Anker Cotton Mill, Attleborough Road Nuneaton

NUNEATON - For erecting a cotton mill, weaving shed, warehouse, boiler‑house, chimney, and other buildings connected with the works for the Directors of the Nuneaton Cotton Spinning and Weaving Company (Limited). Plans, etc, at the Company's office, Church‑street, Nuneaton, to 8th April. Further particulars from Mr. John Holt, Nuneaton. Sealed tenders, addressed to the Directors of the Nuneaton Cotton Spinning and Weaving Company (Limited), to 12 noon of April 12.

The mill was started as a cotton manufacturer, The Nuneaton Cotton Spinning & Weaving Co. Ltd, an enterprise of Lancashire mill owners was formed in 1860 (Registered 9th October 1860) and the new mill was erected and completed in 1861 at a cost of £60-70,000. The capital of the new company was £100,000 with 2770 shares amongst 234 shareholders. In 1877 the business was re-constituted as The Trent Cotton Milling & Manufacturing Co. Ltd (registered 24.11.1877) with a capital of £30,000 with 13 shareholders: James Sawley Brown of Manchester William Brown of Little Bolton Hall, Eccles Annie Brown (his wife) Edward Burgoyne of Southport William Joseph Booth of Manchester Henry Dean of Salford Richard Fisher of Preston Robert Atkinson Estrigge of New Brighton Frank Rooley of Liverpool Henry James Legge of Birkenhead George Ormerod of Southport Thomas Ormerod of Bury Peter Ormerod of Shaw, Oldham Benjamin Fisher of Standish Hall, nr. Wigan.The mill had originally been bought for £13,500 by Mr. Edward Burgoyne for £13,500 in 1877, and Mr. Burgoynes family were connected with the mill for 108 years when his grandson Thomas Burgoyne retired. There was serious strike in 1883 when the mill employed 500 people. This was due to a reduction in wages due to the company's financial difficulties at the time. There was a slump in the cotton trade between 1883 and 1885. The firm closed in 1885 and was wound up on 28th September 1886. The mill was originally located here to alleviate distress in the silk ribbon industry. The mill was taken over by Messrs Fielding Johnson of Leicester in 1886. A business founded in 1720 processing wool. This new manufacturing operation was very successful and Fielding Johnsons traded in Nuneaton for nearly one hundred years, latterly processing wool for the knitting trade. The mill employed 4-500 people.

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 6 April 1861 Page 2 (Contracts) not very legible
Reference    Building News 5 April 1861 Page 298
Reference    Obituary Bolton Chronicle 8 September 1883