Along with the family upheaval of the Hartleys and Wilkinsons, it was around this time that cotton factories became more prevalent. The effect was that they greatly lowered the price which one would get for hand weaving and put the hand weavers out of business. This could have precipitated the family's move to Bacup in search of work. The records show that many others from the Colne area did move to Bacup.

Figure 4 Irwell River

The Census taken early in 1851 shows that the Wilkinson family had moved to 183 Underbank Street in the Town of Bacup which is southwest of Trawden. Underbank Street was over the Irwell River. The photo in Figure 4 shows the Irwell Inn and the present color of the River. Bacup was known for deplorable sanitary conditions as a health report of around that time shows. This report, though, may have been instrumental in the building of a public bath house which still stands today. Greenwood was now 19 and Robert Wilkinson was 49. Robert, Greenwood and Ann (who was now 16 years old) were all occupied as power loom weavers at a nearby factory. Robert was listed as Greenwood and Ann's father-in-law as the term step father was not used at that time. All but the youngest were listed as being born in Colne - although Trawden would have been more accurate. Other people in Robert Wilkinson's household were:

On 18 December 1851 Greenwood and Ann Emmet were married. The marriage was by Banns as was his mother's and most all marriages. This meant that their marriage was announced on successive weeks in the Chapelry of Bacup. As Ann was also from Bacup there was no need to announce the marriage in another chapelry or parish. B. Tweddle officiated with Robert Bolton and Lawrence Bridges in attendance. Greenwood, Ann and Lawrence all signed their names with an "X" indicating their lack of formal education.

In the marriage certificate, Ann Emmet's father is listed as Isaac Emmet, a laborer. She was residing at Stubby Lee in Bacup at the time. According to local maps, Bacup does have a Stubby Lee section. Ann was listed as being of age and a spinster which was the designation for any woman not being previously married. Greenwood was listed as being underage, being at that time barely 20 and would have needed consent to marry. Perhaps that requirement was waived or he received consent from Robert Wilkinson.

Figure 5 Bacup Today

Figure 5 shows a map of Bacup. Underbank Street is to the right of the Red Road (Burnley Road) near the "P" in Bacup. The Irwell River runs to the right of the red road Stubbylee is at the bottom center of the map. Broadclough, is shown near the top of the map.

In 1861, the Greenwood Hartley Family lived in Higher Broadclough, about ½ mile North of Underbank Street.  A clough is a narrow valley. In the house were:

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