Longest Running Family Business In Little Lever

A Memory of Little Lever.

OUR HISTORY AS A COMPANY

To get all the information I've had to go back to the very beginning, here goes.

Sarah Ann Kershaw born 1855 married James Roscoe becoming Sarah Ann Roscoe.

Sarah Ann Kershaw is Alan Millington's great grandmother, John Millington's great great grandmother.

Sarah and James owned a furniture dealers shop at 60 / 62 / 64 Lever Street, Little Lever.

21st November 1912 - land purchased from Thomas Fletcher (Mayor of Bolton) by Sarah Ann Roscoe nee Kershaw aged 57, daughter of Jonathan (a farmer and later a beer house keeper) and Ann Kershaw of Dove Bank, Little Lever. Derelict undeveloped land between Tong Road / Victory Road / Hill Top and Lever Street up to Bradley Mill. Area 5 acres 1 rood and 8.5 perches.

7th April 1921 - Sarah Ann Roscoe nee Kershaw died and is buried at St. Matthew's Church.

19th September 1923 - Land inherited by Sarah Ann Roscoe nee Kershaw's 5 children, Jonathan Roscoe, Joseph Roscoe, Harry Roscoe, Rachel Roscoe and Elizabeth Millington nee Roscoe.

Elizabeth Roscoe born March 1892 in Little Lever, youngest of 8 children met Albert Millington of Walkden, in 1915 married at St. Matthew's Church in Little Lever and resided at 34 Tong Road, Little Lever.

Roscoe family build houses on property owned by their mother / inherited from her. Semi detached properties built on land they owned on Tong Road, Kershaw.

Wooden warehouse built around 1924 near Lever Street end of Kershaw Avenue (which is not yet a proper road) for Albert Millington t/a A. Millington Haulage.

Roscoe brothers build semi-detached properties at Tong Road end of Kershaw Avenue, naming the road after their mother Sarah Ann Kershaw. Kershaw Avenue is blocked half way down street towards Lever Street, other end of street is a back street connecting to Lever Street.

Early 1920s - Albert Millington in partnership with William Wallwork trading as Wallwork and Millington operating a haulage contractors from Bradley Fold Garage, Little Lever, Bolton.

21st January 1924 - Albert and William part ways. William continues to run his haulage company from the same site.

Elizabeth Millington buys husband first Leyland wagon to start his own haulage business.

1st February 1924 - Albert Millington is legally separated from the partnership with Wallwork and begins operating from Kershaw Avenue as A Millington Haulage. Among his drivers are his brother Thomas, Harry Rothwell who worked as a driver part time as well as running the shop on the corner of Tong Road and Kershaw Avenue, "Little Jack" and employed there are probably his brother in laws, Joseph and Harry Roscoe.

4th March 1938 - Albert Millington, Elizabeth Millington, Joseph and Harry Roscoe are appointed directors for A Millington Ltd as a private company operating from Kershaw Avenue with owners addresses as 34 Tong Road and 20 Kershaw Avenue, Little Lever. Joseph and Harry Roscoe eventually operate their own haulage contractors from the same site which is split in two between Albert Millington Haulage Limited and the Roscoe Brothers haulage.

7th March 1953 - THE COUNCIL OF THE URBAN DISTRICT OF LITTLE LEVER buy land from Roscoe / Millington family as compulsory purchase under Housing Acts 1936 & 1949 for building development purposes.

Mid 1950s - Harry Roscoe starts H. K. R. Transport from timber garage next to where A Millington Haulage previously was on Kershaw Avenue.

1955 - B.R.S. - (British Road Services) privatises all small haulage firms which large vehicles which travel in excess of 40 miles. Albert ceases trading as A. Millington Haulage, sells his vehicles and retires. H. K. R. Transport continues trading from Kershaw Avenue but owners reside at property built by family at 20 Kershaw Avuenue.

1955 - Albert Millington retires aged 62 years having owned 8 Scottish Albion wagons employing local drivers and mechanics including his younger brother Thomas Millington. Leaves property on Kershaw Avenue to his son Cyril Roscoe Millington born 3rd May 1922.

31st December 1955 and 2nd January 1956 - formal agreement made between Harry / Joseph and Henry Roscoe and the Council and Cyril Roscoe Millington that the land and building where their businesses stand would not be seized as the remainder of their land was under the Housing Acts. But to keep the properties they both must pay £50 each so the Council can develop the back street fronting it into a road with through access to Tong Road. They were granted the right to keep their property and were able to continue trading there.

Mid 1950s - Cyril Roscoe Millington is Woodware Joinery manufacturer from left hand building on Kershaw Avenue. Right hand building still trading as H. K. R. Transport.

1958 - flats build on Dukes & Queens Avenue and flats and bungalows build on Kershaw Avenue at Lever Street end, Kershaw Avenue is completed as a through road.

1958 - old timber warehouse at Kershaw Avenue is re-built as a brick building and extended forward closer to the street on the left hand side.

Circa 1958 - Cyril's father Albert comes out of retirement and works for his son manufacturing wooden clothes maidens, clothes props, ironing boards, step ladders etc. for £2 per week.

3rd August 1963 aged 15 Alan Millington starts work with his father, Cyril.

1965 - HKR Transport moves from Kershaw Avenue, Billy Heap is one of their drivers.

19th October 1966, Joseph and Harry Roscoe sell building to Cyril Roscoe Millington adjoining his woodware store. Wooden building is taken down and re-built in brick but leaving the original timber roof.

1968 - Albert Millington original co-founder of business at Kershaw Avenue retires aged 75 years.

1966 - Eric and 1972 - Brian Millington join their family working in woodware company. Company now trading as C. Millington & Sons.

1968/69 - Large detached house built on Hill Top where previously an old barn was located for Finger Post Farm. Harry and Edith Roscoe resided there.

1st June 1986 - aged 64 years 1 month after working previous day Cyril Roscoe Millington dies suddenly leaving business to his 3 sons.

1987 - Eric Millington leaves C. Millington & Sons.

Tuesday 16th June 1992 - aged 16 John Millington joins his father and uncle working for C. Millington & Sons.

July 1994 - aged 16 years Lee Millington joins C. Millington & Sons.

13th February 2007 - after working the same day Brian Millington dies suddenly.

November 2013 - Lee Millington leaves C. Millington & Sons.

To present - Alan and John Millington running CMS Doors in Bolton aka C. Millington & Sons.

The rest, as they say, is history.