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 Cooke & Nuttalls - The Vale Paper Mill 

 

Leonard Cooke began the manufacture of paper on the site of the Vale Mills in 1862, and, after his death, the business was carried on by his son, Horace Cooke. In 1898, Mr T.Y.Nuttall joined the firm and the mills were completely rebuilt and equipped with new machinery. Cooke & Nuttall Ltd were the first manufacturers in Great Britain to produce 'Kraft' paper.

The paper mill wasn't rail-served until some time after 1900, but the 1939 OS map (opposite) clearly shows the network of lines which developed during that period. According to George Harding, Station Master during the 1940s and 50s, the holding sidings to the north-east of the station had become insufficient, and the former coal sidings were also used for pulp trains. See the Maps page for 

 

The mills closed in October 1983, but the rail link had become disused before that date.

 

From 1947 when it was built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock (works no 2230) No 1 "Douglas" was the only locomotive in use on the C&N site. It seems to have been preserved at Steamtown Carnforth. After the closure of Steamtown, the loco doesn't appear to have been transferred to another preserved railway or museum (as other exhibits were). at a recent open day (2008), the chassis of a Barclay 0-4-0 were in out in the open. Another website states it is indeed the former C&N loco, but whether this means it is undergoing a rebuild or just being left to rot, it's not possible to say.

Photo by Stan Withers

A rare shot of "Douglas" in the headshunt opposite the Branch platform. 

Photo by Alan Castle

"Douglas" in restored condition at Steamtown, Carnforth c1980.

Photo by Trevor Machell

"Douglas" still at Carnforth in 2008? 

Photo by Adrian Bradshaw

This photograph shows a Cooke & Nuttall Ltd wagon which was built by the Ince Wagon and Ironworks Co. This was one of several constructed for the firm between 1903 and 1913. 

 

The wagon would have been used to supply coal to the mill rather than paper pulp. Until the construction of the rail link to the mill, coal would have been unloaded at the station. 

A model of this wagon is currently available from Dave Brandwood from Trains and Diecast who has a shop in Horwich.

 

Photograph from the

HMRS Ince Collection

More information can be found in the HMRS publication 

"Private Owner Wagons of the Ince Waggon & Ironworks Co" by A J Watts.

 

This is the view from Blackrod, down Station Road (known locally as Tanners Brew or simply "The Brew"). In the distance is the familiar shape of Rivington Pike, whilst Horwich occupies the middle ground. The chimney on the right is Blackrod Mill, with those of the the Star Bleach Works and Vale Paper Mill on the left. The station is immediately behind  The Ridgeway Arms, which remains today. Blackrod Bypass was yet to be built when this photo was taken.

 

 

Photograph courtesy of the Bolton Evening News.

 

 

 

FOOTNOTE

At the end of July 2006, the demolition of the remaining C&N buildings began, to make-way for a Barratt housing development. Perhaps the site will be commemorated in some way in the naming of the new roads, as is often the case. Cooke Road, Nuttall Avenue anyone?

 

Going...

going...

Gone!....but...

There are no houses there yet (as of Jan 2007), but the whole site seems to have been landscaped, with a man-made path for the previously culverted "River" Douglas meandering through the middle...!

 

Further Update - More landscaping has taken place over the last two months, and now (Mar 2007) there are houses going up on one side of the site. They appear to be making a "feature" of the river through the middle. Presumably the length of time taken to get to this point is due to having to clean-up the previously industrial site. So... what's that concrete thing in the second picture below? Answers to the usual address!