Fancy hats and parasols were the order of the day at this workers’ garden party back in 1954. The event was held for employees of Park Mills in Rawdon, along with their children and friends.
Park Mill dated back to 1805, and was one of three mills owned by the Thompson family – the others were Larkfield Mill and Low Mill.
It is said that the Thompsons were asked at Park Mill to make a piece of cloth from wool brought over from the penal colony of Botony Bay in New South Wales. The cloth was turned into a suit for Yorkshire-born Samuel Marsden, who was chaplain to the penal settlement. He is said to have worn the suit when visiting George III – who liked it so much that he asked to have a coat made from the same cloth.
Legend has it that the king made a gift of several of his sheep at Windsor to Samuel – but this has not been confirmed by the Royal Archives at Windsor.
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