Northwest Firsts – Facts and Figures

Examples of how the Northwest region has shaped the world with its pioneering ideas, technologies and movements.

Water frame invented - In 1769, Richard Arkwright, a barber and wig maker by trade, invented the water frame to speed up the method of drawing raw cotton into thread. One man could now operate up to 96 spindles. His first factory was in Derbyshire, to avoid the wrath of angry mill workers in Lancashire. His first mill in Lancashire was still burnt down years later! The real thing is exhibited today at the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester.

Fastest growing industry – Centred around the trading hub of Manchester, nicknamed Cottonopolis, the toiling mills of Lancashire, and the bustling docks of Liverpool, cotton grew from 2.3% of the total value of the nation’s exports in 1790 to 55% only forty years on in 1830.

Spinning Mule invented – Following the water frame, Samuel Crompton invented the spinning mule in 1779. This combined the finer thread of the spinning jenny with the strength of thread produced by the water frame. The machinery could now became very large. Helmshore Mills Textile Museum has excellent working examples of the machinery of the day.

Steam powered mill – in 1783 Richard Arkwright set up the first mill to use steam power on Miller Street. This marked the move away from natural power sources such as water and paved the way for mass production techniques.

Electro-magnet - Adopted Mancunian William Sturgeon (1783-1850) discovered the electro-magnet, which would later assist in the development of such items as the electric telegraph and electric motor.

First law in thermodynamics – this law of physics concerning the mechanical equivalence of heat was discovered by James Prescott Joule (1819-89) whose work is commemorated by the international name for the unit of energy – the ‘joule’

Precision engineering – Sir Joseph Whitworth (1803-87) – was the father of precision engineering. His work finding true planes allowed him to gain accuracies in tool making up 0.000001 inch. He was also the first to develop a standard screw thread and the first to design a mechanical steam cleaner.

Cast iron beam – the introduction of cast iron beams strong enough to span large distances was the work of Eaton Hodgkinson and Sir William Fairbairn for bridge building, in particular the Britannia Tubular Bridge across the Menai Straits. They also began the large-scale use of plated wrought iron. Fairbairn (1789-1874), an engineering giant, was responsible for a leap forward in boiler making and the invention of the riveting machine.

Steam hammer – Invented in 1840 by James Nasmyth at his Patricroft works: the hammer enabled huge iron components to be shaped. Industrial estate – First purpose built industrial estate was Trafford Park, created in 1896.

Rolls Royce – in 1904 Frederick Royce produced the first car from his factory in Cooke Street, Hulme. He soon attracted the attention of Charles Rolls and following a meeting in the Midland Hotel, they set up the famous company which bears their names.

Modern canal in Britain – Bridgewater Canal: totally artificial waterway independent of natural rivers. Opened in 1761, it was an instant commercial success and provoked ‘canal mania’ Steamboats – first steamboats operated on Bridgewater Canal in 1773, built by Sherretts

Railway and railway station – World’s first true railway started operating from a purpose built station on Liverpool Road in 1830. Used steam locomotives throughout, 2 tracks, timetables and proper stations. Started the global stampede for railways.

Liverpool Road Railway Warehouse – first in the World, 1830 Swing aqueduct – first and only swing aqueduct in the world is at Barton. Built in 1893, it carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Ship Canal and carries 800 tons of water.

First inland City Seaport – thanks to Ship Canal project in 1890s. Communism: Frederich Engels based the seminal “Condition of the English Working Class” on his experiences in Salford and carried out his research in the City.

TUC founded in Manchester in The Three Crowns pub in Salford, the first general meeting of the TUC was in 1868 in the Mechanics Institute, Princess Street.

Co-operatism
The Co-operative movement was founded in Rochdale, and in 1833 host the first national co-operative conference in the world.

Free Market Capitalism
The origins of the Free Trade movement are directly attributable to Cobden and Bright: both of whom have Manchester/Stockport connections. The Free Trade Hall is the most striking physical manifestation of their ideals. The Chartist Reform Movement had important roots in Manchester, a meeting was held at Kersal Moor in Salford where the 6 Chartist principles were adopted in 1838 and its General Strike of 1842 was centred in the region. Feminism - the role of the Pankhursts as intellectual mothers of the Suffragette movement. Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903 in her home, which still stands on Nelson St. Earlier in 1867 the National Society for Women’s Suffrage had been founded in Manchester by Lydia Becker.

Christian radicalism – William Temple, onetime Bishop of Manchester and Archbishop of Canterbury was a leading figure in the early part of the century. The William Temple Foundation is still Manchester based. The Anti-Corn Law league - first modern political movement. The League was a combination of the middle and working classes brought together with the twin aims of freeing trade from tariffs and lowering the price of bread. The victory of the movement in 1846 marked the symbolic end of aristocratic rule in Parliament.

First General Union and specific working class organisation (National Association for the Protection of Labour) in the world formed in 1831 by John Doherty, a Manchester mill hand.

First County Borough – Salford received its Charter of Incorporation in 1844. In 1853 the township of Pendleton and part of Pendlebury were merged with Salford, which in 1889 became one of the first County Boroughs in the country.