Hill Farming & The Growth of the Cottage Industry

Three hundred years ago, most of the population would be found in the farms and cottages on the upland “shelf”, in areas such as Shore, Mankinholes and Bottomley. Families were self-sufficient, growing and producing most of their own food and clothing. Gradually, the merchant clothiers, the entrepreneurs of the 17th – 18th century emerged. The domestic system with its “putting-out” system became the norm. Hand loom weavers working at home would take their woven pieces to the clothier at the “takkin’ in shop”. In return he would furnish them with more wool to be taken home and spun and woven. The clothier would visit the cloth or piece hall to sell the woven pieces and to buy wool. Haymaking around the turn of the century, Cornholme. This double-exposed photograph shows the farmer, or his labourer, scything the field behind the old Pudsey Road. Lower Laithe Farm can be seen in the background.