Work
Marsden Foundry
In the first decade of the 18th century two brothers, Enoch and James Taylor had established a blacksmith's shop in Goodall's Yard on Brougham Road, shoeing horses and creating ironwork. By 1812 they had progressed into manufacturing cropping frames to cut the knap of woollen cloth to a uniform length. These labour-saving devices, though welcomed by woollen manufacturers, were despised by the 'croppers' whose livelihood they threatened.
A similar situation in the Nottinghamshire lace-making industry led to workers rioting and the rise of the 'Luddites', bands of workmen who broke into factories and smashed the offending machines. The riots spread to the West Riding where many machines were destroyed using 'Enochs', large hammers named after Enoch Taylor, giving rise the to a local saying 'Enoch has made them and Enoch shall smash them'.
Marsden Foundry and Fall Lane Mill
Click to enlarge
In 1813 the brothers moved their business to a newly-erected foundry on Carrs Road, known locally as 'The Top', in partnership with Arthur Hirst a skilled engineer who had worked as a carding engineer at Wood Bottom Mill.
Around 1837 business was passed on to a nephew, Robert Taylor and Arthur Hirst's son James. On the death of James Hirst it was then known as Robert Taylor and Sons who became renowned as steam engine and boiler makers eventually extending the factory to cover over 5 acres of land and employing around 300 skilled workers.
These gentry were without doubt the aristocracy of the village, taking good care to have the best of everything to eat and drink, and dominating the rest of the community like autocrats. Woe to the poor mill-hand if he should inadvertently occupy one of their seats when they made a call at their local pub, which was fairly often. Experience had taught the millworker that his room was more valuable than his company when a 'Topper' came in. Their independence was not to be trifled with and their capacity for string invective, if not the strong drink, was known to all the neighbours, and what is more, duly respected and feared. The sight of these white-smocked and white trousered mechanics, with angular paper caps placed on their heads in working style impressed the rest of their fellow townsmen with due gravity and deference.
Bygone Marsden1
Marsden Foundry workers
Click to enlarge
Marsden Foundry became well-known for producing high-quality steam engines, waterwheels and boilers. They also made Union Bridge and all the iron railings around the village. Over the years boiler-making became the main occupation of the foundry but, by the end of 1886, this was no longer profitable and the owner, Mr E. O. Taylor put up the foundry for sale by auction.
John Edward Crowthers took over part of the iron foundry buildings and used it to create a shoddy business where rags were shredded and yarn was produced by the carbonisation of the waste material. Rags used to be collected by rag and bone men throughout residential areas and sold to rag mill owners.
Taylor's Catalogue
Click to view