Hurst Mill was built between 1799 and 1802 by Robert Atherton. John Kershaw was owner and occupier in 1811 Pigot’s directory of 1824/5 lists it as occupied by John Kershaw, cotton spinner.
John Kershaw was in partnership with his brother James, and the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent on the 14th July 1826. He continued the business until 1831, when he was succeeded by his son John. The various directory entries (up to White’s directory of 1857) list John Kershaw at Hurst without distinguishing between father and son.
John Kershaw junior died 4th December 1861 and the mill then came into the possession of Frederic Buckley, who is listed in White’s directory of 1862. Buckley rebuilt the mill and worked it until he suffered disastrous financial losses by the burning and destruction of cotton belonging to him, and uninsured, at the bombardment of Alexandria.
Kelly’s directory of 1891 has James Rowbottom using the mill for cotton spinning. Later directories show that he added the manufacture of rope, twine and cotton banding. Rowbottom expanded his business by working Holehouse mills at Charlesworth in addition to Hurst.