Castle St

What was Castle St like in 1885?

Castle St, (see Castle) perhaps the oldest street in Tyldesley, lay at the centre of the 19th century industrial town. Using the 1885 Tyldesley Alphabetical Directory we can get a snapshot of Tyldesley at the height of its industrial history. Castle St was a lively thoroughfare; the main route to Wigan falls away at right angles to Elliott St. (see Street Names) near the Parish Church of St. George and between the Flaming Castle Hotel (seen on the left) and the Boars Head and then heads northwards out of town.

In 1885 the inhabitants of Castle St reflected the social and economic makeup of the town. Towards its northern end, near Hindsford Brook was located the cotton mill of Thomas Kirkpatrick and Sons at Hindsford Mill and the great Tyldesley Mill complex of James Burton and Sons. James Burton had arrived in Tyldesley in 1828 and later, besides Tyldesley Mills he owned or erected Atherton Mill; Lodge Mill (1853), Field Mill (1856) and Westfield Mill (1860). In 1883 Burtons mills had suffered considerable damage in a fire (see picture left).

Walking back south towards the Flaming Castle and away from the mills huddled near to Hindsford Brook we would see several public houses, located not too from the factories so as to quench the thirst of generations of mill workers and indeed colliers. The Kings Arms was built in 1824 by the cotton spinners Messer's Jones ( see 1823 Strike) and later owned by the Burtons. The picture left above shows the Kings on the right and the Butchers Arms on the left as we look south. Further along the Odd Fellows Arms (see picture right above ), the Union Arms, the Star Inn and on the corner of Elliott St, the Boars Head. Altogether 7 public houses or beerhouses within a hundred yards or so! The Union, Kings and Butchers survive to this day.

To counter this beer drinkers paradise Richard Harker had set up as a 'herb-beer manufacturer', I wonder with what success. There were other traders and shops on Castle St. Several tripe dressers, a tobacconist, the usual bootsellers and cloggers. Richard Beardsmore was trying his luck at hairdressing and music selling. Robert Parr had a 'fried fish and chipped potato shop'. China, home furnishing and jewellery were also available. Harry Jones was the local debt collector (see advert below)

Castle St was also a residential street with several colliers, labourers, spinners and weavers living in the small terraced cottages that huddled between the business premises and close to work, pub and those other businesses providing for their needs..