A picture of farming life in Craven in 18th Century (From Craven Herald)

A picture of farming life in Craven in 18th Century

2:20pm Saturday 22nd October 2011 in Craven History

An agricultural survey of the West Riding from 1794 provides details of life in Craven at the time, when just about everybody was employed either in farms, mills or mines. Editor Adrian Braddy took a closer look.

For centuries, residents of Craven have made their living from the land, battling with the climate and rugged landscape – but, although the hillsides and the weather are little changed, farming has changed dramatically in that time.

In the late 18th century, three men set out to survey agriculture in the West Riding and investigate how it could be improved. They travelled through Craven, speaking with local people and recording the state of local farming.

The result of their trip was the wordily titled “General view of the agriculture of the West Riding of Yorkshire: with observations on the means of its improvement drawn up for the consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement”, published in 1794.

Aside from details about crops and livestock, their report includes details of average local wages, and other major employers.

The authors seemed surprised by the absence of turnips and corn in Craven, with the chief crop being grass – which grew well thanks to the high rainfall in the district. “From the plenty of grass, and scarcity of corn fields, we were ready to conjecture that the inhabitants of this part of Yorkshire lived upon butcher meat altogether,” the report’s authors commented, although they noted that land lease rates were far higher in Craven than other parts of the West Riding.

“The grass farmer has few improvements to make; he goes on in the same course from year to year; and the want of a lease, though it keeps him from the certainty of possession, yet does not hurt him so far as to cramp his operations. At Settle and Skipton, we found land let so high as 40s and 50s per acre, while, from the best accounts we could receive in the corn country, 20s and 30s was considered as a high rent, and in many places it is much lower.”

Starting out in the East of Craven, and travelling the area in a circular route, changing farming practices were noted along the way.

Between Pateley Bridge and Grassington, the trio “observed large flocks of sheep, mostly of the Scotch breed, of bad quality and condition”. On the way they examined the lead mines of the neighbourhood which were said to be “numerous and valuable”.

“Before we arrived at Grassington, the land improves in quality, and is all inclosed,” the report noted, adding: “A large woollen mill here, which formerly did much business, but since the stagnation of trade, occasioned by the war, has done little. ”

In Grassington, the travellers observed that the land was “chiefly possessed by small proprietors, and mostly occupied by them”. “Oats the principal grain that is sown, but almost the whole of the neighbourhood is in grass; and employed in feeding cattle and sheep for the Skipton market. .”

The party next headed for North Craven, through they were unimpressed by the state of the road. “Leaving Grassington, we crossed the hills, and arrived at Settle. The far greater part of the way, for we cannot call it a road, lay through uncultivated moors.

“At Settle the low grounds are all inclosed, and the fences in the most complete state. The greatest part of the land is in grass, which for quality and verdure, can hardly be exceeded. Land in the neighbourhood of Settle, sets at jot. and £3 per acre. It appears well worthy of it. Indeed the richness of the soil is hardly credible to those who have not seen it.

“Settle fair being upon the day we were there, had an opportunity to see a great show of cattle of the county breed. They are universally long horned, and seem in shape, skin, and other circumstances, to be nearly the same as the Irish breed. At Settle we had also the good fortune to fall in with Mr Barbeck; banker there, who took the trouble to introduce us to several intelligent farmers.”

From the ensuing conversations, they garnered the following: “All the low lands are in grass, and pastured with large cattle of their own breed, and the higher grounds by Scotch cattle and sheep: the sheep that are bred here, are called the Malham breed. Wool disposed of at Huddersfield and Wakefield, and sold this season at 10s. 6d. per stone, or 16 lb. 31 fleeces to the stone.

They were told there was “no manufacture but spinning cotton, which has not as yet proved detrimental to agriculture”.

Leaving Settle, the surveyors proceeded to lngleton. “The land all inclosed, and near wholly in grass, which was of the richest quality. A large common in the neighbourhood, which is stocked with sheep by the farmers around, and which would be of great advantage to have divided. Land mostly possessed by small proprietors, and almost totally kept in grass. A good deal of wool spun here for the Bradford market.”

Mr Ellershaw, of Chapel le Dale, also informed them: “Sheep generally of the Scotch kind. Wool sold at 6s 3d per stone this season. ”

The men continued to note the quality of local grass, as they headed for Skipton. “At Gargrave we saw most excellent fields of grass.”

On arriving in Skipton-in-Craven, as it was then commonly known, they remarked: “At Skipton there is a large house employed in sorting and combing wool. About 3,000 packs are bought each season from Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Leicester, and Rutland shires. After it is sorted and combed, it is spun at the Company’s mills, at Linton and Addingham, in the neighbourhood, and made into stuffs, viz. shatteons, calimancoes, and all sorts of double goods.”

On speaking with Mr Hales, steward to the Earl of Thanet, the surveyors learned the following: “The proprietors in the vale are, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Thanet, and a number of small freeholders. Farms of different sizes, but the majority rather small. What land is ploughed, is upon the higher grounds, and oats the principal crop. Few or no turnips cultivated. All the vale inclosed. Inclosures small. Cannot say whether inclosing has affected population or not, as it is such a long time since the vale vas inclosed. No common fields here, but thinks, wherever they are, they ought to be divided. Wages high - labourers from 18d to 2s per day, women 1s.

Other conclusions included: “Roads good. Farm houses in general well situated.”

The report’s authors concluded: “The management from Paitley-bridge to the western extremity of the county, is almost uniformly the same, and grass the sole object. The people unanimously think that corn will not pay so much rent as grass, therefore raise very little, except upon the higher grounds; and at the same time lay all their manure upon the rich, fertile fields in the vale. By this means they are reduced to the absolute necessity of purchasing corn, at an advanced price, from other places, where more attention is paid to the cultivating it. From what we could learn, a great deal more corn was formerly raised than now.”

The report is detailed, and comprehensive, and contains many suggested opportunities for improvement.

The authors state: “We hope the causes we have stated as obstacles to improvements, and the remedies we have suggested for removing them, will be impartially considered by the inhabitants of the district; and if this report in any shape contributes to promote their prosperity arid happiness, we will account the time spent in making the survey most beneficially employed.”