EDITORIAL

The 2004/5 lecture programme comes to a close and thanks to David George for another successful series of talks. Attendances have remained steady with an overall average of 19 members with a high of 25 attending Helen Gomersall’s talk on the work of the West Yorkshire Archaeology Service. As usual reports on all the lectures are given in this issue of the Newsletter, so that members, who were not able to attend, can have an idea of what they missed. The last item on the programme is the Section’s AGM which was held on 16 April. Unfortunately this was very poorly attended with only 6 members present. I realise that AGMs are never the most exciting of events but it would be good if the Section could have some fresh ideas and approaches from the rest of the membership which currently stands at around a 100. I had been nominated and was elected as Section Chairman taking over from Bill Slatcher who stands down to become Vice Chairman along with Sheila Bye. Thanks go to Bill for his work as Chairman. There were no nominations for the posts of Lecture Secretary, Excursions Secretary, Membership Secretary or Newsletter Editor. I was happy to continue producing the Newsletter and keeping the membership list up to date but am very conscious that it seems I am taking over the total running of the Section to the exclusion of others. I would like to assure members that this is not the case; I am ably supported in the Newsletter production by Robert Vickers and Trevor Lyons and always appreciate the contributions made by other Section members. We have also managed for a few years without a formal Lectures Secretary due to the efforts of individual members volunteering to organise and lead walks. Offers to do this in the future are always very welcome.

We are however struggling again with the lack of a volunteer to organise a lecture programme. I see this activity as vital to the future of the Section – if we can’t offer a lecture programme then it is difficult to see how we can attract and retain members, particularly as we have had to increase the subscriptions this year, so another plea for someone to come forward. As I mentioned in the last Newsletter, the dates are booked (details given later in the Newsletter) and there are ideas for possible speakers. Alternatively if you can’t volunteer to organise the whole programme, perhaps you could volunteer to give a talk and I could co-ordinate a suitable date for you. At time of writing we do have one volunteer – section member Ruth Strong – who will talk on Hainsworth’s Mill in November. Please contact me as soon as you can if you can offer anything.

I mentioned in the last Newsletter that we were considering introducing membership cards for Section only members, this was discussed at the AGM and agreed to go ahead. Due the fact we are now well into 2005, the aim is to have these available to issue from January 2006 onwards, probably to be sent out with the early Spring issue of the Newsletter to save on postage costs.

I am looking forward to our two summer excursions. The first will be on Saturday 14 May to Selby and the second on Sunday 26 June to Gibson’s Mill, Hardcastle Crags. I hope that members will be able to join one or both of these visits and that we have fine weather. As mentioned above offers to lead walks are very welcome. I hope also to see members at this year’s AIA Conference, based at the University of Nottingham, looking at the industrial archaeology of Derbyshire. There will be plenty to see quite close to home. For those of you who have not been to an AIA conference before, this would be a good one to attend and you’ll get a discount on the cost.

Finally, to end on a positive note, I am pleased to report that we have several new members and that membership numbers have stayed steady in spite of the recent subscription increase. So welcome to Mr S Bence, Mr M Hitt, Mr E Matthews, Miss J Robinson, Mr P Gallagher, Mr A White and Mrs M Walker and I hope that you will be able to join us at a future excursion/lecture.

I shall be producing the next Newsletter to be distributed by mid September, so please send me any items for inclusion by the first week of September and enjoy your summer.

Margaret Tylee

NEWS FROM THE NORTH EAST INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY PANEL

The Panel covers the eastern side of the country from Northumberland to South Yorkshire and meets twice a year. It is a discussion forum, information exchange and has published a guide: Sources of Advice on Industrial Archaeology. Currently we are working on a guide to the sources of information on industrial archaeology and industrial history available in the region. We receive reports from members, which include archaeology units, archives, museums and groups with a particular interest in industrial archaeology/history. National organisations which are represented include English Heritage, the National Trust and the Council for British Archaeology. The report from the latter includes recent casework on industrial sites in the panel’s area.

Do you live in the East Riding, Hambleton, Leeds or Scarborough? Would you be interested in helping the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) respond to threats to industrial buildings and sites from development? At the last meeting of the Panel, Lynne Walker, Historic Buildings Officer at the CBA, appealed for assistance in these areas. For more information contact Lynne at the CBA, St Mary’s House, 66 Bootham, York, YO30 7BZ, ? 01904 671417, email info@britarch.ac.uk.

The autumn 2004 meeting was held at Doncaster Museum. We were able to spend some time looking round the museum, which has recently updated displays illustrating the town’s industrial past – well worth a visit. Following the meeting a guided walk led by Derek Bayliss looked at buildings and sites of interest in the town centre.

News from panel members

Association for Industrial Archaeology
The AIA award (part of the biennial British Archaeological Awards) for the best adaptive reuse was awarded to the Eagle Workshops and Engineering Buildings, High Street West, Sunderland, in October 2004. There is an article in the Spring 2005 Industrial Archaeology News.
Forthcoming events include the Annual Conference 2 – 8 September 2005 in Derbyshire. Details from AIA Liaison Officer, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester LE1 7RH (email aia@le.ac.uk)

South Yorkshire Industrial History Society
Revised version of D Crossley “Water Power on the Sheffield Rivers” (1989) being produced.
Field work by Society on Silkestone area and Little Sheffield.
Remains discovered at Sheffield station believed to be dam wall and wheel pit of C18 Pond Tilt.
Remains of crucible furnaces found at Brunswick Steel Works
ARCUS surveys on typefounders Stephenson Blake in Upper Allen St; two crucible steel and edge tool works at Well Meadow; and Stocksbridge Steel Works prior to sale for redevelopment.
Sheffield University had appointed two archaeological metallurgists.
Pevsner “city guide” on Sheffield was due to be launched in December. (For a review see Newsletter 63 - Ed)
Importance of surviving nail forge near Barnsley recognised by local council giving the site a specific category of use definition in Development Plan.

Beamish Museum
Recent work includes building of a Masonic Lodge.

North Pennines Heritage Trust
Lead Mining Landscapes of North Pennines was published in 2003. Available for £9.95.
North Pennines Geo-diversity and Biodiversity Audit published 2004. Available from Durham CC.

Yorkshire Dales National Park
Gayle Mill, near Hawes – detailed archaeological survey prior to conservation work.
Embsay tannery – site of pre-1600 corn mill, later worsted then cotton spinning. Complex site requiring detailed archaeological recording prior to redevelopment.

Cleveland Industrial Archaeology Society
Tunnels, shafts and shoreline structures associated with alum mines investigated at Boulby.
Investigation into the predominantly mid-C19 centre of Middlesbrough.
Forthcoming publication on industrial development along the Tyne and Tees.

Historical Metallurgy
Conference 9 – 11 September 2005 at Middleham, North Yorkshire

English Heritage
The current Heritage Protection Review would result in changes to the listing and scheduling process. Two detailed investigations in the Panel’s area - Darnall works, Sheffield; and Fylingdales Moor – discovery of 2,500 features ranging from Bronze Age to World War II, including a water system for alum works, drainage channels for cooling pits, and military and horse-and-cart trackways.

Forthcoming changes to funding for farming would impact on the historic environment. Farm environment plans would be produced and funds may be available for surveys. Pamphlets, training and guidance were being produced by EH.

Current work includes:

Thorpe Arch Royal Ordnance site: Conservation Plan in conjunction with developers
Myers Wood, Huddersfield: multi-period ironworking site won a CBA Award
Turnbridge/Locomotion Bridge on Huddersfield Broad Canal: restoration and upgrading
Shaw Lodge Mill gas plant, Halifax; consolidation and management of remains
Middleton Park, Leeds and Calverley Woods: woodland ways through areas of industrial remains
Castleford Forum Project : representation of the past and community involvement

Forthcoming publication: Gateshead – Architecture in a Changing Urban Landscape, £7.99

Next Meeting – and how you can help

The next Panel meeting is on Saturday 30 April 2005, at the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre. I would be pleased to receive any comments from members or answer any questions about the Panel and its work.

Finally….If you see or hear of an industrial site that is under threat from development, contact your local planning department to see if the Council for British Archaeology or the local archaeology service have been involved in any consultation or recording. Although the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) should receive notification of any demolition affecting a listed structure, not all local authorities send details. Furthermore, most industrial sites are not listed. The Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) has appointed Dr Mike Nevell of Manchester as their Threatened Sites Officer, and he can offer advice (? 0161 2752314). Both the CBA and the AIA emphasis the important role that can be played by local people in notifying and better still recording threatened sites, even if it is only a photographic record which is deposited in the local Sites and Monuments Record.

David Cant
April 2005

NEWS ITEMS

Recent Listings include Gibson Works, Mary Street, Sheffield and Cornish Works, Cornish Street, Sheffield, both Grade II. The former a late 19th century pewter works and the latter a mid 19th century file and edge works, consisting of two and three storey brick buildings arranged around courtyards, together with office and warehouses. Also listed Grade II is the Oakcliffe Engineering Works, Runtlings Mill, Ossett originally a purpose built shoddy works of around 1907. A number of the original buildings and fittings for the various processes in the production of shoddy remain including a 1908 tandem compound horizontal engine by Marsdens of Heckmondwyke

While on the subject of listings – from 1 April 2005 English Heritage have taken over responsibility for the administration of the listing system. They have plans to introduce new notification and consultation procedures and clearer documentation. Full details and how you can apply for buildings to be listed are available on the English Heritage website www.english-heritage.org.uk.

Clarence Dock in Leeds and the Sowerby Bridge Wharf Warehouse refurbishment were both finalists in the annual Waterways Renaissance Awards supported by the Waterways Trust and the British Urban Regeneration Association. The Sowerby Bridge project involved the restoration and refurbishment of two listed late 18th century warehouses for mixed use purposes. The project also retained the working boatyard and industrial uses of the site alongside leisure and retail areas. It was the winner in the Historic Environment category. Clarence Dock was commended in the Design and Construction category which was won by Islington Gates a mixed use scheme of apartments, offices and restaurants located at Farmers Lock on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal in Birmingham.

 

FUTURE EVENTS

14 May
IHS Excursion to Selby. Meet 1.30pm. Market Cross, Selby Abbey.

16 May
Grinding & Tilting at Wisewood Forge, Loxley, Sheffield: recent archaeological investigations. Lecture by Richard O’Neill, South Yorkshire Industry History Society, Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield. 7.30pm. £1 admission charge for non SYIHS members.

21 May
EMIAC 69. The 69th East Midlands Archaeology Conference hosted by the Nottinghamshire IA Society. The topic will be Worksop at Work. Further details from Joan Hodges, 2 Knighton Road, Woodthorpe, Nottingham NG5 4FL.

11 June
Friends of St Aidan’s BE1150 Dragline. Open Day. 2-4pm. For details ? 01482 823931.

11-12 June
Landscape Archaeology of the Textile Industry in Craven. YAS Study Weekend. Limited numbers for Sunday field trips. Check with Erik Matthews, 1 Chapel House, 5 The Green, Brompton, Northallerton, DL6 2QT for availability and more details.

26 June
IHS Excursion to Gibson’s Mill, Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge. Meet 1.30pm at the Lodge Gates car park.

3-6 July
Exploring Devon’s Industrial Heritage. A course held at Dillington House, Ilminster, Somerset. Details from Dillington House, Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 9DT ? 01460 52426 email www.dillington.co.uk.

7 July
The Fly Line. Railway Ramblers walk led by Brian Slater. Meet at Garforth Station at 18.05 for a 4 mile evening linear walk, returning by bus either to Barwick in Elmet and then walk back to Garforth or to Cross Gates for railway connection. Details from Jane Ellis ? 0113 2494644.

16 July
Penistone to Holmfirth. Railway Ramblers walk led by Michael Warrington. Meet 9.43 at Penistone Station for a 9 mile linear walk with pub lunch at Dunford Bridge. Those not wishing to continue to Holmfirth after lunch can return by bus to Penistone or Holmfirth. Timings are subject to summer timetable changes. Contact Michael ? 01977 614954 nearer the time for confirmation.

2 Sept
Industrial Archaeology & Industrial Heritage in National Parks. AIA Pre-conference seminar. Cripps Hall, University of Nottingham. 10am. £40 AIA members, £40 non members (includes all refreshments). See below for details of booking.

2-8 Sept
Derbyshire 2005. Association for Industrial Archaeology annual conference based at the University of Nottingham. See below for more details.

Heritage Walks in Calderdale

A series of 2 hour circular easy walks. Pre booking not necessary, just turn up and pay on the day – walks are £3 each with no concessions and are not suitable for under 13s. Stout shoes are needed for rural walks. David Nortcliffe has sent me details of the following walks in the series which have an industrial theme.
19 June
Sowerby Bridge. A new look at this industrial town as a transport centre. Meet Ed Westbrook at 2.15pm by the statue at the entrance to the canal basin.

3 July
Todmorden. See how transport has shaped this border town’s fortunes. Meet Ed Westbrook at 2.15pm opposite the main entrance to the Town Hall on Halifax Road.

22 July
Colonel Ackroyd and his Village. The impact of a Victorian textile entrepreneur, Meet David Nortcliffe at 7.15pm on Northgate, Halifax across from Dews’ car showroom.

31 July
500 Years of Textiles. Exploring the picturesque and historic twin villages of Lumbutts and Mankinholes. Meet David Nortcliffe at 2.15pm by Lumbutts chapel on the road linking the two villages.

5 Aug
19th Century Mytholmroyd. Part of the old village, its industry and diversity. Meet Pam Jordan at 7.15pm in the car park by Mytholmroyd Church.

14 Aug
Norwood Green: a Hell Hole! Industry around the village 150 years ago. Meet David Nortcliffe at 2,15pm by the War Memorial at the end of Village Street.

18 Sept
The Hebble Trail and More. A linear walk along Halifax’s own valley following the canal and ending in Halifax. Meet Ed Westbrook at 2.15pm at Salterhebble Lock on the Calder & Hebble Navigation by A6026. NB there are frequent buses to Salterhebble from Halifax.

A reminder of the details of the Industrial History Section Summer Excursions

Walking Tour of Selby – Saturday 14 May 2005
As well as being a market town, Selby has also been a thriving port with a shipbuilding industry despite being about 60 miles from the sea. The Selby Canal was completed in 1778 and linked the River Ouse to the Aire. The Leeds to Selby Railway was the first passenger line in Yorkshire and travellers initially transferred to packet boats for the continuation of their journey by water to Hull. The original railway terminus of 1834 is now a warehouse. The through station for the opening of the Hull and Selby Railway was built in 1840. There should be plenty to see and we shall meet at the Market Cross outside Selby Abbey at 1.30pm. David George will lead a two hour walk around Selby taking in the Selby Canal, the shipyard, first railway station and swing bridge. It is suggested that members make their own arrangements for lunch beforehand, perhaps visiting the Abbey, before meeting David at 1.30pm.

Visit to Gibson’s Mill, Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge – Sunday 26 June 2005
Meet at the Lodge Gates car park at 1.20pm. David George and Jonathan Orford will lead a walk in the area of Gibson’s Mill, which is currently being restored by The National Trust and is due to be completed by June 2005. The Mill was built around 1800; it was driven by an internal waterwheel and produced cotton cloth up until 1890. It then took on a new lease of life by becoming an entertainment venue with dining rooms, a dance hall, roller skating rink, refreshment kiosks and boating on the mill pond.

For more details for both excursions contact David George ? 0161 7909904

2005 AIA Conference – Derbyshire. 2-8 September

This year’s AIA conference will explore the industrial archaeology of Derbyshire but will be based at the University of Nottingham. It will be preceded by a seminar on Industrial Archaeology and Industrial Heritage in National Parks. The main conference runs from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime with a total cost for residential accommodation of £150 and includes the usual mix of lectures and visits. The programme continues until Thursday with individual costs for each day. The programme includes visits to Belper, Derby, the Crich Tramway Museum, Hope Cement Works, the Peak District Mining Museum, Magpie Mine and Cromford Mill. There is a £25 discount for those attending the conference for the first time and a £50 discount for first-timers attending for the whole programme. If you can’t attend the whole programme or would prefer to attend just some of the day visits, this is possible as you can book for the occasional day but you will not qualify for any discount.

Full details and booking form are available from Tony Parkes, 60 School Lane, Hill Ridware, Rugeley, WS15 3QN ? 0780 3033909 email: toneyeparkes@care4free.net, from myself or via the AIA website www.industrial-archaeology.org.uk.

2005-6 Lecture Programme

At present the programme is not available due to a lack of a Lecture Secretary; however the Lecture Room at Claremont has been booked for the following dates (all Saturdays at 11am):

2005 - 15 October; 12 November (when Ruth Strong will be talking on Hainsworth’s Mill, Stanningley); 10 December.
2006 – 7 January; 4 February; 11 March; 8 April (for the AGM).

Please note the dates in your diaries and hopefully there will be something positive to report in the Autumn Newsletter.

FOR YOUR BOOKSHELF

Pennine Pioneer: the story of the Rochdale Canal by Keith Gibson. Tempus Publishing. 2004. 192pp. ISBN 0 7524 3266 4. £16.99.

A companion volume to Keith Gibson’s book on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal entitled Pennine Dreams published in 2002 and reviewed in Newsletter 58, 2003. I have not read Pennine Pioneer but have quoted this review from Industrial Archaeology News No 132.

The broad gauge Rochdale Canal was opened for trade from Rochdale across the Pennines to Yorkshire in 1798 and fully opened from end to end in 1804. It took the low level Ice Age meltwater channel between Littleborough and Todmorden this avoiding the tortuous route of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the long tunnel of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Despite the railways it traded successfully into the 20th century, only being overtaken by the arrival of motor transport. By the 2nd World War it was scarcely used and was formally abandoned in 1952, quickly becoming impassable. However the central Manchester section was re-opened by 1974 and the Rochdale Canal Society was formed in to restore the rest of the canal which was achieved in 2002. The book charts the history of the canal and tells of the more recent battle for its preservation.

From the above review, this book is presented in a very similar way to Keith Gibson’s earlier work on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal i.e. the first part dealing with the history and the second describing the restoration work. This will enable some interesting comparisons to be made both with the history - for example the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was started in 1794 but not completed until 1811 - and the approach to the restoration. If you bought the earlier book you should have this one also.

The King’s Mills, Leeds: the history and archaeology of the manorial water-powered corn mills by John Goodchild and Stuart Wrathmell. Published by the Leeds Philosophical & Literary Society Ltd. 2002. 60pp. ISBN 1 870737 17 2. Price £4.

This booklet tells the story of the medieval and later manorial corn mill of Leeds known as King’s Mills. It was situated on the River Aire near Swinegate but the buildings are long gone, their presence indicated by the name of the street – Mill Hill and the evidence from the weir that is under the Dark Arches. Archaeological excavations started in 1995 and revealed the foundations of 18th and 19th century water and steam powered mills as well as timbers associated with the medieval mill.

Part 1 of the booklet describes the history of the King’s Mills starting in the 11th century and continuing until the early 20th century. Included are sections on the water management arrangements and several plans and photographs. Part 2 deals with the archaeology of the King’s Mills. The investigation was carried out by the West Yorkshire Archaeology Service, following a proposal by Town Centre Securities Ltd to build a multi-storey car park on the site. Initial work took place in 1995 and was followed up by a more detailed excavation in 1998. This part is also well illustrated with plans and photographs of the excavation.

The booklet is available from Claremont and a copy of the full report entitled “Excavations at the King’s Mills, Swinegate, Leeds”, WYAS Report 914, July 2001 is available from the West Yorkshire SMR, Registry of Deeds, Newstead Road, Wakefield.

REPORTS OF VISITS, LECTURES ETC.

Reports from 2004/5 Lecture Programme

 

Surveying Mining Sites – Marcus Jecock
9 October 2004

The speaker was from English Heritage and prefaced his talk by explaining that he was a landscape not an industrial archaeologist and was one of 6 landscape archaeologists based at York. He described the surveying of 3 sites in the Lake District that had taken place between 1999 and 2000, each having been done at the request of the landowner. The sites were Roughton Gill Mine, Caldbeck, owned by the Lake District National Park; Greenburn Mine, Little Langdale and Force Crag Mine near Keswick, the latter two owned by the National Trust. All had erosion problems and the landowners were keen to be able to consolidate and safeguard any surface remains and eventually make them accessible to the public. Each survey has been written up and copies are available for sale from English Heritage (see below for details).

Greenburn Mine is an outlying mine associated with the Coniston Copper Mines and is one of the best preserved in the Lake District. It was first worked in the 17th century; its heyday was between 1845 –1861 and was last worked in 1942. Force Crag was also worked in the 17th century, being worked for lead mainly between 1839 – 1865, re-opening later for barytes and zinc. It was the last metal mine to be worked in the Lake District, closing in 1991. Roughton Gill Mine was one of the earliest mines with evidence of mining from the mid 16th century producing lead, copper and silver. The terrain was extreme and the areas to be covered were large- the Force Crag site is 185 acres - which made the surveying difficult. Mr Jecock described how modern surveying was carried out using GPS and computer aided systems, this made surveying in these exposed sites easier, but there was still the weather to cope with. He also explained how computer generated plans could be overlaid on earlier plans to see how sites had changed over a period of time.

He gave details of the surface remains at each site and showed copies of the early plans which demonstrated the development of the sites. An impressive lecture delivered via Microsoft PowerPoint (once the technology was made to work) and one which generated a lot of interest judging by the range of questions. More details of the sites are available on the English Heritage website (www.english-heritage.org.uk). Also available from English Heritage are the survey results, all priced £15:

Al/1/1999 Force Crag Mine; Al/6/2001 Greenburn Mine; Al/8/2001 Roughton Gill Mine and Silver Gill Mine.

The Yorkshire Coiners – Cliff Stockton
6 November 2004

Mr Stockton related the story of the Cragg Vale Coiners and followed this by showing slides of the area. He made extensive reference to “Yorkshire Coiners 1767-1783” by Henry Ling Roth originally published in 1906. The “king” of the coiners was David Hartley, a metal worker from Birmingham who came to Cragg Vale near Hebden Bridge around 1766. Coin clipping was widespread in the upper Calder valley and many gentry were involved by loaning gold coins which were then clipped, the edges were milled, the coins returned and the gold shavings melted down to produce new coins using dies made by local blacksmiths. None of these imitation coins survived, all being melted down. It was soon realised that the coins were low in weight and this began to have an impact on trade and also resulted in people carrying pocket scales to enable them to check the weight of coins. Mr Stockton showed a set of miniature scales which could fold and be easily carried in a pocket. The gang lived in isolated farmhouses approached by tracks which could be watched giving time for any evidence of clipping to be hidden.

The gang were eventually infiltrated and evidence was produced which resulted in the arrest of David Hartley and his imprisonment in York in 1769. His brother Isaac took control of the operation and the story involved betrayals and murders, including that of William Dighton, the supervisor of customs and excise in Halifax. Eventually most of the gang were caught, some got off due to conflict of evidence but others were hanged including David Hartley who is buried in Heptonstall churchyard. However his brother Isaac managed to avoid punishment and lived until 1815.

The slides included some of Bell House Farm, Erringdon, the home of David Hartley, which still exists. Although there was not much of an industrial theme, it was certainly a rip-roaring story (and would make a good film). Members wanting the full story can consult a number of books including the following:
The Yorkshire Coiners 1767-1783 and Notes on Old and Prehistoric Halifax by Henry Ling Roth, 1906 reprinted 1971 by SR Publishers, Wakefield.
The Coiners of Cragg Vale by C. Spencer. Halifax.1984
Clip a Bright Guinea: the Yorkshire Coiners of the 18th century by Jon Marsh, Smith Settle. 1990

 

Mann’s Patent Steam Wagon Co - John Pease
4 December 2004

Following his talk on McLaren’s, Traction and Diesel Engine Manufacturers, in October 2001, John Pease returned to talk about another Leeds engine manufacturer. The story began in 1860 with the birth of James Mann in Leeds near the modern-day Merrion Centre. He and his brothers William and George all became engineers. William set up a brick making machinery company, Pullan & Mann, in Elland Road. George went into steam wagon manufacture, inventing inter alia the Yorkshire boiler and the double-ended Hunslet engine.

In 1894 James Mann went into partnership with Sidney Charlesworth, as Mann & Charlesworth, in Dewsbury Road, Leeds. Both had been apprentices at McClarens. Their various developments included the single eccentric reversing gear, patented in 1895. It was simpler to use than the Stephenson reversing gear and was used by other companies. As manufacturers of light traction engines they faced considerable competition, having no unique product. To rectify this, in 1897 they built a tipping wagon. This was pioneering, in that it carried rather than pulled the load and they patented it in 1898. Following a dispute, Charlesworth left the partnership and Mann continued alone.

In 1899 Mann built a steam wagon with the engine under the lorry’s flat bed behind the boiler and driver. The fire box had a side door which gave a more compact layout. In the same year James formed a limited company, Mann’s Patent Steam Wagon Co., and built a new factory at Pepper Road, Hunslet. It was well equipped with a big investment in machinery and hydraulic equipment. By 1903 a new “colonial” version of the lorry had been developed for the profitable export markets in China, India and Canada. They built all types of wagon, including a refuse lorry, a charabanc and a light wagon that was the Ford Transit of its day, used by breweries, removal companies etc.

In 1905 James introduced a tractor that both carried a load and pulled a trailer. He also built a lorry with a central water tank and a vertical coal bunker designed to drop coke direct to the fire grate, but it was not commercially successful. Traditional tractors and traction engines were the mainstay. A new development, in 1908, was a patching roller for road repairs for Cheltenham Corporation. They also developed steam carts and a batch was delivered to India in 1910. A heavier, 5 ton, cart adapted for delivering coal and coke, as a gully emptier and for tar spreading was launched in 1911, by which time there was competition from the petrol engine.

During WW1 Mann’s made lorries for the War Department. Agriculture was important and Mann’s made a low cost farming tractor and the ploughs to go with them. After WW1 there was increased competition from petrol lorries, which had been subsidised by the government during the war. To meet this, Mann’s introduced improved models. 1n 1923 a superheater was specified to increase efficiency, and in 1924 a new type of lorry with a shaft driven rear axle, high pressure vertical boiler and more enclosed cab was launched. This cost the company a great deal to develop and they took a £20,000 loan from the Westminster Bank. The new lorry did not sell well, the loan was called in and the company went into receivership and in 1929 was sold to Atkinson’s of Preston. Atkinson’s did not produce Mann lorries, only selling spares and they soon sold Mann’s to Scammell, who did make a few Mann wagons. This was short-lived and in 1932 Mann’s was wound up. John noted that a number of preserved examples of Mann’s wagons exist and the factory in Pepper Road survives.

John illustrated his talk with both contemporary and modern photographs. During questions John said that the company’s records had been destroyed when it closed. He had gathered information from other sources, such as sales catalogues and records, which had been kept by individuals. There were some family records in the National Archive at Kew. A few works photographs survived on glass plates and there were articles in Commercial Motor. John concluded by saying James Mann ran the company throughout as the managing director. It appeared he had sold the company while the going was good and it was still trading. He died in 1954 and was buried at Weeton near Harrogate. John hopes to publish the history of Manns as he had done his history of McClarens.

Robert Vickers

 

The Textile Industry in Skipton in the 19th Century – Kenneth Jackson
8 January 2005

Kenneth Jackson is the Chairman of the Skipton & Craven Historical Society, recently affiliated to the YAS and a thriving society with attendances of 65-70 at their fortnightly meetings. Skipton today is known as a historic market town with its main industries being agriculture and tourism, however up until the 1960s it was dependant mainly on the cotton textile industry. The town grew from 6,000 inhabitants in 1871 to 12,000 in 1901 and a third of these (the majority female) were employed in cotton textiles. The textile industry was the largest single source of employment in the town and this continued well into the 20th century.

Mr Jackson explained that the industry had two distinct phases; the early phase was dominated by two family employers – the Sidgwick and Dewhurst families and the later phase, after the US Civil War and up to 1914, saw the use of the room and power system. He referred to the articles he had written for the YAS Journal on the history of the two families and illustrated the rest of his talk with slides.

John Sidgwick built High Mill, the first mechanised cotton mill in Skipton in 1785 and there is a plan of the mill in the YAS archives. It was 17 bays long with four storeys with an internal water wheel. It was situated behind Skipton Castle near the Springs Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal but apart from the dam and goit very little remains. The Sidgwicks built a new steam powered spinning and weaving mill, also on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in 1839 called New then later Low Mill. The mill burnt down in 1908 and was replaced by a weaving mill. The site is now residential housing called appropriately Sidgwick Court. Sidgwick’s business closed in 1890; he had not updated his equipment and could not compete with the more modern Lancashire mills.

In contrast the Dewhurst family was more business focused and one of its products –mercerised cotton sewing thread with brand name ‘Sylko’ is still available today. Thomas Dewhurst was a wool trader and in 1789 he converted a disused farm building at Elslack near Skipton into a water powered cotton spinning mill. This was part of increase in cotton production which was seen after 1785 when Richard Arkwright lost his patent rights. By 1813 Thomas was in partnership with his sons, John, Isaac and James and between 1813 and 1816 they were leasing two mills at Embsay. Thomas died in 1820 and the business expanded during the 1820s & 30s. In 1828, the business was centralised in Skipton with the construction of Belle Vue Mill, it was steam powered and initially a worsted mill. There was a fire in 1831 and the mill was rebuilt as a cotton spinning mill, the original mill is still extant. The Dewhursts were keen to diversify (unlike the Sidgwicks) and the production of sewing threads commenced in the 1860s. Increased competition in the 1890s led to the collaborations with a number of other companies to form the English Sewing Cotton Company. Sewing thread production continued at Belle Vue Mills until 1983.

Turning to phase two of the story of textiles in Skipton, Mr Jackson described the emergence of small weaving businesses using the “room and power” arrangements (perhaps more accurately “mill and power”). Tenants would install their looms in a mill and pay rent. This meant that small businesses avoided the need to invest in the infrastructure of a building and had the flexibility to expand or contract their business according to the economic conditions. A good example was Union Mills built in Skipton in 1867 and run by the Skipton Mill Co. Ltd on a room and power basis for cotton weaving. Some businesses grew from this small start to be able to build their own mills. Examples included Mark Nutter and George Walton. Another example of a room and power building was Broughton Road Shed a cotton weaving mill built in 1900-2 by the Skipton Room & Power Co. Ltd. This was a single storeyed steam powered shed with attached warehouse. In 1919 it was occupied by five weaving firms. Records still survive of the Skipton Room & Power Co. Ltd which was taken over by shareholders in 1920. Mr Jackson was able to illustrate from the company records examples of the costs involved in running such enterprises.

This was an informative and well illustrated talk. Members wanting more details of the two families are referred to the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal vol. 73, 2001 for an article on the Sidgwicks and YAS Journal vol. 75, 2003 for an article on the Dewhursts. Mr Jackson has also written an article “The Room & Power System in the Cotton Weaving Industry of NE Lancashire and West Craven” in Textile History vol. 35(1) March 2004.

 

Women Pilots of the 1930s – Midge Gillies
12 February 2005

Midge Gillies was well qualified to talk on the subject having published a biography of Amy Johnson in 2003*. She began by making a comparison with Ellen McArthur who had just completed her record-breaking solo round-the-world voyage. Although solo McArthur had backup crew, navigation aids communication. Amy Johnson flew with no ground contact, primitive charts and little more than thermos flask and sandwiches.

During the 1920s women pilots were pioneers, showing that women could be independent, challenging view that women and machines did not mix. Women became licensed mechanics. They tended to be wealthy or have wealthy husbands. Planes had become easier to fly longer distances; some had folding wings that could be towed by car. Amelia Earhart, who took flying lessons and bought her first aircraft in 1921, was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, as a passenger, in 1928. Lady Heath was the president of the Women’s International Association of Aeronautics. Lady Mary Bailey was awarded her pilot’s licence in 1927.and was the first woman to fly across the Irish Sea. In 1928 she flew solo from Croydon to Cape Town and back. The Duchess of Bedford was 61 when she took her first flight. She learned to fly so that she could commute more quickly between her estates. The Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce was a racing driver who took the world record for single handed driving for 24 hours and the first woman member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club in 1927. She flew solo round the world between September 1930 and January 1931, though she and the plane crossed the oceans by liner.

These women were role models for Amy Johnson. Her grandfather and father were interested in travel; she liked exploring and as a child had seen planes in films. More personally, her long-term relationship with a Swiss man ended without them marrying, and her younger sister committed suicide. Amy had gained a degree from Sheffield University but she found there were limited openings for educated women. As a result, Amy felt she had to prove herself and flying was the way she did it. She started flying lessons at 25 and gained her pilot’s licence in 1929. Later, she was the first woman to have an Air Ministry ground engineer’s licence. With little publicity Amy took off from Croydon on 5 May 1930, to fly to Australia, where she landed on 24 May. On the way she broke the solo flight record to India, by which time her story was headline news and during the flight someone always materialised to help her refuel and repair her plane. Amy became a celebrity and provided inspiration to people during the Depression. In 1931 she was the first pilot to fly from London to Moscow in a day. She then went on to Tokyo. Looking for other records to beat, in 1932 Amy set a new solo flight record from London to Cape Town. Her plane, a De Havilland Puss Moth, The Desert Cloud, was exhibited around the country, including Leeds. Amy married Jim Mollison in 1932, which attracted much media coverage. However, the relationship was stormy, he was a womaniser, and they divorced in 1938.

During the 1930s other women pilots were coming onto the scene. On the third attempt Jean Batten beat Amy’s Australian record in 1934 and she subsequently set other records. Beryl Markham, a successful horse trainer turned pilot, was the first woman to fly the Atlantic east to west, in 1936. She had an affair with Jim Mollison.

Many of the flights were sponsored by the Castrol Oil Company, who gained valuable publicity. They led to developments in airports and of the infrastructure required to support commercial flights. They gave young girls something to strive for. Sadly a number of these women had lonely deaths. Amelia Earhart and the Duchess of Bedford disappeared on solo flights in 1937 and Amy Johnson died in 1941 having crashed into the Thames Estuary. Midge’s talk ended with questions and a lively discussion about the impact women’s flights on aeroplane design and the publicity gained for planes and flying.

*Amy Johnson, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003, 256p, ISBN 0297829823

Robert Vickers

The West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service – Helen Gomersall
12 March 2005

The service was established in the 1970s at Leeds University as a field unit. It was later taken over by the West Yorkshire County Council but is now funded by the five district councils which make up West Yorkshire. The focus is on the development impact on heritage and advice to planning authorities. A team of six archaeologists monitor a select number of planning applications each year and also endeavour to enhance the County Sites & Monuments Record through recording about 100 industrial sites and buildings each year. Action may take the form of photographic records, detailed drawings or watching briefs. Various contracting units are employed to produce fuller reports once conditions have been laid on developers.

The speaker then outlined a number of recent case studies that have been undertaken including
A loomshop of 3 stories at Addingham
A water powered mill at Holmfirth
Fern Island Mills at Leeds – an 1820s dyeworks
The Trinity Brush Works, Leeds
Behrens Warehouse (1873), Bradford
The Palace Cinema, Knottingley

Some or all of these were in a poor state and would be demolished but it was hoped to protect parts of Prospect Mills, Thornton and East Street Flax Mills, Leeds. Future recording is planned at Huddersfield Railway Station, the Sowerby Bridge Coal Drops and various Calder-Hebble and Leeds-Liverpool Canal structures. There was room for volunteers to work on recording or in the archives at Wakefield. (Editor’s note: see Newsletter 63 for details of call for voluntary help - contact Ian Sanderson ? 01924 306801 for information).

David George