However, this was a short lived phase in the history of the Frenchwood area. Manufacturing continued to grow, and instead of becoming a desirable suburb dotted with large houses, a more intensive kind of building and increasing pollution drove away the wealthy.
A central role in this transformation of the town as a whole, and Frenchwood in particular was played by two brothers, who became known as ‘The Cotton
Kings of Preston’. They originated, however, from Edgworth near
Bolton, and their working lives began in their father’s millstone quarry:
Samuel
Horrocks (1766-1842) was the older brother, and eventually became a very successful cotton manufacturer. He was
Mayor of
Preston, 1801–1802.
John
Horrocks (1768-1804) founded Horrockses and Co. and built most of the cotton spinning mills in
Preston, including Frenchwood
Mill.
During the 1780s, John had the stronger interest in the newly developing cotton spinning industry, which was only just getting going in
Lancashire so it was easy to get involved. He first came to
Preston sell his products to John
Watson, who had opened the first cotton mill there.
The brothers disagreed and in 1791 John moved to
Preston. During his lifetime he built six cotton spinning mills, including Frenchwood
Mill. His own yarn and cloth was now sold directly all around the world and the firm remained associated with cotton production for another 150 years. He gave his elder brother Samuel a share in the business and taught him how to manage the mills, though he did not have as strong an interest in cotton manufacturing. He also became an MP for
Preston because of the importance he had now achieved in the town.
In 1804, John died suddenly while in
London and Samuel took over Horrockses, which continued to flourish despite the change of ownership. He also became MP for
Preston in place of his brother. He held the seat for 22 years despite being remembered as 'the silent member for
Preston' because he hardly ever spoke in the House of
Commons. In 1801–1802 he was made
Mayor of
Preston, further proff of how successful the firm was.
After his death Thomas
Miller bought the company and the business continued with a succession of owners during the following 125 years. They all kept the name ‘Horrockses’, the greatest name in cotton. Eventually due to competition from foreign producers, the mill closed down during the 1870s.
I believe we are related. This is John
Horrocks 1786 and his brother Samuel
Horrocks 1766 who was major of
Preston. I hope this helps you out