Haughton Dale Mills, Haughton Green, Denton

While the wider Lancashire area was well known for its cotton industry, the townships of Haughton and neighbouring Denton actually relied on coal mining and hat manufacturing as their primary economic drivers. Haughton Dale Mills stood out as a prominent exception to the area's dominant coal mining and hatting industries.

Haughton Dale Mills, 1884. This engraving was made after the mills had been repurposed as a wireworks and they are seen here looking northwards from the Woodley side of the river Tame. To the left is the iron extension built by the new owner, James Walton.

These mills were located in Haughton Dale, Haughton Green, at the bottom of Meadow Ln and the alternative name was Meadow Mills. They were operated for cotton-spinning from 1790 until 1853, processing raw cotton into yarn to supply the region’s weaving industry. From 1853 onwards, James Walton of James Walton & Sons operated at Haughton Dale Mills. The 63-year lifespan processing cotton represented the early water-powered era of the Industrial Revolution before the site was repurposed for wire production. At first, the mills depended entirely upon water power. A weir was constructed across the river Tame, a short distance upstream, to divert water flow to drive the mills' machinery.

Haughton Dale Mills were founded by the industrialist brothers, George and Henry Sidebotham. The Sidebotham family became heavily involved in local business by also owning the nearby Kingston Mill (53.45426, -2.09071) and Gibraltar Mill (53.44110, 2.09189). Gibraltar Mill was about 0.91 miles distant from Kingston Mill to the south and Haughton Dale Mills were about 1.47 miles distant to the south.

Kingston Mill with Manchester Rd in the foreground.

George and Henry Sidebotham of Haughton Dale Mills
Their father, William Sidebotham, was born and raised in the region of the Cheshire salt mining industry centred around Winsford and Northwich. It is understood that he made his early wealth there either by working in, managing, or owning salt-mining operations.

For unknown reasons, he moved his family away from the Cheshire salt mining region to the rural hamlet that would later become Kingston, now part of Hyde. At this time, the township of ‘Hyde’ did not exist; the area was simply a sparse collection of hamlets surrounding the historic Hyde Hall Estate.

Here the Sidebotham brothers were among the earliest documented mill owners of significance in the neighbourhood by founding industrial roots in the rural hamlet of Kingston from as early as 1748. Once the Sidebotham brothers had firmly established themselves in the textile industry at Kingston it was from here that they began to expand their business ventures by opening Gibraltar and Haughton Dale Mills. Records show that Nathan Sidebotham was accountable for Kingston Mill, John Sidebotham was accountable for Gibraltar Mill and George and Henry Sidebotham were accountable for Haughton Dale Mills.

It was recorded that George Sidebotham resided at Haughton Dale House (built in 1713) on Meadow Ln, situated about 160 yards up the hill from Haughton Dale Mills. The residence of Henry Sidebotham is unknown.