Updated December 12, 2008 9:34 PM

Timeline

1850 -1870 Built James Marsden and Sons

1875 March 24th, At the Borough Court this morning, Messrs James Marsden and Sons, cotton spinners, were summoned for employing a child within the period allowed for meals on the 5th instant. Mr Cramp, sub-inspector of factories, prosecuted, and Mr Fullegar defended. Mr Cramp stated that the prosecution was brought under the New Factory Act, 1874, which provided that no children, young persons, or women shall be employed during the hours set apart for meals. He visited Messrs Marsden's Albion Mills, No 1, on Friday, the 5th inst. at one o'clock. The abstract of the Act fixed in the entrance to the mill stated that dinner is from half-past twelve to half-past one. In the second room he saw a boy named William Lee at work cleaning the spindles. The boy said he was eleven years of age, and was told by the spinner, James Morris, by whom he was employed, to clean the machinery during the dinner hour. - Mr Fullegar said that the defendants had repeatedly given orders to prevent persons working during meal hours, and took every precaution to prevent a violation of the Act, and they, therefore, looked upon it as a hardship that they should be brought there on such a summons. It was really the spinner's fault who employed the boy, and he ought to have been proceeded against in the first instance and not Messrs. Marsden. - The bench considered the case proved, and Imposed posed the smallest penalty of 20s and costs.

1884 James Marsden and Sons Ltd

1910 Ex St Marks pupil Minnie went on to work at Marsden's Mill, where she works 54 hours a week in the card room for six shillings and threepence.

1945 There is a hoistman at James Marsden and Sons Ltd called Benjamin Berry. For one thing he is 75 years old. For another, he has worked at the mill continuously for 66 years.

1950 Mill No1 Great Lever Spinning Co Ltd, Mills 2m 3 and 4 James Marsden and Sons Ltd

1958 Mill No4 closed as Courtalds

1964 Mill No2 closed as Courtalds

1965 Mills No1 and 3 closed as Courtalds

2007 Mill No4 still in use but Mills 1,2 3 previously demolished in the 1970s

Ex pupil Vera Dixon once worked in Albion Mill