Cotton Mills

In recent years Bury Choral Society has brought new and attractive musical experiences to Bury.

Under Sinead’s direction and following her enthusiastic lead Bury Choral Society is taking on new challenges. These include developing and expanding challenging new repertoire; exploring new venues; offering solo opportunities to young professional singers; working with orchestras as well as simply organ or piano accompaniment; attracting more members and especially encouraging young people to enjoy music making with the choir. We are also in negotiation about working with local schools/colleges on special projects.

We are building on this achievement by commissioning a new piece of work from a young music composition student at the start of his/her career.

The theme of the textile industry, which was responsible for much of the rise of Bury, and the subsequent disappearance of most of the cotton mills has been chosen for the commission.

Although there is historical evidence that there was originally a woollen industry in Bury, both domestic and industrial, the cotton industry in Bury can be said to have begun in the late 1700s, when the mills were powered by water from the Irwell river.

The subsequent construction of a canal and weir enabled water to be brought directly and more efficiently to the cotton mills.

Cotton was the main textile industry by the early 1800s. By 1818 there were seven cotton mills in Bury and the town’s population grew more than fivefold over the next century. Ramsbottom was built as a brand new mill town.

The American Civil War triggered the 1861 cotton famine and thus started the decline of the cotton industry in Bury. Many mills closed down during this period, with the final few closing during the depression of the 1930s.

After the 2nd World War the cotton industry continued to decline in Bury. Cheaper raw material and employment costs meant that the work began to go abroad. Most of the remaining mills closed down during this period. Anyone travelling into Bury nowadays sees a completely different look to the town and its skyline, without all the mill chimneys.

All that is left of what was such a vital industry to the town are a few mill ruins and many old stone weavers’ cottages, mostly built during the mid 18th and early 19th centuries.

We found an internet-published poem entitled Cotton Mills by C Richard Miles, who was born in the Yorkshire Dales but now lives in London. This confirmed our choice of theme and has inspired us to develop the project further. We have Richard’s wholehearted support and consent to use his poem, and possibly others, and he is looking forward to co-operating in the project with us

We are really excited about the prospect of being able to offer this opportunity to a young and extremely talented young musician at the outset of his/her career.

We advertised the project throughout conservatoires and music departments of universities, focusing for logistical reasons on the north of England. We plan to launch the project formally during 2012.

Please check this website for further information.