The Weavers Route
The following overview provides a brief account of the four days of the weavers uprising in April 1826 and they route they took across Pennine Lancashire.
This also gives an indication of the routes of subsequent weavers uprising remembrance walks that the WUBC aim to record.
DAY ONE – 24th April 1826
The first day of the uprising started at Whinney Hill, on the outskirts of Accrington. More than 1,000 people gathered there and the crowd heard speeches from the local ‘captains’, (who were the leaders of the uprising across the next four days). A total of 415 powerlooms were destroyed by weavers on the first day of the uprising at mills including Higher Grange Lane Factory Mill, Woodnook Mill, Fern Gore Mill, White Ash Mill. Jubilee Mill and the Mill at Grimshaw.
DAY THREE – 26th April 1826
Early on the morning of the 26th of April the protestors made their way to David Whiteheads Mill, Longholme Mill, and Hoyle and Ashworth Mill. Protestors then made their way down the valley towards Royton Mills at Dearden Clough and Aitkens and Lords Mill at Chatterton, the site of the infamous Chatterton Massacre. Following the Chatterton Massacre crowd split in two: a small number went to Higher Summer Mill and Woodhill Factory, in Elton, Bury. Larger number of protestors made there way to Holt Mill at Waterfoot, Howarths Mill in Waterbarn, Irwell Mill, and finally Old Clough Factory, near Bacup.
DAY TWO – 25th April 1826
The second day started at Earcroft, and protestors first marched to Bowling Green Mill. The protestors made their way through Lower Darwin and over to Hoddleston, and then via Pickup Bank onto the rugged West Pennine Moors to Turners Mill (Middle Mill) in Helmshore. After several arrests, the marchers continued to the New Inn, Haslingden to demand the release of their fellow protestors.
DAY FOUR – 27th April 1826
Day four of the uprising started in Tockholes and protestors made a 9 mile journey to Water Street Factory in Chorley.
