Kearsley: Proposal to restore Fletcher's Mill fire appliance

The Fletcher’s Paper Mill fire appliance in Stoneclough can trace its history back at least to 1928 or possibly even further and has been kept at the Fourth Farnworth All Saint Scout building on Moses Gate for the last 40 years.

Efforts are now under way to try and get the historic relic professionally restored and Cllr Debbie Newall says she was ‘surprised and delighted’ to be approached for her help.

She said: “I am sure that the Fire Service Museum would be interested in this find but the museum is located in Rochdale, and I would like to see our history remain local for not only our residents, but the increasing number of visitors attracted to our three villages; Stoneclough, Prestolee and Ringley.

The fire appliance is currently being kept at Moses Gate (Image: Public)

“I would also be interested in having a fuller understanding of how the fire appliance worked and whether it was man-powered or part of a bigger automated appliance.

She added: “I believe it would be fitting for the fire appliance to be located in the immediate vicinity of the former papermill and the obvious choices would be around the former Vale House, where the Fletcher’s lived.  

“I have been making enquiries with officers of the council about location options and they are exploring all the local possibilities.”

Fletcher’s Paper Mill was one of the most well established companies in the area before it shut its doors for the last time in 2001.

The firm had been founded in the 19th century by industrialist James Fletcher, who along with his business activities was also a well known philanthropist.

According to Cllr Newall, he was also an ‘ardent supporter of Kearsley being its own political entity rather than being swallowed up by Farnworth.

The appliance's history can be traced back possibly as far as the 19th century (Image: Public)

She said: “The Fletcher family played a significant role in the history of Kearsley and it is absolutely vital that this small but hugely important part of our history remains in Stoneclough.”

She added: “It is unclear the date that the fire appliance was manufactured but the company that made it, Shand Mason & Co traded only between the years 1850 to 1928.”

When the company closed, Venture Scout Chris Wise and four of his colleagues took the fire appliance to its Devon Street home.

Cllr Newall was approached by Ringley resident Peter Fielding, who’s brothers Stephen and Ian both worked at Fletcher’s, about the restoration.

She hopes that this could be the start of wider efforts to preserver the community’s heritage.

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Cllr Newall said: “Recently, the residents of Kearsley and Stoneclough have demonstrated amazing adeptness at making positive changes by their own endeavours and lots of residents have constituted local groups that have obtained funding from many sources.

“It would be truly wonderful if we could get a group that would be dedicated to restoring part of our history along with proudly displaying it for all to see.

“I would be more than willing to organise a meeting with like-minded residents and start the ball rolling for a constituted group.”