Farnworth

Farnworth Synopsis

This collection of over 200 old photographs of Farnworth graphically illustrates just how many changes have taken place in the area over the last one hundred years. Industrial Farnworth grew from the manufacturing enterprises of the Cromptons, who built paper mills, and James Rothwell Barnes who was the founder of Farnworth's first steam weaving mill and, later, cotton spinning mills.

These photographs, which show streets, buildings, landscapes and people at work and play, have been drawn mainly from the archives of the Library Service and include several exmaples of the work of Mr J.W. Pickford, the former manager of the Farnworth Journal and a keen local photographer. He worked with the Journal for over 50 years and when he retired in 1929 gave his entire collection of negatives to the library. They are a unique record of Farnworth at the turn of the century and just after.

The author is a former librarian who was based at Farnworth Library for many years, and was an active member of the Farnworth Library for many years, and was an active member of the Farnworth and District Local History Society. He is now retired and lives in Devon.

The book will appeal to all who know Farnworth and would enjoy a trip into its recent past.