R. Greg and Co. Ltd. of Quarry Bank Mill Styal

C5/1 BUSINESS ACCOUNTS

C5/1/1 Stock books & valuations 5v. 1794 - 1923

C5/1/2 Partnership accounts 8v. 1805 - 1912

C5/1/3 Transfer book 1v. 1857 - 1890

C5/1/4 Mill ledgers 5v. 1815 - 1891

C5/1/5 Half yearly accounts 1v. 1840 - 1849

C5/1/6 Monthly accounts 1v. 1844 - 1849

C5/1/7 Weekly accounts 3v. 1834 - 1918

C5/1/8 Day book 1v. 1803 - 1806

C5/1/9 Cash books 4v. 1787 - 1920

C5/1/10 Contingent expenses ledger 1v. 1853 - 1856

C5/1/11 Consignment book 1v. 1847 - 1945

C5/1/13 Invoices and receipts 2v. 1 fldr. 1784 - 1788

C5/1/15 Wages books 12v. 1789 - 1929

C5/1/16 Stoppage ledgers 2v. 1815 - 1847

C5/2 PRODUCTION

C5/2/1 Half yearly a/c. of twist & spun 1v. 1803-5, 1814-22

C5/2/2 Cloth construction book 1v. 1848 - 1896

C5/2/3 Weaving production book 1v. 1909 - 1914

C5/2/4 Prices paid for mule spinning 1v. 1851 - 1937

C5/3 MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

C5/3/1 Memoranda book (See also C5/6/5) 1v. 1804 - 1837

C5/3/2 Reports of Inspectors of the Association for Prevention of Steam Boiler Explosions 1v. 1855 - 1874

C5/4 EMPLOYEES

C5/4/1 Register of workers 1v. 1843 - 1849

C5/4/2 Record of doctor's visits & treatment 2v. 1804 - 1827

Age certificate books 1827 - 1845

C5/4/3 Young persons (13 to 16 years) 2v. 1844 - 1852

C5/4/4 Children (8 - 12 years) 2v. 1844 - 1854

C5/4/5 School certificate books (attendance) 5v. 1847 - 1855

C5/5 AGREEMENTS WITH WORKERS & APPRENTICESHIP INDENTURES

C5/5/2 Agreements and Indentures 103 docs 1794 - 1802

C5/5/3 Indentures 125 docs 1815 - 1837

C5/5/1 Agreements 225 docs. 1734 - 1796

C5/5/4 Indentures 20 docs. 1813 - 1849

C5/5/5 Agreements 52 docs. 1825 - 1866

C5/6 ESTATE

C5/6/1 Valuation 1v. 1829

C5/6/2 Survey of Robert Hyde Greg's estates in Pownall Fee (see C5/7) 1v. [1836?]

C5/6/3 Ledgers: 'R. H. G.' 1v. 1832 - 1841

C5/6/4 Property in Styal & Morley 1v. 1872 - 1898

C5/6/5 Quarry Bank estate (see also C5/3/1) 1v. 1840 - 1952

C5/6/6 Norcliffe estate 1v. 1856 - 1927

C5/6/7 Farm accounts : beef sold 1v. 1809 - 1811

C5/6/8 Milk 1v. 1825 - 1831

C5/6/9 Invoices, receipts, etc. 1v. 1814 - 1820

C5/7 MAPS & PLANS

Lands in Styal & Pownall Fee 1836

C5/8 PAPERS & CORRESPONDENCE

106 docs. 1788 - 1906

C5/9 MISCELLANEOUS (printed)

DOCUMENTS CONTAINING INFORMATION CONCERNING APPRENTICES

C5/1/1/2 Half yearly stock in trade a/cs, Mar. 1814 - Mar. 1816.

Includes food, clothing, livestock at Apprentices' House.

C5/1/1/3 Stock of building, machinery etc., taken at Q.B. 29 Nov. 1831.

Includes Apprentices' House.

C5/1/4/2-4 Mill ledgers

Include apprentices' expenses & from 1835 School Accounts

C5/1/4/2 1823-8

C5/1/4/3 1835-8

C5/1/4/4 1879-91

C5/1/5 Half yearly a/cs., 1840-1849.

Includes in particulars of apprentices' expenses July 1842 cost per head of food, clothing, lodgings and other expenses.

C5/1/7/1-2 Weekly a/cs. 1834-46.

Includes amount of apprentices' wages; no. of apprentices etc; expenses of apprentices.

C5/1/7/1 1834-1846

C5/1/7/2 1847-68

1847 is last year to include apprentices.

C5/1/16/1 Apprentices' [stoppage] ledger 1815.

A/cs. of apprentices (Fines and loans paid by overtime work)

C5/3/1 Bill and Q.B. Memoranda, 1804-1837.

Includes instructions to overlooker and time-keeper, Nov. 1836 concerning the Factory Inspectors' rules and regulations regarding child employees.

C5/5/1-5 Apprenticeship indentures and agreements:

C5/5/1 1794-1802

C5/5/2 1794-1802

C5/5/3 1815-1837

C5/5/4 1836-1841

C5/5/5 1825-1847

C5/6/7 A/cs. of beef etc., sold at Farm, Apr. 1809 - Sep. 1811.

Includes sales to Apprentices' House.

C5/6/8 Milk a/c., Mar. 1825 - Mar. 1831.

Includes sales to Apprentices' House.

C5/8 Notes and correspondence.

C5/8/9/1 Letter to Sam. Greg from Jas. Sewell, vicar of Biddulph, 24 Feb. 1817. Enquires about the possibility of apprenticing some of the parish poor.

C5/8/9/2 Copy of reply from J. Barton. 27 Feb. 1817.

Concerns money and clothing to be provided by the parish.

Reply from Sam. Greg.

States no. required and proposes 1 month's trial.

C5/8/9/4 Copy of statement of Jos. Sefton when examined by the Middlesex justices for running away from Quarry Bank, 2 Aug. 1806.

C5/8/9/5 Examination of Thos. Priestley - as above.

C5/8/22 Particulars of imprisonment of Lucy Garner and Esther Price, and meddling of the Short Time Committee 1836: report by Robert Hyde Gregg. Describes punishment of two apprentices for running away.

C5/8/27 Statement of deaths of apprentices over a period of 22 years.

[1811 - 33? See Mr. P. Holland's evidence, in, Appendix to Medical report, by Dr. Hawkin. Employment of Children in Factories Royal Commission, 1833]

C5/8/28 Statement of number of hands at Q.B., 19 Feb. -, signed P.H. Fletcher.

(Manager 1822? - 14 June 1847) Lists names [of overlookers?] and number of hands employed in spinning and weaving in the following age groups: 9 to 13, 13 to 18, 18-21, and above.

STATUTORY RECORDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS

C5/4/3/1-2 Age certificate book for young persons between 13 and 16 years.

Includes name, names of parents, place of residence and date of examination.

C5/4/3/1 1844-9

C5/4/3/2 1850-2

C5/4/4/1-2 Age certificate book for children. [8 to 12 years].

Includes name, names of parents, place of residence and date of examination.

C5/4/4/1 1844 - Mar. 1850

C5/4/4/2 Apr. 1850 - 4

C5/4/5/1-5 School certificate book.

Register of attendances required by the Factory Act (7 Vic. c. 15)

C5/4/5/1 Nov. 1847 - Dec. 1848

C5/4/5/2 Dec. 1849 - Dec. 1850

C5/4/5/3 Dec. 1850 - Jan. 1852

C5/4/5/4 Feb. 1852 - Feb. 1853

C5/4/5/5 Mar. 1854 - Mar. 1855

Physician's prescription book 1804-27

Physician is Peter Holland of Warford

Most early entries include diagnosis in Jeremiah Rich's system of shorthand.

Physician's prescription book 1827-45

<span class="wrapper"><p>GREG, Robert Hyde</p> <p>The Corn Laws : Speech in the House of Commons. 1840. (P53/1)</p> <p>The factory question ... and "The Ten Hours' Bill". 1837. (P618/5)</p> <p>Improvements in agriculture : a letter. 1844. (P1928/1)</p> <p>A letter ... on the pressure of the Corn Laws and the Sliding scale, more especially upon the manufacturing interests and the productive classes. 1841. (P2905/5. 2nd copy at 337.56331 Grl)</p> <p>A letter to the Rt. Hon. Henry Labouchere on the pressure of the Corn Laws and the Sliding Scale ... 2nd ed. 1842. (P3769/15)</p> <p>Observations on the round towers of Ireland. 1824. (913.4 G1)</p> <p>Remarks on the site of Troy and on the Trojan Plain : founded on personal observations made in 1817. 1823. (939.21 G1)</p> <p>Scotch farming in England : a second letter. 1842. (P1916/2)</p> <p>Scotch farming in the Lothians. 1842. (P2908/6. 2nd edition P3674/9)</p> <p>GREG, Robert Philips</p> <p>An essey on meteorItes. 1855. (P3765/5)</p> <p>GREG, Robert Philips and LETTSOM, William G.</p> <p>Manuel of the mineralogy of Great Britain and Ireland. 1858. (549.942 G1)</p> <p>GREG, Samuel (1804-76)</p> <p>A Leyman's Legacy, in prose and verse : selections from the papers of Samuel Greg. 1877. (824.89 G1)</p> <p>A lecture on the condition of the working classes in the manufacturing districts. 1857. (P3393/5)</p> <p>Letters on religious beliefs, addressed to ... the working classes. 1856. (T577/19)</p> <p>Some scenes from the life of Jesus. 2nd ed. 1869. (232.9 G6)</p> <p>Signs of morning : a sermon. 1870. (252 G43 Another edition at T663/2)</p> <p>Speech delivered at the annual meeting of the Friends of the Manchester Lyceums, Dec. 7th, 1840. (374.3 G2)</p> <p>Speech delivered at the annual meeting of the Society for Useful Knowledge, Macclesfield, September 23rd., 1840. (P3772/2-3; P3775/10 &amp; 18)</p> <p>Speech delivered at the annual meeting of the Useful Knowledge Society, Macclesfield, November, 1842. (374.3 G1)</p> <p>Speech of Samuel Greg Esquire, at the second annual celebrations of the Three Lyceums of Ancoats, Chorlton-on-Medlock and Salford. 1837. (P2350/10)</p> <p>Two letters to Leonard Horner Esquire, on the capabilities of the factory system. 1840. (331.84 G5)</p> <p>GREG, Thomas.</p> <p>A letter to Sir John Sinclair ... [concerning the profitable management of a considerable farm in Hertfordshire]. 1809. (q630 T10)</p> <p>GREG, Thomas Tylston</p> <p>Catalogue of a collection of brass tobacco boxes, 1760-1780, and other trophies made to celebrate the battles in the Silesian and Seven Years' wars. [192-] (739.5284 G1)</p> <p>In varying mood : some reprinted papers. 1924. (824.89 G27)</p> <p>Through a glass lightly. 1897. (824.89 G26)</p> <p>A contribution to the history of English pottery, with special reference to the Greg collection. [1908] (738.3 Gr4)</p> <p>GREG, William Rathbone.</p> <p>Observations on a late pamphlet, by Mr. Stone, on the phrenological development of Burke, Hare, etc. 1829. (S &amp; A 268/4)</p> <p>The claims of labour : an essay on the duties of the employers to the employed. [1844] (P3769/23).</p> <p>The Corn Law debate. 1842. (P3769/16)</p> <p>The Creed of Christendom : its foundations and superstructure. 2nd ed. 1863. (230 G1) Also 5th ed. 1877 (230 G2) 2 vols.</p> <p>Cyclopian, Pelasgic and Etruscan remains; or, Remarks on the mural architecture of remote ages. 1842. (L549/12)</p> <p>Enigmas of Life. 6th ed. 1873. (304 G1 Later editions at 304 G2 and G3)</p> <p>Investments for the working classes. 1852. (M86/2)</p> <p>Literary and social judgements. 1868. (824.89 G34)</p> <p>Miscellaneous essays 1882-4. 2v. (824.89 G3)</p> <p>Mistaken aims and attainable ideals of the artizan class. 1876. (330.4 G19)</p> <p>Not overproduction, but deficient consumption, the source of our sufferings, 1842. (339 Grl. Other copies at P3674/3; P3769/17; P3275/10)</p> <p>Past and present efforts for the extinction of the African slave trade.</p> <p>[1841] (326.1 G1 Another copy at P1486/10</p> <p>Political problems for our age and country. 1870. (304 G7)</p> <p>Rocks ahead; or The warnings of Cassandra. 1870. (304 G6)</p> <p>Sketches in Greece and Turkey. 1833. (914.9 S11)</p> <p>The slave trade and the sugar duties. 1844. (P3769/18)</p> <p>The way out. 1855. [on the necessity for a strong government] (P3765/10)</p> <p>Why are woman redundant ? 1869. (396 G6)</p> <p>GREG, William Rathbone, HOPE, George and MORSE, Arthur.</p> <p>Three prize essays on agriculture and the Corn Laws. 1842.</p> <p>(P2179/9. Other copies at P1892/4; P2908/8; P3769/12, 13; P3674/5; P8640/10)</p> <p>Frances COLLIER. Samuel Greg &amp; Styal Mill.</p> <p>In, Manchester Literary &amp; Philosophical Society Memoirs.</p> <p>Vol. LXXXV, 1941-3 (506.42 M24)</p> <p>An Early Factory Community.</p> <p>In, Economic History Vol II 1930</p> <p>(330.9 E6)</p> <p>COTTON BOARD. Historical notes on the cotton industry. With a special account of Quarry Bank Mill at Styal. [196-]</p> <p>(338.476772.Co 10)</p> <p>GREG, E.W. [Presidential Address]</p> <p>In, Journal of the M/cr Geographical Society.</p> <p>Vol. XLII, 1927-8 (910.6 MI)</p> <p>LAZENBY, W. Social and Economic History of Styal, 1750-1850.</p> <p>1949 (Microfilm 682) (MA thesis. M/cr Univ.)</p> <p>MURRAY, Robert. Quarry Bank Mill: The story of the Mill</p> <p>The Medical Service</p> <p>Repr. from British Journal of Industrial Medicine.</p> <p>Vol. 15 &amp; 16 1958 &amp; 1959 (331.822 Mul)</p> <p>ROSE, Mary B The Gregs of Quarry Bank Mill : the rise and decline of a family firm, 1750-1914. Cambridge University Press, 1986</p> <p>(Also M/c Univ Ph.D thesis) (338.767721 Ro)</p> <p>Greg deeds and plans, circa 1613-1967 (10 boxes) can be found in an uncatalogued collection of Greg family papers. (C25/)</p></span>

Copies of some records are available on microfilm. Please ask record office staff for details.

DEPOSITED IN MANCHESTER CENTRAL LIBRARY BY A.C. GREG IN DECEMBER 1963.

Samuel Greg became a partner in the business of his uncles, Robert and Nathaniel Hyde, in 1780. In 1783 he took over the business, which continued as Samuel Greg and Co. Construction of Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Cheshire, began in 1783 and was completed by 1784. Samuel Greg had a number of different partners in the Quarry Bank Mill business, including Peter Ewart, an engineer. After 1815, however, most of the partners in the various Greg ventures were members of the family. The Manchester-based firm, formerly run by his uncles, became the marketing business for the yarn and cloth produced by the Greg mills.

Quarry Bank Mill began as a water-powered cotton spinning mill. Steam engines were used for supplementary power from 1796. The water wheel was only finally replaced by a water turbine system in 1903-4. Weaving began at the mill in the 1830s, and became the mill's sole concern from 1894 onwards. Because the local labour supply was insufficient for the mill's needs, workers had to be brought in from further afield. Many of the earlier cotton spinning workers were children, aged ten and upwards, apprenticed by their parents or by the poor law authorities. More than half of these were girls. In 1816 apprentices constituted a third of the labour force. Children came from as far afield as Liverpool and even London. The use of apprentices ended in 1847. Many of the free labourers at the mill also came from other areas of England in the first half of the 19th century. Weaving was mainly done by women and girls A factory colony gradually grew up around the mill to supply the needs of the workers. New constructions at Styal in the 1820s included workers cottages, the Norcliffe Chapel and Oak School. In 1939 the mill was given to the National Trust, with Styal village and estate.

Most of the records listed below relate to Quarry Bank Mill, but some do deal with a number of the other mills the family were involved with. A steam-driven mule mill was built on land in Peter Street, Manchester, acquired in 1806. This remained a Greg concern until 1815. They had an interest in Low Mill, Caton, near Lancaster, from 1813 and acquired the mill in 1817. This was a cotton spinning mill until 1837, when power weaving was also introduced. Moor Lane Mill in Lancaster was purchased in 1822 and began operating as a steam-powered spinning and weaving mill in 1824. Between 1825 and 1828, the Gregs were involved with a mill in Ancoats, Manchester. In 1827 they acquired Hudcar Mill, Bury, a cotton spinning and weaving mill. Lowerhouse Mill, Bollington, near Macclesfield, Cheshire, a spinning and weaving concern, was leased from 1832.

Following Samuel Greg's death, in 1834, the family partnership broke up in 1841, with each of his sons taking over the mill they had previously been managing. Quarry Bank Mill and the Manchester business became the responsibility of Robert Hyde Greg. From 1848 the business was carried on under the name R.H. Greg and Co. In 1847 a spinning and doubling mill in Calver, Derbyshire, was rented. Greg involvement continued until 1864. Construction of the Victoria and Albert Mills, Reddish, was completed in 1847. Victoria Mill was sold, but Albert Mill went on to become a highly successful Greg cotton spinning concern.

After Robert Hyde Greg retired, in 1865, the Manchester business continued as Greg Brothers, primarily active as commission agents, specialising in the sale of coarse yarn and cloth from Greg and other mills. The firm also went into manufacturing. They acquired a spinning and doubling mill in Stockport, Cheshire, and acted as managing directors of Cressbrook Mills, Derbyshire, a cotton weaving business, from 1881.

In addition to their manufacturing concerns, the Gregs held extensive estates. These included the Oak Farm and Styal estates, at Styal; property in Reddish, Manchester and Caton; extensive lands in Hertfordshire; land in New York State, U.S.A. and sugar plantations in the West Indies.

(This historical account is based mainly on Mary B. Rose, 'The Gregs of Styal' (1978)).