Milnrow & Heywood Oct 2016

A
later. In 1895, the business became a Limited Company, and
in 1900, the company consolidated premises in a move to a
four-storey warehouse on Oldham Road.
Meanwhile James Duckworthbecame a Rochdale counsellor
in 1887 and held the office of mayor from 1891-1893, again
from 1901-1903 and for a third time 1910-1911. He was
a Magistrate for both Rochdale Borough and Lancashire
County from March 1893 and served both Middleton and
Stockport as a Member of Parliament. In 1908 he was knighted for
his services to Liberalism and to business.
In 1905, James Duckworth, focussing on his political career, retired as chairman and managing director of his
company although retaining his seat on the board. On retirement, he held a party for his workforce at the
Town Hall, announcing a £2,000 benevolent fund for ill or injured employees or for those forced to retire
through old age. James Duckworth died on 1st January 1915, aged 74, leaving six children from his first
marriage and two from his second.
By 1916 there were 387 grocer’s shops in Rochdale, the Pioneers had 49 and James Duckworth had
43,publicising themselves as ‘a shop not far from your house.’ Sir James Duckworth was assisted for many
years in management by his only son, Mr. James Duckworth, J.P. who died suddenly in 1937, the family
continuing to run the company with grandsons Geoffrey, Alan and Roger.
In 1955 Wright's Biscuits Ltd bought the family out but kept the local name. Wrights had a vision in the
1960’s for a super emporium on the land occupied by the Butts Mill at the bottom of Drake Street and although
the plans were enthusiastically approved by the town’s Planning and Buildings Sub-committee, nothing was
built and the brand’s fortunes began to decline.
In 1969, as part of a cost-cutting exercise, the Oldham Road offices and warehouse - for so many years
thecentre of Jimmy Duck’s activities - was closed down, at that time only 17 shops remaining under the
Duckworth name. The last traces of a once-great grocery name in Rochdale disappeared in 1975 when the
Oldham Road premises were demolished.
If you have any memories of James Duckworth Ltd., I’d be delighted to hear from you and add
them to a growing Rochdale archive on the subject. Please contact Gary Heywood-Everett at
garyheywoodeverett@yahoo.co.uk or leave your memories at 07745201263.
To advertise call 07976 289967 or email sales@streetwisemag.co.uk
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