Catalogue description JAMES AKROYD AND SON LTD (COPLEY MILLS), HALIFAX, AND THOMAS HOYLE AND SONS LTD (ELLEN ROYDE MILLS), HALIFAX, WORSTED SPINNERS

James Akroyd and Son Ltd, Halifax, worsted spinners

Thomas Hoyle and Sons Ltd, Halifax, worsted spinners

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Deposited : Borthwick Institute, York

Accessioned : 1983 Jun 28

James Akroyd's father was a yeoman manufacturer at Brookhouse, Ogden, in partnership with his sons, James and Jonathan. In 1811, James left and set up independently in Old Lane, Halifax, what was to become possibly the largest worsted-manufacturing complex in the world. Jonathan moved to Bowling Dyke in 1818 to existing mill premises and in 1819 introduced the manufacture of bombazines and "Norwich crepes" and camlets, also from Norwich. The years 1815-1820 saw depression following the wars with France, but both James and Jonathan Akroyd in their separate firms extended their interests at that time. In 1825, James Akroyd began to supply a light camlet worsted material to a Mr Mackintosh of Manchester where it was used for waterproof coatings that came to be known as "Macs"or"Mackintoshes". This trade alone brought him in £34,000 in 1834 according to Anne Lister's diary. In 1827, James Akroyd introduced power looms to his mill at Old Lane and built a large fireproof mill backing on to Old Lane. He installed the Jacquard looms for weaving damasks and other figured goods, operating the looms in locked rooms for some months until the invention leaked out.

Jonathan Akroyd also had a successful innovation in 1827 using the Jacquard to produce damasks with a silk weft and figured goods with a mohair weft. At this time the firm was producing "stout goods made from two fold warps" under the name of Serges de Berris. This material was produced by hand loom weavers, the best of whom lived in the Luddenden Valley, so Akroyds became occupants of Boy Mill, Luddenden Foot, presumably to bring the weavers under one roof. They stayed there until 1847-1848 when they sold out to Whitworths and moved down the valley to Copley.

In 1832 they carried out "Union dyeing", the dyeing of mixed goods with a cotton warp and a worsted weft. In 1834, Michael Greenwood produced a new worsted material called "French Figured". He must have sold the idea for by 1836 both Akroyds at Haley Hill and Fosters of Black Dyke were the two largest manufacturers of this material. James Akroyd died in 1836 and in 1839 Jonathan took his own two sons, Edward and Henry, into partnership. Jonathan died in 1847 leaving an estate of £1,750,000 and the two brothers ran the firm until 1853 when Henry left. By the mid 19th century, Akroyds were employing between 4000-5000 men, women and children in their mills at Bowling Dyke, Haley Hill and Copley. Under Edward Akroyd's influence attitudes towards employees changed for the better with housing schemes, etc. By 1874 Akroyds were probably at the peak of their importance. There were large fireproof mills at Bowling Dyke and Haley Hill, Dyeworks at Bowling Dyke, other property at Cross Hills, including the warehouse and chief offices, and a large mill at Copley. During the 1890s the firm's trade declined, a condition prevalent in the British textile trade. The various properties began to be sold off, Copley Mill used for worsted spinning being first to go in 1893. James Akroyd and Son Ltd went into voluntary liquidation in 1932 and were purchased by Thomas Hoyle and Sons Ltd of Ellen Royde Mills

Extracted from trade directories

1871-1877 - Thomas Hoyle and Son, Holme House Mill, Luddenden Foot and Charles St, Bradford, worsted spinners

1881 - Thomas Hoyle and Son, Green Lane, Halifax, worsted spinners

1893-1927 - Thomas Hoyle and Sons, Ellenroyd Mills, Range Bank, worsted spinners

1936 - Thomas Hoyle and Sons Ltd, Copley Mills, worsted spinners

The Firm moved to Copley Mill c1932 and remained there until the 1960s, when they were bought out by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Tulketh Group. The mills closed in 1968 and were demolished in 1975

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