1881

Date from when Berrys “owned” Kirk Mill. Looks like they were in charge of a small workforce there by 1881

We think individual chairmakers, previously working at home or at other local water power sites set themselves up in Kirk Mill under Marsland’s ownership.   (we have some suspects and the first John Berry, father of HJ was probably one of them) The excellent power source would be an attraction. – (Muriel, Chipping Hist. Soc.); For the first time, the mill was being used for chairmaking, with James Parkinson and John Robinson working from the Old Mill in competition with each other. The mill also housed George Hodkinson who was now a brush stock maker and James Bond who used part of it as a small brass foundry. (Crainer, 1984)

Mid 19th Century – The Berry family have a tradition they set up first at “Saunder Rake”  having been earlier at a turning mill lower down the brook south of the village.  It is possible they used the empty Saunder Rake mill, but that building was soon taken over for a foundry (some evidence it was changing as early as 1865) (Muriel, Chipping Hist. Soc.)