The Ashton Brothers: Textile Pioneers of Gee Cross and Flowery Field

The story of the Ashton family is one of innovation, determination, and lasting influence. For more than two centuries, their work shaped the industrial identity of Gee Cross, Flowery Field, and the wider region. What began as a small weaving enterprise grew into one of the most significant textile firms in the North West.

Beginnings: Benjamin Ashton and Early Innovation

The Ashton legacy starts with Benjamin Ashton, born in 1718. By 1745, his workshop in Gee Cross was weaving cloth using linen warp and cotton weft—a forward‑thinking blend that hinted at the family’s future in cotton manufacturing. This early experimentation laid the groundwork for the generations who followed.

A Family Enterprise Takes Shape

Around 1780, Benjamin’s sons expanded the business by building a cotton factory in Gee Cross. By 1810, they had extended operations into Flowery Field, likely using a water wheel to power their mill—typical of early industrial sites.

All five Ashton brothers eventually joined the enterprise. Together, they broadened the business into spinning, weaving, printing, finishing, and merchanting, establishing the foundations of what would become a major regional textile force.

Carrfield Mill: A New Industrial Era

In 1817–18, the brothers constructed Carrfield Mill, a combined spinning and weaving mill built beside Wilson Brook. Locally known as the Hollow Factory, Carrfield marked the Ashtons’ growing prominence. At this time, they were not only cotton spinners but also coal proprietors, controlling both production and the fuel that powered it.

The partnership changed in 1821 when Samuel Ashton left the firm. The remaining brothers continued as T.J. & J. Ashton, expanding further. In 1823, John and James Ashton partnered with their brother Robert at Greencroft Mill, while Thomas Ashton took full charge of Carrfield.

Expansion Continues: Bayleyfield Mill

Thomas Ashton’s ambitions led to the construction of Bayleyfield Mill in 1824–25. Over time, the land between Carrfield and Bayleyfield filled with new weaving sheds, Middle Mill, and an additional spinning mill. When Thomas brought his sons Samuel and Thomas into the business, the firm became Thomas Ashton and Sons, securing the family’s long-term legacy.

After Thomas’s death in 1845, the company split:

• The merchanting arm retained the name Thomas Ashton and Sons
• The manufacturing side became Ashton Brothers and Company

Ashton Brothers and Company: A Regional Powerhouse

Ashton Brothers and Company expanded rapidly, acquiring mills in Little Hayfield, New Mills, and Stockport. By the late 1860s, the firm was thriving, marked by the construction of Throstle Bank Mill (1869–71) and new weaving sheds in the early 1880s.

Key milestones included:

• Becoming a private limited company in 1888.
• Designing a new spinning block at Bayleyfield in the 1890s.
• Building a modern engine house in 1893.
• Transitioning to a public limited company in 1899.

By the turn of the century, the Ashton Brothers were recognised as leaders in European textile manufacturing.

Innovation in the 20th Century

The early 1900s brought major technological advances. By 1905, Ashton Brothers had expanded the Flowery Field weaving sheds and became the first European firm to install automatic looms, transforming production. By 1913, these looms had largely replaced traditional Lancashire looms.

The company diversified into decorative textiles, but international competition during the interwar years created challenges. Even so, the firm remained resilient, consolidating operations during the Second World War.

Modernisation and the Courtaulds Era

Post‑war investment brought new machinery, including modern ring spindles and looms. In the early 1960s, the firm built a unique continuous bleaching and finishing plant at Flowery Field—the only one of its kind in the UK.

In 1968, Ashton Brothers and Company was taken over by Courtaulds Limited, one of the world’s largest textile firms. Courtaulds invested around £2.5 million in the site over the following decade. After the Courtaulds demerger in 1990, the Ashton operations became part of the Linens Group within Courtaulds Textiles.

The company—now known as Christy—continued weaving, dyeing, finishing, and warehousing at Flowery Field.

Christy and the Welspun Group

Christy, another major Tameside textile name, had joined Courtaulds in 1966 and later became part of the Welspun Group, an international textile conglomerate. Though the industry has changed dramatically since Benjamin Ashton first wove cloth in Gee Cross, the Ashton legacy remains deeply embedded in the region’s industrial heritage.

A Lasting Legacy

From a small family workshop to international recognition, the Ashton family’s journey is a remarkable story of innovation, adaptation, and endurance. Their mills, machinery, and forward‑thinking approach helped shape the industrial landscape of Gee Cross, Flowery Field, and beyond for more than two centuries.