The Printing Works

The following account of the origin of the famous firm of Messrs McCorquodale & Co. appeared in a newspaper published in 1846:

"The capacious building at Newton, on the north side of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, known until recently as the Legh Arms Hotel is being converted into a general printing office. A printing office in a village like Newton however humble in pretension, a year ago would have been considered one of the greatest wonders of the age. Wonders do, however, occasionally appear, and one of the greatest we know of is the conversion, in such a place, of a building larger than the establishments of the metropolitan morning papers, or of the printers to Her Majesty, into a place for pressmen and printer's devils. The Company, among other amalgamations and consolidations, have contracted with a practical person to undertake this department exclusively; and the house in question has been selected as the best adapted for the purpose, all things considered, upon any portion of their lengthened territory."[1]

George McCorquodale, Esq. the head of the firm, was, we are told, originally of Liverpool, where his early aptitude for business was well known. He joined William Blacklock, Esq., in partnership in the context for the railway company's printing and stationery work, and soon the firm became known all over the kingdom. Seldom, perhaps, has the truth of Shakespeare's words -- "There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune"-- been more apparent than when these gentlemen secured this contract for the railway company's printing. They knew not only how to take the current when it served, but they had also the business ability and acumen to safely navigate their barque on its early voyages, in which less able captains would probably have suffered shipwreck. The Conservative Hall, [2] built shortly after Newton was disfranchised, being on sale, was acquired by Mr McCorquodale, to which was soon added the old Legh Arms Hotel, and, as business increased, branches were established in London, Glasgow, Leeds and other towns. We are informed that Mr McCorquodale belonged to a good commercial stock, and had the example and support, in the outset of his career, of his cousins, the Cowans, who were paper-makers at Penicuik in Scotland, with whom he learned the business that brought him such repute and wealth.

The "Print Works," as the office was called locally, was brought prominently to our notice during our schoolboy days , when in the early hours of the morning of the 16th February 1865, the whole village was awakened from its slumber by the clanging of bells at the Works, the church, and the schools; by the cry of "Fire!" from a hundred throats, and by the tramping of many feet hurrying towards the scene of the conflagration. [3]

"Amidst the dreary stillness of the night,
A shrieking shout disturbed the midnight air;
There then appeared a dark lugubrious light,
Which soon assumed a conflagration's glare;
And then the sound of many hurried feet
Of strong-voiced men came nigher and still nigher,
Till as my heart did beat - did loudly beat -
The harrowing sounds were heard - 'Fire! fire!
The Print Works are on fire!'"

So sang "W.C." in a poem of seven nine-line verses. The fire began in the hotel portion of the Works. and immediate steps were taken to cut off the communication between this and the machine department in the old Conservative Hall. This was ultimately effected by destroying the gangway connecting the two establishments and by barricading the doorways with reams of paper. The only machines destroyed were a few used in the envelope-making and paper-ruling rooms. The extensive stock of paper filling the other parts of the premises was completely destroyed, the building was gutted, and the walls were left roofless and ready to fall. However rebuilding operations were immediately begun, the damage was repaired and the Works were soon in full activity. [4]

The year following the fire, our closer acquaintance with the firm began; and here, perhaps, we cannot do better than repeat what we told the children when, as corespondent and foundation manager of St. Peter's Schools, we were asked by the teachers to distribute the Sunday-school and "Hugh McCorquodale Memorial" prizes:- The boys and girls who attend Sunday-school are more likely to get on well in the world than those who stay away and receive little or no religious instruction. Masters prefer to have boys recommended by their day-school or Sunday-school teachers rather than those who cannot get such recommendations. I will tell you a story to illustrate this, and also to mention a good turn that was once done me by the young Mr McCorquodale whose name is in your prizes. When I had attained the manly age of fourteen, my parents thought it time I commenced to learn a trade. I heard there was a vacancy for an apprentice in the composing-room of the printing-office; so, one morning, I went to Mr McCorquodale's Works to see if I could get a job. I mounted the long flight of stone steps to the clerks' offices, opened the door and walked in. Just as I entered, Mr Hugh McCorquodale was passing and, seeing me, said, "Well, Lane, what do you want?" I said I wanted to be an apprentice in the composing-room. "Very well, come along with me!" He led me down some steps to a long narrow office, at one end of which sat a grey-headed old gentleman wearing a snuff-coloured wig. His surname was Barclay. He looked down on me, and said in a loud voice "Well, my little mannie, what do you want?" "Please, sir, I want to be a compositor!" "Oh, can you read?" Before I could answer, Mr Hugh said "Oh, yes, he can read; I have heard him often at the Sunday-school." "I should like to hear you read, my little mannie," said Mr Barclay, and he handed me a newspaper. I read part of the leading article, and he told me to start the next Monday morning at eight o'clock.

This we did; and thus began our apprenticeship with the firm. Looking back now on those seven years as an apprentice, and the two following years as a journeyman, we can truthfully say they were the happiest we have spent during a period of over forty in connection with "the art preservative of arts;" for we then became acquainted with a coterie of top-hatted, frock-coated gentlemen of the Press from Scotland, who introduced us to the works of Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Christopher North, the Ettrick Shepherd, Allan Ramsay, and other Scottish writers.

Fist and foremost of these early printers, we must mention the reader John Christie, M.A., M.D, a Greek, Latin, and French scholar, who tried to teach us French in the evening when we were not working overtime - and almost succeeded. How well we remember those meetings around the kitchen table, in his dwelling in High Street, where we used to read aloud from "Telemaque" and "Voltaire's Letters" with a nasal twang what would have made a Frenchman envious! And how the old gentleman could recite! We once heard him give a portion of Milton's "Lycidas" in fine style, and when he came to the lines-

"he must not float upon his watery bier
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind
Without the meed of some melodious tear"....

we were moved at the feeling he put into the words.

We, too owe him many thanks for a similar induction in (Ruddiman's) Latin, besides his assistance in our French correspondence; for he professed to know nothing of German, though he knew it. But his motto was "Thorough," and the firm was fortunate in securing his services. Surenne, the French grammarian and lexicographer, acknowledged his important services to his works - P.M.C.

Then there was William Drinnan, a man of rough exterior, but endowed with fine poetic feeling and an ardent love for all that was good and noble in literature. He once showed us one of his poetic effusions, entitled "Edina," the perusal of which made us think highly of him ever after. He died full of years, and we followed his mortal remains to their resting-place in the Congregational churchyard in Crow Lane.

He died in my house in Manchester, and was buried beside his wife in the only grave in the newer part of the churchyard - P.M.C.

And poor old Hugh Paton, who was lame, who professed to know every Scotsman who visited the Works; and in those days there were many. But one day a Scotsman called whose identity somewhat puzzled the old man. In the usual question being put, "Well, Hugh, dae ye ken that yin?" he answered, "Aw canna say that aw ken him; but my wife kens a felly that kens him!" He served the firm till he got too old for his job, and then was pensioned off and went to live with his daughter in Hulme Hall-road, Manchester, where we often visited him until he removed to Halifax, and we heard of him no more.

He was one of the old school that came with Mr Shaw, the first manager, with all the excellence of craft and defects of the cult. I had little to do with "The Penny," except the advertisements, and in defence of them had a notable encounter with an advocate at Preston where he promoted me to the judicial bench. - P.M.C.

Thomas Barclay, the foreman of the Composing-room, we also knew, for a few years, and although we could not be on the same terms of intimacy with him as with the workmen, yet we always found him just in his dealings, and were indebted to him for many little kindnesses. We followed him to his last resting-place.

He was employed on a newspaper, in Scotland, as editor of the "Notes and Queries" department, a position requiring in its holder a wide knowledge of current literature. - P.M.C.

Henry Beaton was a gentleman of bearing and a scholar in attainments, and acted as "clicker" and then as reader for some years. He became landlord of the "Millstone," afterwards of the "Legh Arms," and finally removed to Leeds, where we lost sight of him.

He was an agreeable man with much bonhomie. - P.M.C.

John Dick was the reader when we began our apprenticeship. He was fond of the Lancashire dialect, and took "Ben Brierley's Journal" for many years, even after his reading-boy had become reader in the office where it was printed. He did good service at the Congregational Chapel as choirmaster for a long period; now he is living in his native town of Paisley, enjoying a well earned pension from an appreciative firm.

He was a musical virtuoso, a composer, and spent all of his spare time on music. He trained many choirs, and was for a long time a leader in musical society. He was also my very intimate friend. - P.M.C.

William Ellam, the "clicker" of the Continental Guide, took us under his fraternal wing, and "clucked" to us at times out of his store of historical knowledge. Who so well knew the history of the Winwick-road and the Winwick Church and parish as he? Often has he told us of the incidents of the Past, and "How he made the walk to Winwick Subject of a lengthy letter To his friends who dwelt afar off"

Whilst courting a lady at Redclyffe, who became his wife, we saw him often at the lake, on which we have heard him sing "The Woodpecker" in grand style. He was one of the famous quartet glee-party with John Dick, John Ball, and Abram Gleave, and George Armitage-Smith as accompanist.

He was "our right-hand man," and was specially well-informed and musical, having been educated at Stonyhurst College. He had a beautiful tenor voice, and sang al the Masses and operatic music for me to perfection. I was with him an hour before he died of bronchitis. He was buried at St. Mary's, Crow Lane. - P.M.C.

John Ball and Robert Palmer we knew - both warm supporters of the Liberal cause, who worked strenuously for the return of Mr Gladstone, when he contested South-west Lancashire and defeated William John Legh, Esq. On behalf of the party, they presented Mr Gladstone with a testimonial, in which they extolled his services in repealing the paper tax. Robert Palmer started a bank in the Town Hall, and John Ball was correspondent for the Warrington Guardian, and, after he had left the Works, was school-attendance officer for many years. The twain have long since departed, and we hope "have laid them down to pleasant dreams."

In the wild, nomadic state of society that existed when the army of printers came to Newton, John Ball figured prominently. Later he was an authority on cricket, "in the days of Grace." He was a real good fellow, but excitable. - P.M.C.

William Hill was also a "clicker" in the Composing-room. He married the sister of one of the lady compositors who worked in the "Crystal Palace," as the outbuildings with glass roofs were called, erected when the firm printed books for London publishers. He was very clever at repartee, and many a time we have been amused at his apt replies. A wag in the office, somewhat deficient in the pronunciation of even simple words, once addressed him thus: "Well, Willy, are you having a foal (fowl) for dinner to-day?" "No," said Willy, "I'm having a little filly!" He was a cheerful soul, being seldom "out of sorts," and, as a workman, could "make even" with any man. After our departure to "fresh woods and pastures new," we saw but little of him, and our acquaintance came to an end.

He was accounted a bon vivant, and that may have occasioned the remark. - P.M.C.

Robert Hindley as a later foreman, and James Fazakerley as "clicker" of the Penny Guide in succession to Hugh Paton, have both "moved to the pale realms of shade." We worked amicably in the same "frame" with the former, and on the same "forme" with the latter, in the olden days.

James Roughley, and afterwards Richard Boardman, were "clickers" of the large time-bills, the goods books, and the special notices. We saw the former, a few years ago, in the "Barley Mow" at Warrington, where we had a good chat on former times over our stone-gingers. The latter is still with us, and we hope he may long continue to draw his well-deserved allowance.

Thomas Roughedge was "round the stone" when we left the Works. He had charge of the forme-room and the plate-room, and, during his long stay with the firm, tramped a good many miles, with clock-like regularity, from and to his cottage opposite Jabez Fox's at Wargrave. He, like so many of his companions, has departed to "the land where all things are forgotten."

Among the older "hands" should be included Hicklenton, who had charge of the Law Journal, for which Lord Brougham wrote in such a hand that H. got double pay for reading it, and often took counsel with us as to the meaning of some of his hieroglyphics - Adam Syme went to manage the Liverpool shop, and then returned to continue his father's business in Edinburgh - Delittle went to York and began the business there, that is now Delittle and Fenwick's - J. Campbell, a composer of J. Dick, in 1855 went to be sub-editor of the Sunday Times, for five years having special charge of the "Answers to Correspondents" column: doing some dramatic notices: then occasional short notices for the News of the World (Liberal), where he met Mr Knight, the eminent and well-known journalist and critic who was chief on the Sunday Times, and who asked him to do some work for The People (Conservative). He was till 1881 printer of The Spectator and Statist. - P.M.C.

Of our fellow-apprentices in the Case-room, seven have laid aside their empty "sticks," which no longer respond to the click of the types as, letter by letter and space by space, their nimble fingers build up the pages of magazine, guide, or notice: William Blything (a quiet, God-fearing young fellow) departed, in early life "to where beyond these voices there is peace;" - Hancock Johnson (a voracious reader of Fenimore Cooper, Captain Mayne Reid, and other writers of boy-fiction) died young, and is buried in our little cemetery, with the lean letters "H.J." and the year 1870 on his gravestone; - Thomas Hunt (a reliable and industrious workman) was transferred to one of the London office of the firm, and died in the City a few years ago; - Joseph Grace (a well-read compositor, a clever and voluminous letter-writer, and an intimate friend of ours) went to London and died there, and, whilst lying ill, was not forgotten by his Sunday-school teacher and pastor, the Rev. H. Monk, who wrote him cheering letters; - Michael Denning (a protégé FO the late Rev. Dean Lennon, and latterly a competent reader at the Works) died some years ago in Mercer-street;- James Thomas Barr (an organist and devoted worker at the Brunswick Wesleyan Church) dies while yet a young journeyman; Gilbert Lennox (a diligent workman, son of the respected stereotyper) also died when a young man; - and Thomas Egan (a compositor of no mean ability, brother of the late chief of the envelope-room) went to Manchester and died there. Of the living: John Hunt, the late foreman, after nearly half a century with the firm, has just been retired on a well-merited allowance;- Thomas Appleton (a long service Volunteer and prominent Oddfellow) has risen, by steady application, to a position of trust in the firm;- John Rimmer (another long-time Volunteer and a once "crack shot," who can talk merrily of his experiences at Highfield Moss, Altcar, and Bisley) is "clicker" of the Continental Guide, and a worthy successor, in that capacity, to William Ellam of lang syne;- John Lyons (a fellow church-officer) is still in active service in the Case-room; and two or three others have gone one knows not whither; but let us hope that "where'er they be, on land or sea," they are doing well.

Whilst we were at the works, a young fellow from the North was introduced. whose name we have forgotten. There was nothing very remarkable about him, except that he was the only young Scotsman to have known to belie the poet's words-

"Land whose children claim they worship
Every Scotian hill and rock;
But, of all the lands that leave thee.
Deil a yin gangs ever bock!"

He grew tired of placid Newton, and one week-end packed up his traps and departed northwards.

When it was thought that the Continental Guide would be removed to one of the London houses of the firm, we had practical experience of the goodwill of all the Case-room hands. for they subscribed for and presented me with a marble timepiece on the eve of my departure. But, by some unforeseen concurrence of events, we received an order from Mr McCorquodale's son-in-law, Colonel Hamilton, to remain as we were. We (that is, the Guide) had been saved at the second fire, and had been trucked up and down to be printed in Manchester once or twice, now to remain in status quo and no longer an unwelcome guest. Mr McCorquodale asked me what I meant to do with all the presents. I said we might look upon them as a thanksgiving for staying to find them work. - P.M.C.

In the Machine-room there were also good men who worked well for the firm in the early days, but who, since 1866, have "fallen on sleep": William Aitken, the foreman, and after him his son of the same name.- Angus McCormick, the pressman, and his sons Robert and William.- John Struthers and John Clemson, both of Golborne, the latter a clever arithmetician, who could do almost any sum. The former had charge of one of the old tumbler platen machines , which, with rhythmic swing and steady downward dip, printed from stereotyped plated Dr. Adam Clarke's "Bible Commentary," "Magnall's Questions," and other books for London publishers. Of this worthy a story was told that, one evening, when going home from work with a companion, a colony of rooks from Golborne Park flew over their heads. Said John to his chum, "Bobby Nicholson has a name for every one of thoose rooks!" "Oh, hi" said his chum, "whatever does he caw 'em?" "Whoy," said John with a chuckle, "he caws 'em aw Crows!" And for the rest of the journey home naught was heard save the cawing of Pearson's rooks in Golborne's leafy dale. - Alexander Galloway (a later foreman) and Samuel Rimmer (a gallant hussar in the local troop in his younger days).- Peter Percival (a "crack shot" in the Volunteers, a one-time warden and for many years a church-officer at St Peter's) and William Aitken, of Crow Lane, who was our faithful friend and counsellor when we worked together in Manchester. He became foreman in the machine-room at the firm's office in Leeds, in which town he died, and where we attended his funeral. - James Gibson, the pressman, and James Pendlebury a pressman also, who accidentally lost his life through some outbuildings falling upon him; a good-hearted fellow whom we often helped in pulling proofs of "The Penny." - Richard Carr and Thomas Dudgeon were of the old school. The former emigrated to Australia, returned after some years, and then went back again; the latter is with us plying the trade of an "Old Mortality" with the gravestones, and rare good jobs he makes of them. - Henry Shaw, who came to the works in the early 'fifties, is still with us, though gently "wearin' awa to the land o' the leal." - Michael Kean, the veteran pressman, who, during his tenure of office, has given many "a long pull and a strong pull" in his masters' service, is as voluble as ever, and can tell the history of the old town better than any other man.

Many and varied were our experiences with all these men, extending over a period of a quarter of a century. Some were grave, some gay, and as we only met at the month's end in the way of business, we did not trespass so much on their time and attention, though everybody knew every other body at Church, Chapel, or in the Volunteers. And, day in and day out, we saw them at work or on the way to it. Moreover, we had a fire brigade of our own, well manned and well horsed, till one unlucky night it was called out, and, in bringing it down "the brow" in the darkness, ran the pole of it into one of Mr McCorquodale's horses that had, in an equal hurry, been brought to "horse" it. As the horse was worth £80, the brigade was discontinued. I was leaving my office one night , and at the foot of the brow saw the fire-engine setting off. One of my Volunteer friends said "Come with us, P.M.;" so, being young and nimble, up I got, and away we went at a gallop, like a Roman chariot and horses. Arrived at the top of the road past Golborne Park, the captain stopped to reconnoitre, and, having swept the horizon, said "I see nothing but the Coke Furnace at Astley ! Get back, and go home, and say nothing!" But Richard Carr had, with "seven-league strides," gone to Astley, enquiring by the way for the fire, and so the story got wind at once of being on the alert, too alert! - P.M.C.

In the Binding department many changes have occurred. Henry Guy, who lived in the old black-timbered house that stood opposite the Stocks, and who was foreman, had long since passed hence. - "Old Hill" as he was familiarly called, , who exerted himself so much in converting the "pinfold," near the Tea-well in Southworth-road, into a gymnasium for the young folks at the Works, was on day found drowned in the lake. - Patrick Grace, who presided over the binders' store-room, after long and faithful service, has gone home. - Richard Briggs and John Dwyer, both of Mill Lane, emigrated to America and died across the water. Ellis Hill and John Hewitt, both of Lowton, left the works in our time for positions in Leeds and York. Ellis used to recite "The Light Brigade" very dramatically, with sword-slashes to the right of him and bayonet-thrusts to the left of him. He was a Volunteer. - Fergus Dobbie followed Mr Guy, and "shuffling off this mortal coil," was succeeded by John Crouchley, a member of the choir and once a warden a t St Peter's, now superannuated, but still hale and hearty and as nimble as a young man at his favourite game of bowls. - Joseph Naylor was the head finisher, and accomplished some good work for the firm. He is no longer with us. - John Devereux, a Mason (both fraternally and monumentally), we knew most intimately through frequent strolls by the lake-side on Sunday mornings before church-time, and by sitting at his side on the wardens' to bench beneath the old gallery in the auld kirk. He knew how to discourse on subjects grave and gay, showing he had dealt with the inside of books other than those entrusted to his craftsmanship. We followed him to the grave and performed a like duty to the memory of his respected widow.

In the Ruling department, George Stead Wood was foreman during the nine years we were at the Works, and for many years afterwards. He was one of the first to start at the place when it was opened in 1846, and died recently at a green old age. Henry Kitchen, the penmaker, an inventive genius, was also in the same room during our time.

I was often in the Binders-room, and knew Mr Guy at business , at Chapel, and at Mutual Improvement Society. He was a very well-read, thoughtful man, and agreeable. - Thomas Hill, binder in vellum, was the original hand on Bradshaw's and the Glance Guide, and related to me the whole history of its inception and completion by Gadsby and adoption by Bradshaw. Patrick Grace was a very intelligent and cheerful man and I often saw him. - Ellis Hill was of about my own age, and we often met. - Mr Dobbie was of a different temperament, and I did not invade his province very much, though he could be most agreeable. - Messrs. Briggs, Devereux, Naylor, and Hewitt, I often spoke to, as also George Houghton, a finisher; and, of course, his brother Henry, while he was a ruler, as well as Mr G.S. Wood, Mr Kitchen, and also Mr Dwyer; and, before "the strike," the female compositors in the "Crystal Palace," and many of the mothers of the present Newtonians, whom we knew in the days of our youth, and recollection of whom raises up pleasant memories of well-spent time past. IN the earliest time we knew all the young women in the Packing department, and later the principals in the Envelope department under Samuel Atkins and James Egan. The superannuation scheme came into operation after I left the Works, after twenty-six years' service with "nickle naething." - P.M.C.

In the Foundry were Gilbert Lennox and Peter Heaton. The latter did good work with the molten metal, and died not very long ago; the former is still amongst us, and can talk most interestingly of the olden days.

In the Joiners' shop was Samuel Schofield, a man of wise saws and dispenser of good advice to all who would take it. He had long since ceased to use the chisel, saw and plane he once used so dexterously.

Richard Walmsley presided over the Mechanics' shop in our day. He afterwards went to the "Legh Arms," and was followed at the Works by Alexander Chisholm, who, after long service, is retired on his well-earned superannuation.

At the Boilers, and in the Engine-house, worked John Pennington, a short thick-set man, who kept up the steam to run the mighty engine that worked the machines in the many departments. And in the Gas-house worked his son Jack making light by which we could see to set up pearl type without the aid of incandescent mantles, and also, at one time, supplying the town with the same excellent illuminant; and this achieved by a one-armed Captain Cuttle kind of a man with a wonderful facility for narrating ghost stories and Baron Munchhausen tales of thrilling adventures. Surely the times have changed, and we with them!

In the south-west corner of the Machine-room, to the right of the stairs, were the lithographers, Peter Haselden, William Nuttall, and Thomas Burgess. The first two were transferred to the Leeds office, and did some fine colour-work under better and more up-to-date conditions than those they left behind. On their departure, the lithographic printing was discontinued at Newton, orders being afterwards executed at the firm's other branch establishments. In course of time they became pensioners, Nuttall taking up travelling for an ink firm, and calling upon as a few times before he took his last journey to his long home. Thomas Burgess stayed at Newton and got other employment.

From the lithographers' corner was the entrance into a passage leading to the Roller-casting room, in which, in his shirt-sleeves rolled up to his biceps, worked a stout gentleman with the nickname "Killo." His duty was to clothe roller-stocks with what a lad who was showing a party through the Works is said to have named "an imposition of traycle an' glue!" Beyond this room were cellars in which the paper was stacked in reams ready to be taken out, unfolded, and damped before printing, as was the vogue of the days of folded paper and machines with soft-packed cylinders.

Upstairs, in the same room as Thomas Barclay, was Enoch Monks, the timekeeper, a person known to every man and woman and boy and girl in the Works, for it was his duty to call on them daily with the question, "How many hours yesterday?" He has long since "crossed the bar."

A man of method and of mind, though few knew it, and careful. - P.M.C.

In the Offices were John Adams, Thomas Griffith, Duncan Bryce, James Glover, and Thomas Mayor, and, at a desk near the main entrance door, was Robert McHardy. The first is dead, and we followed him to his grave in the Congregational churchyard; - the second was a good-looking, gentlemanly young fellow who wrote some "In Memoriam" verses on the death of Hugh McCorquodale, and kindly gave us a copy; - the other two drifted beyond our ken; - Thomas Mayor was a singer in the choir and afterwards a sidesman at St Peter's, and a wearer of the busby, the scarlet coat, and the pipe-clayed belt; he is now on the firm's pension list, and, on his visits from Liverpool to Newton, never fails to attend the services of the church he once attended so regularly; - the last, still hale and hearty, is living in Wargrave-road.

Robert McHardy was an Aberdonian tradesman, but, losing his right arm from the effects, we think, of "putting" the stone in the Highland games, he obtained a situation at the Works. He learned to write with his left hand with the indomitable courage of his race. Associated with him was Robert Nicholson, a sturdy old porter who often jeopardized his life carrying parcels across the railway. - P.M.C.

In the Counting-house was David Davidson, a Scotsman of gentlemanly bearing, who did good work as cashier to the firm. He is now sleeping beneath the clover-sod in our local Père-la-Chaise.

Where we buried him, having been introduced by him to the firm, along with Mr Hilton, a question of patronage that remains unsettled to this day. Peace be to their ashes! They were well-meaning friends. - P.M.C.

The manager during our stay was George Hilton, from whom we got a fly-sheet of notepaper adorned with his calligraphy that would have proved valuable to us when out of work; but we never required it, for to be able to say one had served one's time at McCorquodale's was an open-sesame to any establishment wanting a workman in those days. As manager, Mr Hilton was strictly impartial, he could rebuke as well as praise. and his word was as good as his bond. He was one of the early Volunteers, was a warden at St. Peter's. and an overseer of the poor. His simple epitaph might be "He lived respected and died regretted." - Of Mr. Hilton's successors in the management, we need only draw attention to the fact that one has become a director of the firm, and the other has held the position jointly with and separately from his brother to the satisfaction of the shareholders of the company; whilst in civic and religious affairs, they have ever been prominently identified.

The messenger to the Liverpool shop at the beginning of our time was James Brandwood. He was the author of a little book entitled "A Straight Tip for the Million at Long Odds," in which he detailed his youthful experiences as a jockey. Leaving the works, he started business in Manchester as a provider of bookbinders' requisites, and called on us once or twice with his wares. He dies in Manchester a few years ago.

In the Stationery department was Mr Crawford, who had been traveller for the Cowans, with a nominal employment under the firm of McCorquodale & Co. He was a most superior man, the inventor of coloured paper. and that should secure his memory from oblivion. - Another James Pendlebury (alias Lord Bacon) was a prominent official in the offices in my early days. and went to the London offices. He was given the sobriquet when messenger because of his fondness for bacon. - Duncan Bryce was "a lively chick." - William Turton was a very intimate friend, and went to Liverpool and London. He was a native of Golborne Dale. - George Heaton served his time at the Works, and, returning to Bolton, set up there; and there I once met him. - Another intimate was Chesney, from Liverpool, and who learned the business. - P.M.C.

On the landing, at the top of the first flight of stairs, was the Continental Guide office, presided over by our collaborator. In our 'prentice days. it was our business to take the guide proofs thither to be revised, and there we loved to listen to the interesting discourses of one who, at the time, we never dreamed would one day join us in telling the story of our little town. But what the "whirligig of Time" will effect, who can foretell?

Charles Darkin presided over the "Continental" from its fifty-first issue, and Robert Noble was his colleague. To these was added Thomas Fairclough after Mr Noble's departure for the North, where he went into business on his own account. Mr Darkin returned to London to become an official at Cassell, Petter and Galpin's. Mr Fairclough went back to the Case-room after a year or so, when Mr. Horrige, a protégé of Mr. McCorquodale, presided for less than a twelvemonth, at which time the writer, having served five years, assumed the office, and held it for twenty-one years, when he resigned, having done all the work single-handed for the first fifteen years of that term. Subsequently he made "The Manchester A B C Railway Guide" for Mr John Heywood, of Deansgate, and some eighteen or nineteen years afterwards was engaged in reconstructing the Time-table book of Messrs. Henry Gaze and Sons, when the firm failed, and his career as a guide-book corrector was came to an end, his A B C book being resuscitated by a Mr. Ackerman while he was in London. Mr. Campbell was next-door neighbour (in High-street) to Mr. William Shaw, the first manager, before he went to London, and knew many of the first workmen and all the officials somewhat familiarly even as a junior before coming to the Works; and subsequently he knew more intimately those that remained or came after his departure. Mr. W.T. Blacklock was, of course, his chief patron, friend and benefactor, and with him died his hope of further promotion in that sphere. - J.H. Profit was with him the last seven years, entered the Civil Service by taking the first place in the kingdom, and is now Surveyor, Accountant-General's Office, London. - P.M.C.

In the Envelope department were Samuel Atkins and James Egan, with whom we came in little contact, partly because they worked up in the clouds at the top of the building, and partly because we had seldom occasion to consult them on any business connected with the place. They both served well their day and generation, and now their places know them no more.

Of the forewomen at the Works, during our time, Mrs. Cameron of the Binding-room, and Miss Emma Duxbury of the Envelope-room, come to mind as capable managers. With their subordinates we had little to do beyond being the boyish bearer of billets-doux form their admirers in the Case-room; but, in whatsoever capacity employed, the firm has had reason to be proud in the past, and must be fully cognizant in the present, of the respectability and circumspection of its lady employees.

Nor in this list of brief biographies should we forget to mention James Adshead of the Waste-paper department - a very necessary adjunct to every large printing office. Like the boy at dinner-time, James was always present performing his duty in a quiet, methodical fashion, and was little affected by the chaff of those who thought themselves possessed of more wit than he. He has long ago been laid to rest, and the department has considerably extended its bounds since his departure.

In succession to this band of early printers. the firm has never lacked able men and women to carry on its important work, neither has it failed to acknowledge the claims of its younger men to advancement; and so the prosperity of the place has been maintained, and we trust will long continue.

In the third year of our apprenticeship an event occurred in Newton that made a profound impression on the inhabitants - the death of Mr Hugh McCorquodale, upon the 31st January, 1868, in his twenty-third year. Only two years previously great rejoicings had been witnessed at his coming of age, festivities on a large scale had taken place at the Works, with presentations from the employees and addresses of congratulation by the different heads of the departments, and an announcement had been made by his father that his eldest son Hugh had become a partner in the firm. [5] And now the alarming news went through the Works that he was stricken with rheumatism of the heart and was not likely to recover; and then, a little later, that he had passed away. We well remember the consternation this event produced both in the Works and in the village - that he, a young man of fine physique and foremost in every sport in the place, should be struck down so prematurely! He was a regular communicant at St. Peter's, a Sunday-school teacher, an intimate friend of our late Vicar, a captain of the Volunteers, the captain of the rowing-team at the lake, and was generally associated with every movement for the enlightenment and recreation of the youth of the neighbourhood. We followed him to his grave, now lying under the east window of St. Peter's Church, and the following Sunday listened to two sermons - one in the morning by the Rev. Thomas Whitley (vicar), and the other in the evening by the Rev. Herbert Monk (curate), in which they enumerated his virtues and also spoke comforting words to the bereaved members of the family.

Before we were "out of our time," another fire occurred at the Works (April 7th, 1871) - this time in the old Conservative Hall, which was used as the machine-room. Some twenty machines and several presses, with the shafting and gearing, were destroyed. We distinctly recollect the apprehension that was aroused at the thought of the fire spreading to the Case-room, where the standing formes were kept, and the rush which was made to remove them to the adjacent yard. This catastrophe was happily averted, and after a time we were ordered to discontinue the carrying-out, as there was no longer any likelihood of the flames spreading in that direction.

Since then the Printing-office had risen like the phoenix from its ashes, and corrugated-iron structures now cover the Green as completely as it was formerly covered by the curving shoots of the bramble-bush and the spreading leaves of the luxuriant dock. The allied businesses of type-casting and ink-making have been added, up-to-date American machinery has been installed, and, in addition to its reputation for high-class railway and commercial printing, the firm has become noted for its three-colour reproductions of celebrated paintings and its admirable issues of the railway company's official hand-books.

That the establishment of the Printing Works in Newton had a refining effect upon the inhabitants was soon apparent, for prior to the coming of the gentlemen from "ayont the Tweed," the vernacular was very generally spoken, and a stranger entering the town by the post road from Warrington, and asking the name of the place from a portly dame standing with arms akimbo at the door of one of those two whitewashed cottages which stood with their backdoors near the brook, would probably have received this answer: "Whoy, it's Nee-ow-ton, God bless yo'!" Even in our day, the dialect, with its picturesque words and idiomatic phrases, was spoken by the poorer people, but gradually gave way to more modern forms of expression and a purer pronunciation. And this reminds us of a story told us by our friend Joseph Grace, who was secretary to the Working-men's Club. He was instructed by his committee to call upon the wealthy people of the district to try and induce them to become presidential subscribers to the club's funds. This duty took him to Golborne Hall, the then residence of John Pearson, Esq., once Mayor of Liverpool and High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1875. Mr. Pearson naturally wanted to know all about the club and its members, and asked the question "Who are the men who belong to this club?" Joseph replied "Well, the more intellectual of them are the printers from McCorquodale's works!" Mr. Pearson smiled, put his hand in his pocket, and gave the first of his annual subscriptions to the club.

Matthew Birkhead was the stationer, and came, among the very first artisans, from Kendal in Westmorland. He married a daughter of Peers Leather, confectioner, etc., and continued the business in Newton and afterwards adjoining the Post Office in Earlestown: a useful, public-spirited man. - P.M.C.

And now we cannot leave this (to us) congenial subject without expressing the hope that nothing has been written to hurt the feelings of any of the relatives of the afore-mentioned good men and true, for whom we felt a great regard, and to whom we were indebted for many pleasant hours during the time we had the pleasure of their association in pursuit of the Noble Art.

[5] We were sent for to witness the Deed, and signed after W.T. Blacklock and George McCorquodale. - P.M.C.

Newton in Makerfield:
Its History,
with some account of its people.
Compiled from Authentic sources
by
John Henry Lane,
with Notes and Reminiscences
by
Peter Mayor Campell.
Printed and Published by the Compiler
1914.

This version copyright © John Rouse, February 2001.

A reprint of this book (Volumes I and II) is available from Peter Riley

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