The Hurricane of January 1853

 which devastated the North of England & the Textile Trade.

  Huge numbers of factory chimneys were toppled, stopping the steam engines and textile machinery and putting thousands of workers out of a job. Hundreds of ships were wrecked and cargos looted. This a very brief summary of the damage done. There is an account for virtually every town in the country on this link ..

https://books.google.com/books/about/Narrative_of_the_dreadful_disasters_occa.html?id=zSpWAAAAcAAJ

 

  ** We lament to find that those infamous wreckers have been at their fiendlike occupation both on the Lancashire and Cheshire shores plundering what the elements had spared instead of seeking to alleviate the calamities of their fellow creatures.  It having been heard in Liverpool that such was the fact and that a body of above a hundred of them had congregated together a score of police officers were sent over to protect property and to disperse the marauders. The latter object was soon effected when 25 or 26 of the Wreckers were taken into custody but from having been lodged in an insecure place 20 of them contrived to regain their liberty.

** In Manchester there was great damage by the late storm in Manchester and its vicinity that part of it connected with the destruction of the factory chimneys is likely to produces mass of suffering among the hands employed in such establishments It is now certain that there are above forty so destroyed As the mills cannot be worked till new chimneys are erected a thing now a days which requires much time to effect, to say nothing of the loss to the workmen where such visitations have occurred who will necessarily be thrown idle for many weeks to come and it is calculated that 12 to 15,000 persons will be thus unfortunately placed .

** In Liverpool a new chimney at the flax mill of Messrs Brooks and Smith at Bridge Street in Little Bolton, at Eccles/Salford right on the River Irwell, had its top taken away.
** In Bolton in Chorley Street a large chimney belonging to Mr Tickell's Power Loom Works fell with a frightful crash between four and five in the morning. The direction of the wind carried the heavy mass upon the Smithy attached to Messrs Monks Works. This building with others about it being old the increased momentum which the chimney received in its descent and the slight resistance which the roof of these buildings made caused the whole to become a heap of ruins Messrs Ormond and Hardcastle's New Mill had its roof bored almost as naked as it was before the slater had first placed a slate on it.

** In Preston about 10 or 12 yards of the factory chimney belonging to Mr Richard Threlfall was blown down soon after the mill had begun work. It fell on the roof of the factory breaking into the card room and damaging several carding engines as well as the Devil or Scutcher. We are glad to hear however that none of the hands were injured though they were all at work at the time.
** In Warrington the chimney belonging to Messrs Hadficld and Frost's Cotton Mill Latchford a modern erection by the force of the win was cracked nearly half way round its circumference at about twenty yards from its base.

** At Peeks Hill the windmill was set in action by the wind and the velocity with which the sails turned was such as to cause the mill to be set on fire through the friction of the works and the mill was entirely destroyed.

** In Leeds an accident happened at the flax manufactory of Messrs Forster and Davy Hunslet by which a man narrowly escaped being crushed to death. The falling of the chimney through the roof broke a beam which coming slightly in contact with the man caused him to fall. The beam lodged above forming a sort of hollow in which he lay and was thus protected from the rubbish coming upon him. Nor was this his only escape .The man as soon he prudently could left the room but had scarcely advanced more than a few yards outside the door when the gable end fell in and choked up the passage with bricks and rubbish It is clear therefore that had the fall taken place a minute sooner he must inevitably have been killed. The damage sustained by Messrs Forster and Davy is estimated at about £300. A machine in process of being built by Mr Harcourt Manufactory below St Beter's Hill was levelled to the ground. The lofty new chimney of Messrs Fenton Murray and Co's foundry was blown upon the roof which it forced through causing great damage. At the mills of Messrs James Brown and Co in Bagby, Mr James Holroyd at Carltonhill, Messrs Marshall and Lumley in Water Lane and Mr Edward Halliley at Low Close Mill the chimneys were blown upon the roofs and much injury and inconvenience experienced Other mills in various parts of the town have experienced damage but we are happy to say that upon the whole the workpeople will suffer but comparatively little loss by the interruption to labour.
** In Huddersfield the large chimney at Bradley Hills fell with a tremendous crash sweeping before it smaller chimneys buildings and machinery. The loss is estimated at £1000. A large new warehouse belonging to Messrs Henry and Co in Market street had the lead stripped off the roof. The chimney belonging the manufactory of John Eastwood and Sons at Falby Hall was blown down and fell on the engine house. There is a similar tale for towns all over the north of England on the original account ..
https://books.google.com/books/about/Narrative_of_the_dreadful_disasters_occa.html?id=zSpWAAAAcAAJ