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| Jumble Hole Clough |
There are several small farms in the valley, some which still remain.
BEVERLEY END Not much remains of this tiny hamlet. We have been told that it was also called Beverley farm and was used as a spring and summer residence. The terracing is elaborate and contains a number of niches that were used for skeps (portable beehives made out of rope or wicker). Other than that, we have no further information about its history.
THE FOUR MILLS In the early 19th century Jumble hole was an industrial centre with four large mills and several houses. For more detailed information about the mills, click on the title and it will take you to the page on Mills
This was originally known as Starling mill. It had a small mill dam above the mill. There are several theories about the name Staups:
We are not sure when this was taken (but it is already derelict) or who the person is.
Cowbridge Mill - click the photo to see a full screen version This fantastic photo provides agood view of the mill and the mill cottages on the right. The figures are almost certaiunly members of the Pickles family (thanks to Tim Pickles for providing the photo).
Opposite the mill were three or four houses called Cow bridge Cottages built on the spoil. One was lived in by an eccentric called Mr. Gibson who was an ex headmaster and who kept a donkey. Both the Mill and the cottages had been knocked down by the 1930s.
SPA MILL This used to be called Spa Hole Mill (but also called spoil Mill locally). It started life as a water mill and the marks of the water wheel can still be seen.
 The mill was knocked down by the 1930s. Opposite Spa mill was a terrace called Spa Hall. There were 8 back to back and one through dwellings. It is difficult to imagine now, as all you can see is a patch of ivy between the track and the river. The dwellings were built by the Stead family to house the workers at Spa Mill and at one point the through dwelling was occupied by Thomas Stead.
The terrace was condemned and demolished before the Second World War.
JUMBLE HOLE MILL
  The wall to the right of the mill is the walled garden of Underbank Hall
On 11th Aug 1899, the Todmorden Almanac reports that "Shortly after 5-00 this afternoon an outbreak of fire, most disastrous in it's effects, occurred at Jumble Hole dyeworks, occupied by Edward Steads & Sons, dyers and finishers. Only the bare walls of the works remained in about an hour from the time of the outbreak. Damage about £6000".
The child looking at the aftermath of the fire is Sam Gibson. The square brick chimmney is still standing, but was nearly pulled down in 2006. The chimney was saved by an anonymous benefactor from Rochdale who bought the chimney and repaired it. Many thanks need to be given for this intervention. The circular dye pits (for storing used dye) can still be seen near the turning from Underbank Avenue. Despite the liquids that had been poured in there, after dyeing ceased, it was a popular swimming spot for local children.
The terrace in front of Jumble hole mill used to be barn and stables. It was later used as a slaughter house in the 20s. A bit of a puzzle The Halifax Commercial Chronicle of 15th August 1829, reports on the Summer Assizes: "CROWTHER vs SUTCLIFFE The Plaintiff is the owner of some vessels that work upon the Rochdale canal, and the defendant the proprietor of a mill at Jumble Hole, near Hebden-bridge. The action was brought to recover a disputed balance, of £3-15s, for the carriage of some corn from Liverpool. It was eventually agreed by the Counsel on both sides, that a verdict should be taken for the plaintiff, for the sum of 14s-6d and for the Defendant upon the pleas of tender." We can't find any mention of a Sutcliffe in Jumble Hole at this time. Underneath the natural looking stream and the vegetation, there is a marvel of 18th century water engineering - weirs, mill dams, goits, sluices etc. These were all constructed to ensure power for the four mills - reusing the same water for all four mills! There are four systems: Staups Mill system Staups Mill has a small dam which is above the mill. This probably indicates that it fed an overshot water wheel, although there are no signs of where the wheeel was.
Cow Bridge Mill system The Cow bridge system starts as an insignificant connection to the clough leading into a dam (which can be seen below the track). The Mill dam is still intact thanks to Mr Greenwood (now sadly deceased), a hydro electric enthusiast who generated power for his own house. This begins at Cow Bridge where there is a magnificent concave weir which can be seen as you cross Cow Bridge.
The weir lifts the level of water, allowing it to enter the goit which goes under the track and along to Spa Mill dam. The retaining walls for the dam, which can be seen from the track below, are a pretty awesome construction. At the far end of the dam the water was let out through a sluice down into Spa Mill, probably feeding an overshot water wheel. From the bottom of the wheel chamber, the excess water entered an underground goit which connected to the Jumble Hole Mill system. Jumble Hole Mill system The goit ran into the top end of a dam with the overflow running under the top and bottom track, emerging out of the stone wall bank of the clough. We have more detailed information and photographs of the water system. |
