The Parish of Milnrow in the County of -- Lancashire --

MacDonalds Directory 1879
Transcribed from FHL 874424 by Anne Bamford and Beryl Fooks

Milnrow
(Including New Hey, Ogden, Hough, Kitcliffe, Butterworth Hall, Firgrove)

This populous and thriving village is situate about two miles east of Rochdale and is a Station on the Rochdale and Oldham branch of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. The manufacture of flannels is the staple industry of the District for which it has long been famed. There are also cotton mills and collieries in the parish. The Parish Church is dedicated to St James and is a fine edifice built in the English decorated style of architecture. The present structure is of recent date, although there has been a Church in Milnrow since a.d. 1400. The Reverend Howard A. Crosbie, M.A., is the present Vicar, who succeeded the late lamented Canon Raines. The Church at Newhey, dedicated to St Thomas was consecrated in 1876, is a handsome fabric of stone, of the early Gothic style of architecture. It has a Tower in which are a peal of eight bells, and is surmounted by a fine spire, making a total height of 150 feet from the surface of the ground. The cost of this Church was about £10,000 defrayed by W. & J. Heap, Esquires, of this place. The Vicar is the Rev. George White. The other places of worship are, one each for the Congregationalists, United Methodists and Weslayans. The Local Board was formed in 1870 and meet monthly, Mr Wm. Jones, is the Chairman. The Gas Company was formed in 1869; capital £20,000 in £10 shares.

It was in Milnrow that the well-known painter and humourist, John Collier alias Tim Bobbin spent the greater portion of his life. His writings are mostly written in the Lancashire dialect. He died at the advanced age of 77 years on 14th July 1786 and lies buried in the Rochdale Parish Church yard. The following characteristic verse is chiselled on his grave stone and is ascribed to Tim Bobbin, by whose instructions, it is said, to have been executed:-

“Here lies John with his Mary
cheek by jowl they never vary;
No wonder they do so agree,
John wants no punch and Moll no tea.”

Canon Raines M.A., F.S.A.

On the 17th of October, 1878, there passed away from amongst the Parishioners of Milnrow, a familiar and well-beloved form in the person of their Vicar, who for a period of 46 years ministered to their spiritual wants. Cannon Raines was born at Whitby in 1805. He was the son of a Hull Physician, for which profession the Rev. Mr. Raines was intended. Having abandoned the idea of ever practising medicine, we find him entering the Established Church. For some time he was curate of the Rochdale Parish Church, and in 1832, upon the death of the then Vicar of Milnrow,( Rev. Joseph Hodgson) Canon Raines was preferred to the living, whose connection therewith only terminated in death. If the loss of a much respected and deeply beloved Pastor cast a gloom of sorrow over the peaceful village of Milnrow, the loss of one of its greatest antiquaries of the century, has not been the less keenly felt, not only by a wide circle of admirers, but by the country generally, who always looked forward with pleasure to everything which emanated from his mighty pen. A distinguished member of the Cheetham Society, Manchester, and of whose published works not less than 19 volumes adorn the shelves of its library. His writings were not marked by the theoretical style assumed by antiquaries in general, but by practical information based on close scrutiny, and established facts. He was a great admirer and student of the famous Dr. Whitaker. Vicar of Whalley, whom he took as a pattern, and his treatment of biographical subjects in a great measure assume the elegance in which that great antiquary wrote. He was held in the highest esteem by all classes, and the vacancy caused by his decease will not be easily filled. His valuable manuscript writings he bequeathed to the Cheetham Society.

Post Office, Milnrow, Mr W. Tattersall, Postmaster, Dale st; letters via Rochdale. Letters arrive via Rochdale, at 7-10 am, and are despatched at 7-30 pm.

Schools.

Baptist School Ogden has 70 scholars; Master Mr John Bradbury; Mistress Mrs Bradbury.
British School, Milnrow, has 250 scholars; Master Mr William Bennett; Mistress Mary Bennett.
National School, Milnrow, (St.James) Number of scholars 400; Master John Whitehead; Mistress Alice Bradley.
National School, Newhey; Number of scholars 150; Master Mr James [Taylor]; Mistress Mrs Taylor.
Ogden Endowed School, endowed by John Hill in 1727, with two small farms in Ogden and Hollingworth; Mr William Dixon is the Master.
Wesleyan Methodist School, Milnrow; has 130 scholars; Master Mr Joseph Clegworth; Mistress, Mrs Clegworth.