STALYBRIDGE, a market-town and chapelry, partly
in the township of HARTSHEAD, parish of ASHTON-under-LINE,
hundred of SALFORD, county palatine of
LANCASTER, partly in that of DUCKINFIELD, parish of
STOCKPORT, and partly in that of STALYBRIDGE, parish
of MOTTRAM-in-LONGDENDALE, hundred of MACCLESFIELD,
county palatine of CHESTER, 8 miles (N.B,
by N.) from Stockport, containing upwards of 12,000
inhabitants; which population is included in the
returns for the several townships in which it is situated.
It is on the banks of the Tame, and derives its name,
which was originally Staveleigh, from the family of the
Staveleighs, who formerly had their residence here,
which is still in existence, and the addition from the
bridge, which has been recently rebuilt, at an expense
of £4000, and, crossing the river here, connects the two
palatine counties of Lancaster and Chester: it is partially
paved and lighted with gas, and considerable improvements
are in progress, under an act of parliament
for that purpose obtained in 1828; it is well supplied
with water. The principal market day is Saturday, and
there is a fair for pedlary on the 5th of March. The court
of requests, held at Ashton under Line, for the recovery
of debts under £ 5, comprises this place within its jurisdiction.
The advance of the trade and population of the
town has been singularly rapid; the first cotton-mill
was erected in 1776, into which a steam-engine was introduced
in 1795, and in 1828 there were twenty-four
factories, worked by thirty-three steam-engines and by
six water-wheels, of the aggregate power of eight hundred
and ninety-eight horses, which turned three hundred
and ninety-eight thousand one hundred and sixteen
spindles, and worked two thousand nine hundred powerlooms,
giving employment to about six thousand four
hundred persons; besides which, other mills are in
progress of erection, which will add, when completed,
nearly one hundred thousand spindles. Upwards of
eight hundred houses have been erected within the last
three years: large quantities of excellent fire-bricks
are manufactured. The new road from Manchester to
Sheffield runs on the north side of the town, and the
Huddersfield canal, passing in the vicinity, affords
great facility to commerce.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Chester, endowed with £ 800 royal
bounty, and £1600 parliamentary grant, subject to the
rector of Ashton under Line, and in the patronage of
the Earl of Stamford. The chapel, dedicated to St.
George, is a handsome octagonal structure, occupying
an elevated site. There are places of worship for
General and Particular Baptists, "Wesleyan Methodists,
and Methodists of the New Connexion, to which Sunday
schools are attached, affording instruction to
upwards of two thousand children. A Society for
Mutual Instruction has been established here, with a
library and apparatus for lecturing, and there are also
a news-room, and several benefit societies. A temporary
place of confinement, termed a " Lock-up," has
been recently erected. The neighbourhood, formerly
much covered with wood, presents some bold scenery;
and from the ""Wild Bank," which rises one thousand
three hundred feet above the level of the sea, the prospect
is extensive.