Oswaldtwistle Mills founder Peter Hargreaves shares memories as they approach their 200 year anniversary

By Scott Dawson Advertising

01 Apr 2025

Former Chairman of Oswaldtwistle Mills Peter Hargreaves press.JPG.jpg

Oswaldtwistle Mills, the popular and award winning shopping village, has a very long history in the local area.

Originally a cotton weaving mill since 1824 holding hundreds of looms and workers, the mill produced cotton exported all over the world until the closure of the weaving sheds in the early 1990s.

Peter Hargreaves then oversaw the rebirth of Oswaldtwistle Mills into the huge shopping complex we see today.

 Peter, who reached the grand age of 90 at the end of last year, has deep family connections to James Hargreaves, the inventor of the Spinning Jenny, and has traced his family back many generations.

He said: "The Hargreaves family has been involved with running the mill since 1874, and we're very proud of our heritage. we managed to trace the family back to 1050, when my 30th great great grandfather, Richard de Noers, was a steward to King William I. We're 14 generations ago, but we're actually linked to James Hargreaves's brother.

"In the 1950s and '60s, it became very difficult to attract weavers, so we opened a hairdressing salon at the side of the weaving shed with two hairdressers.

"We organised Bingo, where every member of staff had a Bingo card, and a new number drawn out every morning and every afternoon. The full house was £50, and the line was £25, which was more than an average wage.

"We had a very strong sports and social club with football and cricket teams, netball and table tennis teams, and they organised events right throughout the year.

"However, in 1970, the competition from cheap imports meant that we had to close 670 Lancashire looms, and I had the task of speaking to 120 employees to tell them they were going to lose their jobs.

"Then from 1 mill and 37 members of staff, the company increased to 5 mills and 536 staff with overseas companies in the United States, Denmark, France, and Northern Ireland.

"Probably in 2008, again, due to the competition from imports, we had to change the business from five mills and 536 staff to one mill and 54 staff and become a sales and marketing company and importer of textiles.

"My main memories were taking a 30-inch square aerial photograph of Britannia Mill to lunch with NatWest Bank and persuading them to provide the funds to buy the mill and machinery.

"And then later, going to the House of Commons with the local MP and seeing the Minister for Trade and Industry and obtaining a grant to buy Woodnook Mill. Then a call out of the blue from our Danish customer saying, "Would you like to buy us?" and moving all their looms and machinery to England.

"We met South Boston Council in Virginia and presented a video and they gave us Talbot Mill free of charge. We took on the previous owner and his wife and two sewing machinists, and within four years, they'd expanded to 40 staff and made over a million dollars during the year.

"Buying Taylor's Toiletries for £3,000 and renaming it the Bubble Factory, which then became the Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village and Garden Centre, and flying to Chicago, travelling through a snowstorm with 6 foot drifts at the side of the road and persuading Yankee Candles to come and open the first store in the United Kingdom."

Nick Pitman, current managing director at Oswaldtwistle Mills, said: "Peter and his family have been involved with Oswaldtwistle Mills for generations, and I've worked here since I was 16. It's a real family environment - Barbara on reception used to work on the looms, so a lot of us have a long history with the building.

"We're grateful to take it forward now as custodians, and ensure generations to come enjoy it just as much as we have. Peter and his family have a wonderful collection of historic items from over the years including a working loom, and we hope to reopen those to the public in the near future."

 A video of Peter talking more about his history including childhood memories of World War II can be found on the Oswaldtwistle Mills website and social media.

 

Latest news

1

Inspired board reject takeover bid from major shareholder inspired-500x500.png

Inspired board reject takeover bid from major shareholder

29 Apr 2025

2

Pure Leisure Group Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Twin Lakes Country Club John Morphet at Twin Lakes

Pure Leisure Group Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Twin Lakes Country Club

29 Apr 2025

3

County’s universities join forces to help business community University of Central Lancashire

County’s universities join forces to help business community

29 Apr 2025

4

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception Networking photograph

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception

24 Apr 2025

5

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities Head of Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications Professor Nigel Davies, Chris Ensor, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Sarah Kemp

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities

24 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase
13421_research_knowledge_exchange_2025_600x300.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
07 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin