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

STAYLEY-BRIDGE, a town, partly in the parishes of Ashton-under-lyne, Stockport, and Mottram longdendale, the first in Lancashire, the two others in Cheshire: the Lancashire portion is in the division of Hartshead, polling district and poor law union of Ashton-under-lyne, and hundred of Salford; the Cheshire portion in the townships of Dukinfield and Stayley, polling district of Mottram, poor law union of Ashton-under-lyne, and hundred of Macclesfield. The town, of which the limits are defined by a police act, is 8 miles E. S. E. of Manchester. The place originated from the erection of a bridge over the Tame before 1701; in 1748 there were only 34 houses; but in 1785, by the introduction of the cotton manufacture, the houses extended half a mile in length. In 1835 there were 30 cotton mills; and about 3,500 houses. There are 3 episcopal chapels in the town: St. George’s, in the Lancashire portion, built 1776, rebuilt 1778, and in another site 1839, value of curacy £143; St. Paul’s, Stayley, Cheshire, built 1838; and St. John’s, Dukinfield, Cheshire, built1839. The dissenters chapels in the Lancshire portion are Methodist New Connexion, Primitives, and General Baptists; Cheshire– Wesleyans, Catholics, Baptists, and Independents- total places of worship 10. The town is regulated and improved by 21 commissioners, according to an act passed 1828: in 1838 there were 6 constables. The market is held on Fridays; and fairs last Monday in January, second Monday in June, and November 5. In 1825 there were 22 cotton mills; in 1838 nearly 40; employing upwards of 10,000 hands. The Huddersfield canal passes here. The population in 1748 was 140; 1763, 500; 1823, 5,000; 1831, 14,216; 1836, 17,200. Of 3,313 families visited 1836, 2,587 inhabited houses, 670 sitting rooms, and 56 cellars. There are about 12 large sunday and day schools. There is a Town Hall and Market House, built 1831; Gas Works, date 1833-4; Literary Society, existed 1825; and Savings’ Bank, 1828.

“A Statistical Sketch of the County Palatine of Lancaster (1841)”, by Edwin Butterworth, facsimile reprint 1968, by the ‘Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society’. With grateful thanks to the Society.