3-008-941 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Hall-i'-th'-Wood, near Bolton, the residence of Samuel Crompton, where he invented the spinning-mule, 1862. 'Remains of many old trees cut down to their roots, and a very few specimens of fine timber still standing, show that the name of the mansion was at one time entirely appropriate...The building is of considerable size, and was erected at two different periods; one portion - the materials being oak timber fancifully arranged, with the interstices filled up with plaster, in the style usually denominated "post and plaster" work - may be as old as the end of the fifteenth century; while a considerable part of the south front and the porch are built of stone. The latter bears the date "1648," with the initials "A.A.N." This portion was erected by Alexander Norris..."At the present time," says Gilbert J. French, in his interesting little work "The Life and Times of Samuel Crompton," "the very success which has attended his invention has covered the Hall-i'-th'-Wood with an almost perpetual veil of coal-smoke, and polluted the clear river with dark stains of dyewoods. Thus one of the most lovely scenes in Lancashire is now rarely to be seen except through a dense and murky atmosphere'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.