Cotton has been in the Holden family since the 1700's. Whilst the focus of this web site are the two Holden mills, Rockcliffe and Havelock Mill, founded by George H Holden (1852-1922), the family involvement with cotton began well before the founding of these two mills.

George H Holden's father and grandfather were both engaged in weaving. His grandfather, James (b1796 d ?) was a loomer in Haslingden. His father George (1819-1869) was initially a weaver, then an overlooker (census 1841), a mill manager (census 1851) and finally a cotton manufacturer (census 1861).

The Family Trees show firstly the descendants of George Holden (George senior). George H Holden is the fifth child of George senior. The second and third trees show the descendants of James and Alfred Holden (grandsons of George and sons of George H).​