Properties & People

A Memory of Shaw Mills.

I, Ray Murphy, came across your site, re Shaw Mills, Yorkshire, U.K., as I was looking into events of my past life, for the benefit of my son’s Australian family, at the time of my 84th birthday, 19/9/35.

I am the Patriarch of the family that, over time, owned/operated both the Upper & Lower Mills; plus, owned/occupied various residential properties within the village. Hence, can add a few more details.

My first recollections commence in the ‘40s; when, as an enquiring youngster, accompanied elder family members, on their tours of both Tanneries, which were engaged in wartime supplies for army boots, etc.. A section of the Low Mill also produced nitrocellulose/cotton based ‘Blackout’ material.

At this time, I understood that these Mills and other properties came into the hands of my eldest uncle,
George Leo Murphy, known as ‘GL’ or Leo; some 10 years beforehand. Earlier, they had been water driven Flax & Silk Mills. The Dam & Mill Races involved, were still featured in the ‘80s; although told that they stemmed from Corn Mills, attached to Fountains Abbey; but, I never researched that thread.

In the ‘50s to ‘70s era, I worked at similar converted Flax Mills in Menston, supplying plant, machinery & accessories, largely to the Tanning, Leather & Allied Industries, Domestic & Worldwide. Early in the piece, I worked for a short time in the Low mill, until I had an accident, carrying an open beaker of sulphuric acid down its stone steps, I slipped and splashed the acid on my face. After I quickly plunged my head into a nearby barrel of water, I was cared for by the then Manager & his wife,in a cottage opposite the Mill’s main gate, which I came to own & live there, in the ‘80s. This, together with transport difficulties, 1 morning bus in & 1 late-afternoon bus out, per day, ended my work there.

Later in this period, the Top Mill was sold to a family involved in a much larger Tannery, in Leeds, called C. F. Stead. Whilst the Low Mill, Shaw Mills Chrome Leather Co,, went through a more profitable period of producing wooled sheepskins, in addition to its range of industrial gloving leather; my own involvement was mainly social, visiting my aunt Eileen, GL’s younger sister, with her husband, Jack Marygold & family Leo, Jacqueline (later to come to Australia) & Michael (later to go to New Zealand); who, in the’50 lived at ‘Rose Cottage,’ ‘Sunny Lea’ in the ‘60s; then, finally, in the ‘80s, at ‘Shalom’, in the terrace just below the Top Mill. Also, during this time, GL suffered, what could, possibly, be described as a legalised ‘land-grab’, of the grassed area, in front of ‘Sunny Lea’ by, I was led to believe, a somewhat disgruntled neighbour.

Meanwhile, in the ‘70s, after a fall-out, regarding my involvement in the primary, family, Company, described above, G. L. Murphy Ltd,, I moved to Australia; initially, to assist in their Governmental plan for greater local manufacturing facilities; by consolidation of assets of an existing Tannery Group, in order to stimulate the export of pre-processed hides & skins, rather than in a more raw condition. Also, subsequent to my mother’s later death, my father lived with Eileen & Jack at ‘Sunny Lea’, for a while, prior to his purchase, renovation & occupation of ‘Bridge View’, situated close-by the Low Mill.

In the ‘80s, my father, John Desmond, also known as ‘JD’, became very ill; so I came over, to become a live-in carer for him. As his recovery was very protracted, my wife, Pauline, joined me from Sydney, some time later, However, as Dad’s accommodation was limited, we had to stay with Pauline’s aunt, in Harrogate. Luckily, Dad’s gradual improvement in health, allowed this. Then, by chance, an improved, nearby property, ‘Laurel Cottage’, came up for sale; so we bought it. Dad, eventually, as he got better, came over to live with us. Unfortunately, after 3 years, my Australian Visa was due to expire,; so my wife & I returned to Sydney, with Dad, remaining in ‘Laurel Cottage; but he retained ‘Bridge View’. In the ‘90s, Dad died, as had Eileen & Jack, GL had also died, after selling Low Mill for housing development; so we sold-up too, severing all active links with Shaw Mills.

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