History
This row was probably built around the time of the improvements to the turnpike road through Sowerby Bridge, completed 1792, now named Wharf Street. The route was realigned slightly northwards from the old packhorse route of Old Cawsey to avoid the growing number of mills along the river and the canal basin. The footprint of these houses may appear on the 1792 map of the Rochdale Canal, but the scale and detail of the map is not sufficient to be certain. They are thought to have been built as back-to-back cottages, the multi-light windows on the southern elevation (which has an extra storey because of the lower ground level to the south) indicating that they were probably intended for weavers. The row thus represents an interesting moment in the history of Sowerby Bridge and more widely in Yorkshire, when integrated mills were just emerging, but where traditional domestic-based weaving of cloth continued. The 1888 Ordnance Survey Town Plan shows the buildings as through-properties rather than back-to-backs but depicts external staircases to the two now blocked first floor doors on the southern elevation, suggesting that the lower ground floor may have been in separate occupation. In 1905, number 42 Wharf Street was occupied by F Rawnsley, bootmaker and clogger; number 44 by W Hamer, a glass, china and earthenware dealer and number 46 by W Walker, a watchmaker and jeweller.
Details
This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement 11 June 2024 to amend details in the description, add Historical Note and Sources and reformat Name and Address
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
339439
Legacy System:
LBS
Sources
Other
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official list entry
