The History of William Holt and Sons (Walshaw) Limited

This article appeared in the Bury Times on the 24th June 1896

The following is a résumé of the history of the rise and progress of the firm of William Holt and Sons:- At the latter end of the seventeenth century, or early in the eighteenth, John Holt lived at and owned Greenhalgh Moss Farm, Tottington-lower-end (now named Beechwood, the residence of Mr. James Smethurst, the present owner). He was one of the subscribers to the building fund of the first Presbyterian Chapel, Silver-street, Bury, built in 1719. His son: James was born in 1692, and married Jane Crompton. Previous to the building of the Bury chapel it would appear that the Holts attended "Dundee" Chapel, Holcombe, for the above James Holt's eldest son George was christened at "Dundee," and his second son James was christened at Bury Chapel on December 12th, 1723, his name being the first on the baptismal register of the chapel. The James Holt last mentioned was a woollen dyer, and had a small dyehouse on the brook at Greenhalgh Moss. He married Jane Meadowcroft, by whom he had several children. At his death the Greenhalgh Moss estate passed on to his eldest son Thomas, who kept it during his life and left it to his eldest son James, who sold it to the late Mr. Charles Lomax, bleacher, of Dunsters, by whom the present mansion was built. The last-named Thomas Holt and his brother William were during the last decade of the last century living in the village of Walshaw Lane.  These two brothers about the time mentioned entered into partnership as fustian manufacturers at Walshaw Lane and commenced with a few handlooms, the business being carried on until their death. William, who was the grandfather of the members of the present firm, died in 1820, and Thomas in 1824. Afterwards Joseph and William Holt, sons of the before-mentioned William, carried on the business for about twelve years. When the handloom became superseded by the power loom in the manufacture of fustian, the brothers gave up and dissolved partnership. The younger brother William married Sarah, (Sally) the daughter of Thomas Hulme, farmer, of Pilsworth, and they had two children, Thomas and William, the present members of the firm. William Holt, the father, began to manufacture toilet covers with a few hand-looms about the year 1838, using the Jacquard machine. This trade, with the addition of the manufacture of quiltings and bed quilts, was continued. In 1856 he took his two sons Thomas and William into partnership. The former had been with his father in the business since leaving school, but the latter had served his apprenticeship as an engineer and mill-wright. On the expiration of this term, however, he joined his father and brother. In 1875 the firm opened a warehouse at 33, Piccadilly, Manchester, and this becoming too small they removed to their present one at 37, York-street, where they hold stock of the various goods they manufacture in readiness for immediate despatch. The mill at Walshaw is known as the Victoria Mill, and the number of workpeople who find employment there is some 300.