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  1. #1
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    Default Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Visited with Clough and Fowle


    the beginnings of the firm of Robert Fletcher & Son Limited are lost in the mist of time. It is probably that it was one of the first concerns which the industrial revolution brought to this part or Lancashire. It is know that the firm was first owned by a family called Crompton. They traded under the name of Ralph Crompton and Nephews, Bleachers and Papermakers, Stoneclough and Manchester. The influence of the bleaching side of the business is traceable in some of tte terms still in use in the mill. Paper was first made at Stoneclough in 1829.
    Robert Fletcher entered the firm as a young man in his twenties in the year 1830. His ability brought him to the notice of his employers and he became manager of the bleaching department and later manager of the whole mill. The Crompton family held him in high regard and Roger Crompton, the last of the brothers, left him both the principal trusteeship and the option of succeeding him in the firm.
    After the death of Roger Crompton, Robert Fletcher controlled the business with conspicuous ability and integrity for many years. He died at Vale House, Stoneclough, on May 17th, 1865, and was succeeded by his sons John and James Fletcher. They in turn were followed by their sons, John Robert Fletcher and James Fletcher, who are well remembered by many old employees today.
    In 1897, the firm was incorporated as a Limited Company. Many things have changed since those days. The Company then employed about two hundred people; now the number including Greenfield Mill, is about one thousand. The top wage in those days was 6½d. an hour. There were 7 paper machines which between them produced only a fraction of the paper which three paper machines produce today.
    Throughout the succeeding years, the firm continued to expand and to increase its volume of business. A relation for high quality, reliability and fine craftsmanship was steadily built up.

    A second mill, at Greenfield, near Oldham, was opened in 1921. This mill specialises in the manufacture of cigarette paper. There are also sales offices in London & Manchester and agencies in many foreign countries. The Company owns several hundred of acres of land around Greenfield Mill, which supports a mixed farm.

    The company’s products cover a wide range of fine tissues; in this field, Robert Fletcher & Son Limited has a world-wide reputation for quality, reliability and good service to the customer which is founded upon more than a hundred years of experience.
    Towards the late 90’s the two mills of Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd started to struggle. The increased cost of wood pulp and energy combined to make it tough financially. In 1997 the greenfield site had a turnover of nearly £17m and shareholder funds exceeded £9m. By 1999 turnover was down to £8.2m and the shareholders funds had dwindled to little over £4m. In 2000 in an effort to save the business going to the wall resulted in the closure of the Stoneclough site and 120 job losses resulted from the closure although 50 new jobs would be created at the Greenfield site. Despite this move the company continued to spiral into financial ruin and in July 2001 several suppliers and creditors formally applied to wind up the company and resulted in the closure
































  2. #2
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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Noice. The BLB need to visit here
    BLOG I SPLORE WHERE NO MAN HAS SPLORED BEFORE

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to mr beardy For This Useful Post:

    birdinanaviary (01-05-2012)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Bang tidy that is monsieur.

  5. #4
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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    You take some fine photos, as they say Like a Sir, Sir


    "How come the compression is so bad on all those shots man? It looks like they've been edited with a Commodore 64." JST

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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    As they say in France 'Mon penis is hard over le picturez.'


    My camera bag weighs far too much for these poor quality photos: My Flickr

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    birdinanaviary (02-05-2012)

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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Open for business again I see The canteen looks a bit most for ware since I last went. Is the Warbourton set still there?

  9. #7
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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Looking good boss.

  10. #8
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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Warbourton set? The bread guys?


    "How come the compression is so bad on all those shots man? It looks like they've been edited with a Commodore 64." JST

  11. #9
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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Aye, warburtons filmed an ad there bit of artistic licence but its fletchers and not a bakery!

    Saviour of the sporran

  12. #10
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    Default Re: Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd – Greenfield - April 2012

    Noooooice
    Great set of photies there and one for the epic and ever growing list of places in my head
    'MARK MY DICKING WORDS' - Derphouse, Aug 12
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