Glusburn

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Glusburn
Yorkshire
West Riding
Chimney at Glusburn mill - geograph.org.uk - 1250431.jpg
Chimney at Glusburn Mill
Location
Grid reference: SD998451
Location: 53°54’10"N, 2°0’13"W
Data
Population: 3,980  (2011)
Post town: Keighley
Postcode: BD20
Dialling code: 01535
Local Government
Council: North Yorkshire
Parliamentary
constituency:
Skipton and Ripon

Glusburn is a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the ancient fell-bound area known as Craven: the village is at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, found beside the A6068 Kildwick to @Hapton road, and conjoined to the village of Sutton-in-Craven at the south.

Together with neighbouring Cross Hills, the parish had a population of 3,980 at the 2011 Census.

History

The village most likely dates back to the 8th century. The site on which Glusburn is situated on is just above Glus Beck, which means the 'shining stream'. The site would have been rough uncultivated land, moorland and forest, with wolves, wild boar and deer around at the time.[1]

Before the Norman Conquest, most of the area was held by Earl Edwin, who lost his lands to the Conqueror: in the Domesday Book, the site is described as "Terra Regis" or 'Lands of the King'. The Domesday Book records that in Glusebrun and Chelchis had about 360 acres of ploughland of which "Gamal Bern had them; Gilbert Tison has them".[2]

In 1369, John Scarborough was Lord of the Manor, and is believed to have lived at Glusburn Old Hall. In the 16th century, the estate was sold partly to John Currer of Kildwick Hall, but also to William Garforth of Steeton.[3] In 1379 in the reign of Richard II, it was recorded that 23 people in Glusburn paid a poll tax. However in 1587, smallpox ravaged the village's population.[4]

Lead mining had begun on Glusburn Moor by the 16th century. In 1700 though, most villagers were still noted as farmers and farm labourers, with spinning and weaving as a secondary income although some of the residents were listed as miners.

In 1773 the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was opened and then in 1786 the Keighley to Kendal turnpike road was opened (now the A6069). This was followed in 1823 by the Blackburn, Addingham, Cocking End Road.

The census of 1851 noted that Glusburn had 642 inhabitants and many were engaged in textile work, with farming as a secondary income.[5] John William Hartley constructed a small weaving shed in Glusburn, and later went into paetnership with John Horsfall, who came over from Oxenhope to work in the mill and later married Hartley's daughter Grace in 1844. Horsfall expanded the bunsiess so much that it required more workers, and additional terraced housing was built for them. At its peak the mill employed 500 people.[6]

John Horsfall went on to build Hayfield Hall, as well as the Institute and a park across the road from the mill. Hayfield Hall, built prior to 1885, was a solid country house with a garden and a lake, the latter serving as a dam for the mill. John Cousin Horsfall was created 1st Baronet of Hayfield in 1909. During the Second World War the hall was used as an army barracks, but was demolished at the end of the war and the site used for a mill extension.[7]

In the 1960s, there was a shortage of workers in the area, consequently the Horsfall family had to recruit girls from Malta with a hostel being built to house them.[8] In 1995 the mill was closed down, and has since gone through a series of owners, to be used for other industrial processes.

Outside links

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about Glusburn)

References

  1. Wood 1999, p. 6.
  2. Wood 1999, p. 7.
  3. Wood 1999, pp. 8–9.
  4. Wood 1999, p. 9.
  5. Wood 1999, pp. 11–12.
  6. Wood 1999, p. 28.
  7. Wood 1999, p. 22.
  8. "Mill 'girls' all set for reunion". Craven Herald & Pioneer. 18 January 2008. http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/1972598.Mill____girls____all_set_for_reunion/. 
  • Wood, Alec (1999). Glusburn : 'the old community'. Keighley: Kay Jay. OCLC 827252502.