22 September 1916 the H. and T. Wilkinson partnership between Henry Wilkinson and Thomas Wilkinson was dissolved.

In June 1935 the mill was purchased by the British Plaster Board Limited who continued to run it under the name of Henry Wilkinson Limited. About 1950 the Radcliffe Paper Mill Company Limited purchased the mill and classified it as its No. 2 Mill.

Sources:

Arthur, Maurice C. B. "History & Development of Lomax Bank Mill, Little Lever" (manuscript and typescript, c1950's)

Bury Archives Radcliffe Paper Mill Collection 1915-1999

Hughes, Ian Alexander "Hughes, A Family of Papermakers" (privately published, Melbourne, Vic., 1979)

Lancashire census returns (1841,1851,1861,1871,1881,1891,1901)

Lyddon, Denis & Marshall, Peter "Paper in Bolton - A Papermaker's Tale" (John Sherratt and Son Ltd., Altrincham, Cheshire, England 1975)

"The Paper Mills Directory" ("The Stationer", London, England 1860)

Newspapers:

Lancashire "The Bolton Chronicle", "Manchester Guardian"