The Diary of John Holroyd of Tunnel End
These diary notes were lent to the MLHG by Margaret Leyland, John Holroyd's great grand-daughter. The pencil notes have been transcribed by Judi Thorpe - all the original spellings etc have been kept. The date entries are in the original order.
These entries were written by John Holroyd from February 1870 when he started to work in the Wool Road Warehouse situated near the canal between Diggle and UpperMill.
He worked for the canal company and also kept and traded in sheep. Canal boats were built and repaired in the warehouse.
In December 1879 he moved to Tunnel End Cottages at the canal tunnel mouth where he remained working on the repair and upkeep of the canal. The cottage in which he lived had a telegraph used to control the safe use of the tunnel.
His daughter, Ada married Harry Swallow from Scholes. Their daughter, Clara Swallow who worked in the office of Marsden Co-op married Will Shaw Sykes. Their daughter, Margaret married Douglas Leyland, the grandson of the founder of The Electric Cinema.
February 1 st 1870. John Holroyd. Book. Marsden
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February 28th 1870 John Holroyd came to Wool Road Warehouse New Waterworks at Deerhill begun in 1870 Red Brook shaft repaired October 20th 1871 Removed to Ivy House, Wool Road October 29th 1871 Brought 5 ewes to Brown hill Directions Mr Henry Johnson. Swan Lane Colliery, nr Wigan Mr John Hilton. Denton Lane, Hollingwood, nr Manchester May 25 1871 Thomas Bolton Died May 10 1871 James Broadbent Died 1872 Strike of navvies at the works February 11th 1872 James Pogson Black ewe died May 9th 1872 Right Mayhall killed April 14th 1872 Benjamin Hall married February 15th 1872 Great flood at Saddleworth Do 16th 1872 Josiah Hatton Got Lamed October 5th 1872 Samuel Dyson Sheep Worried December 10th 1872 James Pogsons Sheep Killed by Ramsden dog January 28th 1873 James Sykes. Holthead. Died January 27th 1873 John Hall began to work on canal Feb 3rd John Holroyd White face ewe Died April 6th Dispute between Bradbury Co and Frenches June 1873 Samuel Dowse Died June 28 1873 Widow Schofield Died September 2nd 1873 Lost One Lamb August 14 1873 New Smiths Shop Open for work Sept 22 1873 James Buckley. Peters Hurt at Coop Uppermill Sept 23 1873 Sold Wool to Robert Heap Nov 12 1873 Bought of Robert Ashley 72 Load of potatoes 63d Nov 5 1873 Stone 6 feet square 7 tons on the wharf Nov 6 1873 Took the winter pasture of the Officer £3 Nov 1873 Took pasture land belonging to Hunger 15s Nov 16 1873 John Whiteley found dead in binn Lane Nov 18 1873 (deleted) found dead in canal at Slaithwaite Nov 18 1873 New mill at Stone Bottom started to build Dec 26 1873 John Harkers boat weighed in 10s Jan 15 1874 Sarah Bulmer Boat weighed in 10s January 25 1874 James Whitehead Died February 10 1874 Polling day at Upper Mill for Countey Voters Feb 14 1874 Received from George Wright £1.5.0 for Sheep Feb 18 1874 Sam Broadhead brought 30 Sheep on to arropedge April 3rd 1874 2 ewes died. 1 at Woolroad. 1 at yewtree May 7 1874 Joseph Hurst Boat Weighed in |
June 19 1875 Sold 2 Lambs to J Norton StaleyBridge July 18 1875 George Pogson Went to Dry Bridge Dec 24 1875 John Sykes Holly Grove Died Dec 24 1875 John Hall Died my House Dec 28 1875 Joseph Whiteley Died Nov 1875 Sold Robert Shaw wool Dec 1875 Barnsley Colliery Explosion June 1876 Right Hinchcliffe Killed his wife August 1876 and took his trial at Leeds assises Oct 9 1876 James Hollingworth son died Sept 1876 James Pogson Married his third wife Sept 25 1876 John Holroyd sold 1 ewe and 2 lambs October 1876 Edward Hinchcliffe Died Sept 31st 1876 John Brierley Married his second wife The canal between Ashton & Huddersfield opened for trafic 1798 the tunnel opened 1811 1877 New Boat Albert Built at Wool Road Feb 28 1879 Mr J Hirst son Alfred Died March 5th Buried 1879 T Kershaw Bought Land at Wool road at Uppermill for £66ox 1879 Work done at Great Western Clough 1879 removed to tunnel End December 1879 Bought 7 ewes at Meltham fair 1880 The Work done at March Haigh 1880 The strike at Hutchesons and Hollingworth 1880 The election was in April 1880 The stoppage in the tunnel was March 18. 3 days May 1880 Bought Black E of G Pogson 1880 Summered 4 ewes and 8 Lambs at S Midwood January 1880 Daniel Wood received notice to leave Redbrook farm June 1880 G Dyson & J Waterhouse took Walling top Reservoir Oct 1880 Bought 7 Hogs at Meltham fair on G Taylor & S Gartside Oct 20 1880 First Snow fell on Wedensday Oct 27 1880 Great snow fell on Wedensday Oct 25 1880 Sent Sheep to Derbyshire to winter Oct 1880 G Dyson Child died on 30th Oct Nov 6 & 7 1880 Put New top and Bottom Gates in at Ashton 8 Nov 1880 Commenced to clean the watercourse at clouse Gate 9 Nov 1880 James Shaw Buried at Church from Scout 9 Nov 1880 Mary Halstead Buried at Church from Hardend 7 Nov 1880 Daniel Wood Gave up Land at Redbrooke 7 Nov 1880 G Robinson Took up Land at Red Brook Dec 1880 Finished Work at March Haigh Dec 5 1880 Thomas Bradbury Took sheep of arropEdge Dec 25 1880 Greenwood Schofield went to Shelley to Sheep |
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Dec 20 1880 Gerorge Pogson went back to Dry Bridge January 14 1881 Finished the wall at Western in croft Feb 1881 Wall set 1st Pool Huddersfield Febr 1881 Wall finished at Watercourse side below Starkeys Feb 9 1881 Boiler Explosion at Arnolds foundry. Paddock Feb 9 1881 John Hutchinson Removed from Diggle to Lightcliffe.Brighouse Area April 10 1881 Polled Ewe died & 1 ewe drowned in Lock Wool road May 1881 Law suit with James Schofield at Uppermill June 1881 Whitsun Stoppage at 10 Lock Black Rock June 1881 James Gill Killed on Line at Saddleworth June 17 1881 Found a Man drowned in Brunclough Reservoir April 1881 George Pogson Bought Sheep from James Parr Aug 1881 Repaired Wall on the Reservoir Bank Redbrooke Aug 14 1881 Brought 1 tup & 4 Lambs to Gilberts Nov 13 1881 W Bolton took Sheep on to Wharmton Nov 26 1881 J Kenworthy & Wife and child drowned at Derby Rishworth Dec 3 1881 The Mother & 3 Children drowned at Syke Bottom 30th Dec 16 1881 2 Guage of water run from Reservoir to the 30th Dec 30 1881 for repairs of the tap run 15 feet down May 6 1882 Lord Cavendish & Mr Burke killed in Ireland May 13 Joseph Holroyd loger Died May 22 James Bamforth Hirst on the canal Died same night June 1882 Stoppage at Booth Lock Sparth Lock and Wood Side June 1882 Pipes Laid from Bottom Lock to Dewhirst Works Oct 1882 Wall at Bottom Lock Built up Oct 1882 Wall at Basin Coalyard begun Dec 6 1882 Great Snow fell on wedensday Night Dec 6 1882 H Pogson Lost in the Snow |
January 18th 1883 Stopage on Broad canal at Cinderfield Dyke January 1883 Wall at Longroyd Bridge put up January 22 1883 William Marsden Married Oct 1883 Crane at Huddersfield Basin put up Oct 1883 Sent 8 lambs to Shelley 1883 Stone breakin Machine commenced work Dec 1883 Wall in Easter Gate put up by F Sykes & Co Dec 1883 The Road at Junction altered by the Local Board. July 2 & 3, 7 & 8 1883 The Dam at Corn Mill drawn off July 1883 New Wall at Redbrook Reservoir built July 19 1883 Canal stopt for water July 18 1883 Tap Repaired at Swillens from top of plate to top of spindle 9 and 5/8 inch Aug 29 1883 Tap Repaired at Haigh Aug 25 1883 Took land at Gilberts Aug & Sept 1884 Little Black Moss Reservoirs Emptied out Nov 30 1884 First Snow fell Dec 10 1885 First Snow fell Oct 1888 2 inches of Snow fell Nov 1888 Cleaned Mill Owners goit out at tunnel End January 1889 Commenced tom pull the Welle stones up waters July 1889 Surveyors of Leveler Came to Reservoirs Nov 1889 New wall set at Western Nov 1889 New fence set in the waters road Feb 1890 New wire fence put up waters road May 1890 Stoppage at 1st Lock Milnesbridge May 15 1890 Measured for New tap at Swillans Nov 28 1890 First Shot fired in the tunnel January 1 & 2 1891 New tap put on at Swillans Reservoir |