J Duckett and Son Ltd Burnley

From the
Lancashire Evening Telegraph © Newsquest Media Group 2004,
first published Thursday 19th Aug 2004
'Gent' who made the town a wee bit famous...
Bygone Burnley, with JACK NADIN
DUCKETT Street, above the former Holy Trinity Church on Accrington Road,
takes its name from James Duckett, of Duckett's Pipe Works, and is a firm
that will still be remembered by many folk in the area. Here, traditionally kiln fired and salt glazed pipes, urinals and drains were manufactured well into the late 1960s, and early 1970s. The firm occupied both sides of Blannel Street, the site of which is now used by small industrial units. On the other side of Accrington Road was the huge quarry used in connection with the pipe works -- also a kids' playground at weekends known locally as Duckett's Delph. The demise of the Duckett's Works was probably brought about by the introduction of plastic for drains and pipes -- much cheaper than fired clay. So who was James Duckett
of Duckett's Pipe Works? Well, James Duckett, the founder of this firm, was born in December, 1825, the son of John and Jenny, his father was employed as a cotton spinner. At the age of nine or 10, he entered into employment at the cotton mill, as many youngsters did at this time, following his father. However, millwork was not suited to young James, he preferred the more open, outdoor work. After a while he was apprenticed to the job of working as a mason, with his brother, who at that time was erecting the building to be known as Barrowford Church. This would be around 1840, when James was just 15 years old. James found this occupation much better suited to his temperament, and a few years later, while still in his teens, he was made a partner in the business. The first large contract the firm was entrusted to was the erection of St Mary's Roman Catholic Church at Burnley, which was opened for divine service on August 2, 1849. Kelbrook Church, near Earby, was also built by James Duckett, as was the Roman Catholic Church at Lancaster. James Duckett also built the church at Barrow-in-Furness, and had connections with the alterations at Gawthorpe Hall. He also built Newfield Hall, near Settle, for Mr Birkbeck, which still survives. One of his largest contracts,
however, was the construction of Yatefield Mill, also known as Haslam's Mill
off Gannow Lane -- it was also his last. The work was going ahead much to James'
satisfaction, indeed, he saw fit to comment to his foreman that he was doing an excellent job. Mr Haslam, however, was not so pleased with the work, and told
James so in no uncertain terms. James replied: "Well, if that's not good work, then I shall never build another yard of stonework once this mill is finished," and he kept his word. To his business of quarryman, he also added that of brickmaker. He is said to have been the first in this district to introduce the manufacture of bricks
by the modern method. As the business prospered, he turned his attention to the manufacture of sanitary ware. It was this side of the business that was to prove most successful, and the works developed into the firm James Duckett and Sons, Sanitary Pipe Manufacturers. All this took place in the next 10 years, for by 1870,
James, along with his wife Mary Ann, children Alfred, Sarah, Emma and Annie were living at 24 Accrington Road, on the corner of Blannel Street and Accrington
Road and within view of the works a few yards away. His son Alfred later became involved with the business, as did his grandson, George, and the firm became identified as one of the largest in the world at that time.

This example of his work is in 'The Ship Inn' in Macclesfield, which also appeared in a Blip on 27 Jun 2012