Walker Allen & Sons was started by Walker Allen's grandfather in premises in Stand Lane, Pilkington township (ie. the part of Radcliffe south of the river) in the mid 19th century then moved to Holly Bank, just off Water street and the Bury-Bolton Canal. Both Richard and Walker Allen (1802-1866) lived adjacent to this new mill, which was unusual in being a combined spinning weaving and dyeing works: at its height it had 14, 000 spindles and 800 looms. The mill closed in the 1970's.

Pictures of Walker Allen & Sons, dated 1969, except last photograph, which is circa 1920: