Other Hat Manufacturers, Audenshaw

Hibbert & Co, Hat Manufacturers,
of Victoria Hat Works, Denton Rd, Hooley Hill, Audenshaw

The proprietor of Hibbert & Co was William Hibbert and the works was situated on Denton Rd about 108 yards south of its junction with Guide Ln, as the junction was originally configured. This company was still trading in 1901 but following the death of William Hibbert in 1902 Joseph Wood & Sons moved into Victoria Hat Works.

Directories for 1896-1906 recorded the following hat manufacturers at Victoria Hat Works:
1896: Hibbert & Co and Cooke & Fielding. The latter proprietors were George Cooke and James Fielding.
1897-1902: Hibbert & Co.
1903-1906: Joseph Wood & Sons.

William Hibbert was born at Mellor, Derbyshire, in 1829/30 to Thomas Hibbert and Martha. He married Sarah Ann Hartley at St Mary’s Church, Cheadle, Cheshire, in 1872. In 1901 he was resident on Denton Rd with his wife and children, Martha Jane (26), Edwin (23), Gertrude (19) and Annie Elizabeth (16). He died at Ashton-under-Lyne in 1902, aged 72 years. In 1911 his widow was resident on Corporation Rd, Audenshaw, with her children, Martha Jane (36), Gertrude (29) and Annie Elizabeth (27).

The former Victoria Hat Works when it was being used by the YMCA.

Later, the works was used as a public library and then as a confectionary warehouse. The building was eventually demolished and replaced by a block of flats. The architect copied the gable roof feature in the centre of the façade.

The works was situated on the south side of Audenshaw Rd adjacent to King’s Rd. The business was founded by George Worsley, Joseph Brelsford and Ralph Ashton and originally it traded as Worsley, Brelsford, and Ashton. On the 17 Apr 1878 this partnership was dissolved when Ralph Ashton stepped down but the business continued with George Worsley and Joseph Brelsford as partners under the style of Worsley & Brelsford. The company was still trading in 1906.

This business was founded by Charles Smith, John Pollitt and Walter Richardson on Denton Ln (Denton Rd), Hooley Hill, by Charles Smith, John Pollitt and Walter Richardson and originally it traded as Smith, Richardson, and Pollitt. On the 2 December 1881 this partnership was dissolved when Charles Smith and John Pollitt stepped down but the business continued with Walter Richardson as the proprietor under the style of Walter Richardson.

In 1911 he was resident on Guide Ln, Hooley Hill, with his sister, Hannah (58) and niece Emma Richardson Shelmerdine (36). He died at Audenshaw on the 5 Jul 1938, aged 88 years.

Robert Fox & Co, Hat Manufacturers,
Stamford Works (aka Audenshaw Works), Stamford Rd, Audenshaw

The works is situated on the north side of Stamford Rd, a short distance from its junction with Guide Ln and Denton Rd. Little is known about this company. It was founded by Robert Fox and Edward Booth but this partnership was dissolved on the 19 Jul 1924 when Edward Booth stepped down as a partner. Robert Fox continued the business on his own account under the same style.

The works was situated on the east side of Stamford Rd. It is not known when this company was founded but it was on the street directory for 1896 as Jones & Whittaker. In 1902 it was incorporated as a limited company, Company No. 75266, but in Mar 1904 it was wound up.

Early hat manufacture at Hooley Hill, Audenshaw
In the early years of hat manufacture at Hooley Hill, and neighbouring Denton, it was mostly a cottage industry. Farmers in the area engaged in hat making in small workshops attached to their homes to supplement their primary income. For example, in Denton hat manufacture has been traced back as far as 1702.

An 18th-century example in Hooley Hill concerns Adam Stopford whose family was associated with Red Hall in Audenshaw and it was recorded in the London Gazette. He was in partnership as a hat manufacturer with Shelah and Thomas Chessel but on the 20 Jul 1792 this partnership was dissolved when he stepped down leaving the other two partners to continue the business.

A trade directory for 1821/22 records that Adam Stopford of Hooley Hill and Adam Stopford and Brothers of Audenshaw were two companies of hat manufacturers. Whether this Adam Stopford was the same as the one recorded in 1792 is unknown. In 1827 Joshua Stopford of Red Hall went into partnership with William Travis as hat manufacturers. However, this was a short-lived company due to bankruptcy.