the visit 6

 

The visit 6

 

John and Arthur took them into Hawes in Percival's trap, for the six o'clock morning Northallerton coach.

Although the road to Northallerton was a Cross country road. Running from the Irish Sea at Barrow in Furness, in the west, to,  Hartlepool, on the east coast. The up keep was the responsibility of the local parish councils. Resulting in roads, in the towns and villages, being kept in good order; Once you were outside the community boundaries, the roads were neglected. in places they could be boggy, in others they could be extremely rough and uneven; so much, so that the traffic would weave across the track looking for the smoothest ride.

 

Approaching the village of Wensley, they could see across the valley.

Three stone built barns, standing well apart on a green, patchwork quilt of fields separated by dry stone walls.

 

"I wonder if they have places like this near where we are going?" asked Mary

"I understand that all the factories, are built alongside the streams, to operate waterwheels, like the one at Aysgarth, only larger wheels and more of them." Replied Alice.

 

The steep hill into Leyburn was cobbled to give the horses a grip.

In the cobbled Market Square, of Leyburn, surrounded by the stone built shops and houses, they changed to the Leeds coach.

 

Leaving Leyburn they took the right hand turn, over the humpbacked bridge, passing the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey.

The landscape changed from fields surrounded by dry stone walls built of stones cleared from the field and constructed with no mortar; to woodlands edged with the same drystone walls; after a few miles, it changed again to fields surrounded by hedges with tall trees doted here and there in the hedges to Ripon, where the iron shod wheels of the coach, clattered over the cobbled market square, where they stopped, at a coaching inn, in order to change horses, and a few passengers. On to Harrogate; where they stopped, for a break, at an inn; while they change the horses, passengers and luggage.  alongside an area known as, The Stray; an area of common land, where the ‘well to do’ ladies would ‘take the air’ and swap gossip; while their nanny’s, in their dark green uniforms would be taking their offspring for walks. in their coach-built perambulators; also swapping gossip, to be related later in the kitchen, until cook chased them out saying “Be off with you, take you title tattle somewhere else; There will be ructions if Master’s dinner is not on the table in time; be off.”     

 

From Harrogate the road went down a steep incline, where the driver had to stop in order to set the brake for the descent into Pannal.

After crossing the new bridge, replacing the ever widening ford; across the river Wharfe, at the foot of  Harewood Bank; they were requested to disembark and walk up the steep bank on foot, to save the horses.

Crossing an area, known locally as 'The Golden Acres'; Ebenezer remarked "This is a vast expanse of ripe corn. Someone has a job on to harvest this lot."

In Leeds they had to cross the coach park to the Dewsbury stand. They had an hour and a half to wait for the next coach. Ebenezer found them a workman's cafe, where they could get a drink, while they waited.

In Dewsbury they took a private hackney to the Stubley home in Upper Batley; arriving at eight o'clock in the evening, at the square mansion, built of the local Gray Ashlar stone; overlooking the wide valley.

"Just look at all the houses built up the valley sides; It makes you wonder where they all earn a living, doesn't it?” Remarked Alice.

"I suppose they all work in the factories." Answered Mary.

Joshua and Beatrix welcomed them.

"Welcome! To our home; what time did you leave home?" asked Beatrix

"How was the journey?" Joshua asked.

"Have you eaten? would you like to freshen up while I make you something?"

Mary answered, "We caught the six o'clock coach this morning, our two eldest sons took us to the coach station, we had to change coaches twice before Dewsbury, and no we haven't eaten, yes it would be lovely to freshen up and have a meal. Thank you Beatrix."

As they were eating Percival and Ebenezer passed on information about the family meeting.

Joshua replied, "Your children are forwards thinkers, they do right to protect what you have, I take it your parents are still active and wish to keep so.”

“Both our families have lived and worked there, for several generations, so we are well known, and there is much good will that goes along with it. It would take a newcomer, many years to build it up from scratch, our children will inherit all that. Plus both our older girls have good professional jobs locally."

 

The following day

They went to visit the area and visit one or two firms, for Percival and Ebenezer to have a look at the machines they would be working with.

Then they went to view the land for the proposed mill complex.

It was a large plot of land on the edge of town, larger than any of the hillside farms of home; with further land where Joshua said he could build homes for the section managers when they were required, he was proposing a gated private road to meet with the Leeds to Dewsbury road straight from the factory, back gate, up the side of the land.

There were to be two entrances.

The main one on Dewsbury Road, where an entrance between the main factory would be and Mill House, the home for the factory manager with a doorman and a private locked door from the main entrance lobby through the boardroom this would be for special visitors to wait in.

The second entrance would be at the opposite side of the site in Mill Lane, for raw materials and outgoing goods, close to the scouring and fibre processing machines.

They would have a supply of clean water from the main town supply. while they would have two waste water systems. The normal sewer system, and for the water from washing the wool and woven cloth; this will be taken, direct from the factory, to the adjacent water treatment works; where an extraction plant was to be assembled to extract the grease and lanolin, to be used in a nearby soap factory.

 

Beatrix and the ladies.

The ladies went with Joshua's wife Beatrix who also had money to invest and it was her who would do the office work and accounts.

They visited Beatrix’s emporium J&B’s in Dewsbury; she was greeted at each counter as they strolled around. Mens; women's and childrens clothes. Household goods and furniture; from kitchen to bedrooms.

“You have everything you could wish for in here Beatrix.” commented Alice.

“That was my aim when I first opened a shop, then this one came up for sale. It is the only one in town, you have to go into one of the cities to find another like it; Your homes will be fully furnished from here for you.”

Joshua had been in sales, mostly overseas and he intended to spend his time seeking out customers, around the United Kingdom, to begin with then expand to overseas using his present contacts as a stepping stone to their respective countries.

So, Percival and Ebenezer would be managing the whole operation between them, with Beatrix doing the all the paper work.

Beatrix, agreed that Gail would be a help in the office

“I will take her to J&B’s to learn office procedure, I am not saying your farm and Blacksmiths accounts are not correct, but this will be a much larger and busier office I won’t tell them who she is, just introduce her as a new girl, daughter of a friend.”

While the men were sorting out the work areas their wives were discussing living arrangements.

Two houses were to be built on site Ebenezer and Mary were to have the house close to the factory gates (Mill House). Ebenezer would then be available to open the gates first thing in the morning and to close them after the late shift.

Percival and Alice would have their home within the factory close to Percival's workshop. It would be known as ‘Engineers’. He expected to have to work late at times, as was often the case in their dales home.

The houses would be in similar style and layout as their farmhouses, with a large kitchen and lounge areas. Furniture would be supplied from Beatrix’s emporium and charged to the firm.

Beatrix gave them some brochures to select furniture from.

“I can order anything you wish through my office in Dewsbury and have it delivered here, if you are keeping your place in the dales on, you will need new furniture for your new homes, I can charge it to the factory account. Anything you require from floor covering, furniture and new bedding.”

 

 

Chapter Two

 

The seed is germinated

They set out for home.

Joshua loaned his coach and driver to take them all the way home.

Using the public coach facilities would require several changes; at Leeds, Harrogate, Ripon, Leyburn and Hawes, followed by a long walk to their respective homes.

On the coach, the two men were discussing the plans for the intended factory to suit Joshua's ideas.

Percival said "We would need two warehouses, one for the new raw wool from the market and another for cloth awaiting delivery."

"We have a stream running through which we can use to our advantage with water power on both sides."

"All the preparation along one side with the weaving and finishing on the opposite, all the raw materials enter by the back gates, finished cloth to leave by the front gates, line things up so that one process follows onto the next as far as possible, scouring to carding then into spinning."

Alice chipped in "Its alright for you to make plans for the factory, but we have been talking, Mary and I."

"How do you know this will be a success, it is a massive undertaking, it could fall fat, never get going.

If we sink everything in this we will have nothing to fall back onto;

For Joshua and Beatrix this is a venture they just put up a piece of land and money, if it fails they still have a house and some other income, what they are putting in is stuff they have inherited; what we are saying is let us think before we jump with no return."

Ebenezer answered her "You are absolutely right Alice we have our farm, and you, the forge and all its equipment, we will hang on to those as an insurance, the children are well capable of taking over."

"The children, will take over. They want to, Martha is working in the accountants office, she has already had some headed letter paper printed with Percival Ward and Son, as the heading" Said Percival.

"John and Arthur are both working with us; and, if I may say doing a grand job. Elizabeth and Martha both have jobs locally, between them they could take over both, of the businesses. So, if the worst does happen, we have home and work to return to."

Alice replied "We will have to have a conference with all of us together, see what they have to say"

Mary joined in "I will have a word with Arthur and Elizabeth first, you should approach John and Martha as well, just to put them in the picture Alice."

"We can re convene our meeting with our parents there, as it concerns them also.

Both our homes and livelihoods will be taken care of Joseph is an apprentice to Bainbridge's coaches; the younger ones can come with us, where they will be found jobs but not on the factory floor all the time. There will be some time for them to learn how the factory works, there is nothing worse than a boss who doesn't understand how things work." said Percival

The journey through the countryside to Leeds passing small fields separated from each other with a mixture of hedges and dry-stone walls and a small coppice, here and there,

They stopped at the coaching station in Leeds to water the horses and stretch their legs.

From Leeds past the site of the new St. James's Hospital; the road was less smooth, across the 'Golden Acres' with the wide spaces of corn fields.

At the village of Harewood they stopped for the driver to fix the brakes in preparation for the steep descent to the valley floor, with a further stop to reset the brake; across the new hump back bridge over the  River Wharf, which now had been confined by stone walls, replacing the wide ford.

Another stop at the Pannel Inn to rest the horses before they tackled the steep ascent into Harrogate., The four passengers were requested to alight at the bottom of the bank, and walk up to ease the strain on the horses, another reason though not mentioned, was safety in case of mishap and the coach ran uncontrolled backwards down the banks.

They pulled up to rest the horses on the stray, an area of common land where sheep were allowed to roam, though cattle had long been forbidden.

Building work was under way for a hotel to accommodate visitors to the Spa Baths and the recently opened Spa Hospital.

Now. the Stray was an open area of smooth lawn like grass; planted with young trees; Not yet mature, with shady arms.

An area where Genteel Ladies, with their face whitened by the absence of sun and a daily pinch of Arsenic; would take the air, dressed in their ankle length crinolines and parasols to shade the sun, their feet unseen, they looked to be floating over the ground as they walked with short gentle steps.

Nannies in their dark green uniforms, with their charges in large coach-built perambulators, meeting to give and receive, the local gossip, before returning for lunch made by the family cook, and to pass on the titbits to those who showed an interest, until cook chivied them on their way.

The journey resumed. Through Ripley with its Castle on to Ripon, through a mixture of orchards and corn fields.

Pulling up in the market square opposite the cathedral, where the town crier by tradition blows the 'Evening Horn' at sunset, to warn those working in the fields to return home, before the way through the boggy land was lost in the dark.

On to Leyburn, passing the remains of the thirteenth century Cistercian Jervaulx Abbey

Leaving Leyburn, up Wensleydale, With another uphill walk for the passengers at Aysgarth.

The land now changed. Drystone walls; built from random stone picked from the ground; replaced the thorn hedges.

Fields separated by the same walls, sheep instead of cattle. Isolated stone barns, in fields to hold winter feed for the livestock.

Through Hawes to Apperset.

Percival and Alice took the driver in, they had a spare bed, stables for the horses, a covered space for the carriage and equipment to ensure everything was in order for the return journey

That night Arthur and Elizabeth wanted to know 'What it was like where they were going to move to'

Mary said "We were going to tell you what we have thought; It looks an exciting and inviting venture, it could in time turn to be very profitable for all of us; but it may not get going in which case we would lose everything. Joshua is using inherited money to fund the venture. In the event it failed he has his own work to fall back on, we would have nothing.."

At this both Arthur and Elizabeth's faces fell.

"Does that mean you are not moving mummy." asked Elizabeth.

"No love it doesn't. What we thought, Daddy and me, also Percival and Alice. That we could go to work there. Here we have the animals and farm to see to Arthur could do that, he does most of the work himself now, and daddy used to do it by himself, you Elizabeth can continue to work in town, and continue with your studies, if you did want to come, Charted accountants are always wanted, apart from cooking the evening meal, there should not be much housework; you would of course have the household and farm accounts.

When Arthur has the sheep sheared, he won't need to take the fleece to market all that we produce would not keep the factory going but you would be paid the going rate without the expense and bother of looking for sales.

The spinning wheel and hand loom would also be left here. How does that sound?"

Arthur was first to speak "I had been thinking on those lines and for the same reason; I think Elizabeth would agree with me; at least I would hope so."

"Yes, I would be with you in that, there are quite a few brother and sister teams, working farms around here, so we would be just the same as them."

They then told them of the walk to Widdale Great Tarn

 

Part two

 

Chapter One

 

The seed is sown.

 

1830 two men seated in the afternoon sun outside the Woolpack Inn on the Main Street of Hawes.

Hawes is famous for its creamy Wensleydale cheese. It is a market town at the head of Wensleydale.

The nearest market towns are all twenty miles away over the moors with steep inclines and un-fenced roads, that is with the exception of Leyburn twenty miles further down the Dale.

It was the Annual Farmers Market Day in Hawes 1830. there was little traffic, mostly farmers returning home after the auctions, the metal rims of their cart wheels clattering and grinding, on the cobbled street, and the clip clop of the horses hooves.

They were discussing the changes taking place in the world of textiles;

Industrial machines had been invented, which were revolutionizing the industry.

Percival Ward was the local blacksmith and general repairer for a host of farm and domestic items, folk said 'If its broke Percival can fix it'.

Ebenezer Worth was a local hill farmer who kept sheep, and a few cows, giving milk for domestic and local use; He spun the yarn, from his own flock; and wove cloth for country jackets and suits.

The main discussion around the market was changes to the production of woollen cloth with the new machines and how the mills were taking young lads from the farms, to work and live in the new towns.

"These new looms can do a week's work in a day." said Ebenezer

"Aye lad." retorted Percival.

"I can understand that and I can see how I could make a loom, but it's the spinning that gets me, how the fibres are drawn out by machine to make an even thread, spinning the yarn itself is relatively easy, its drawing the fibres in even quantity that gets me."

They were interrupted by a stranger.

He was dressed more for a city than for country life. He was wearing; a dark blue suit with a faint pinstripe, covered with a dark cape, with a red silk lining; Top hat; well polished, black shoes, and bow tie.

"Excuse me gentlemen; I am looking for, a Mr. Percival Ward, could you help me?"

Percival replied "Percival Ward? Well, I may know of his whereabouts. But who are you sir and what sort of business would you be about?"

"Very remiss of me gentlemen. I am Joshua Stubley from Batley in The West Ridding of Yorkshire. I am given to understand that Percival Ward is an expert in fixing and making machinery, I am wondering if I could prevail on his services, with respect; I have overheard your conversation, I am thinking about a project in the area you were discussing, I think Percival Ward may have some interest in that area and be able to help me."

"I am Percival Ward, sir; blacksmith, of this town, sir and this is my friend, Ebenezer Worth, hill farmer and hand loom weaver  from this area."

"Good afternoon to you Percival and to you also Ebenezer, may I call you Percival and Ebenezer? and you may call me Joshua."

The two men agreed to using first names and requested further information from Joshua.

"I have inherited a house, money and land; by a small stream in Batley, in the West Ridding of Yorkshire; the stream has enough flow to power a few machines.

My idea is to build a factory to produce woollen cloth, using locally produced wool but, instead of getting contractors to do things like scouring spinning and the finishing of the cloth; I want to do it all in my factory.

That way we will have control of the whole production. We will not be waiting for a time slot in someone else's factory neither will we be working to another firms quality we will set our own, much like you hill farmers use your own wool and do the whole work yourself on your farms.

Would you be interested, gentlemen? Both of you?"

Both agreed it was a good idea but required more details, they would have to leave homes. Homes where they had been brought up, where their families had lived for generations and their livelihood. It could mean splitting up their families.

"May we discuss this with our family's sir. It would be a huge upheaval, from the lives our families have lived for centuries. My own family have been the blacksmiths for the dale for many generations.

However, I can see lots of thing in favour. Are you staying in the dale? or a place where we can make contact?" said Percival.

"I, that is we, my wife and I, are staying at The Swaledale Tupp for a few days, you may leave a message for me there; my wife and her friend have taken the carriage to Richmond for the day, our plans are loose, we thought tomorrow we could visit Brimham Rocks or maybe Fountains Abbey."

Percival said, "We will consider your offer together Joshua and with our families, then let you have our decision."

Percival and Ebenezer both told their wives of the meeting They arranged to meet, again, a big change like this had to be discussed properly.

Both families met at Percival's home by the forge Percival and Ebenezer laid out the main details.

'Sales for hand woven cloth like they made was dropping off; the factories could produce a year's worth of cloth and more in a week.

It would mean leaving friends and family to start a new life in a town; but this Joshua had said he had land on the edge of the town and somewhere sheep could be kept,

Ebenezer was to be the manager of a group of weavers on the new machines also Percival would be kept busy looking after the machines and odd jobs around the factory.

They didn't think Joshua had any idea about the amount of land required by a flock of sheep or the amount of wool they could provide.

Joshua was a sales man and would keep his existing accounts open, while at the same time carrying their samples with him, so he would have two sources of income.

Both John and Arthur chipped in.

"We have been discussing this along with the girls; if this venture didn't take off that would mean we would have no income; wouldn’t it?"

"We should keep both the farm and the forge going.

We could stay here to work them, keep our sheep on our fells, but not take the fleece to market, you could buy it direct from us at the going market price, saving on the transport and market costs.

John has worked the forge since he was ten years old and would have completed any apprenticeship by now.

Joseph could stay here to complete his apprenticeship in the carriage works.

We have Arthur and Lydia at the Forge House both like to help out, same on the farm with Joseph and Margaret.

They don't have to do the heavy work but they have tons of experience they can pass on.

Frank could go to the mill and work with both Percival and Ebenezer and learn the whole operation, Joshua would be away most of the time by the sound of it and Frank would then be in a position of knowing everything that was happening, to be a sort of general manger.

The girls Martha, Elizabeth, can continue in their offices and Angela has a scholarship to Northallerton College, where she would be living as a border, it would be the same for her even if we decided to stay here, she would still have to go as a border.

The girls say they would help the two grandmothers run the houses, they would support each other, Gail could go with her mother and hopefully work in the mill office, she has been studying accounts and that sort of stuff, with the idea of taking over the farm accounts.”

“Well you seem to have it all sorted.” Ebenezer said “What we now need is a trip to the mill to see what it is like.”

The ladies agreed to going for a visit.

 

 

The visit

 

John and Arthur took them into Hawes in Percival's trap, for the six o'clock morning Northallerton coach.

Although the road to Northallerton was a Cross country road. Running from the Irish Sea at Barrow in Furness, in the west, to,  Hartlepool, on the east coast. The up keep was the responsibility of the local parish councils. Resulting in roads, in the towns and villages, being kept in good order; Once you were outside the community boundaries, the roads were neglected. in places they could be boggy, in others they could be extremely rough and uneven; so much, so that the traffic would weave across the track looking for the smoothest ride.

 

Approaching the village of Wensley, they could see across the valley.

Three stone built barns, standing well apart on a green, patchwork quilt of fields separated by dry stone walls.

 

"I wonder if they have places like this near where we are going?" asked Mary

"I understand that all the factories, are built alongside the streams, to operate waterwheels, like the one at Aysgarth, only larger wheels and more of them." Replied Alice.

 

The steep hill into Leyburn was cobbled to give the horses a grip.

In the cobbled Market Square, of Leyburn, surrounded by the stone built shops and houses, they changed to the Leeds coach.

 

Leaving Leyburn they took the right hand turn, over the humpbacked bridge, passing the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey.

The landscape changed from fields surrounded by dry stone walls built of stones cleared from the field and constructed with no mortar; to woodlands edged with the same drystone walls; after a few miles, it changed again to fields surrounded by hedges with tall trees doted here and there in the hedges to Ripon, where the iron shod wheels of the coach, clattered over the cobbled market square, where they stopped, at a coaching inn, in order to change horses, and a few passengers. On to Harrogate; where they stopped, for a break, at an inn; while they change the horses, passengers and luggage.  alongside an area known as, The Stray; an area of common land, where the ‘well to do’ ladies would ‘take the air’ and swap gossip; while their nanny’s, in their dark green uniforms would be taking their offspring for walks. in their coach-built perambulators; also swapping gossip, to be related later in the kitchen, until cook chased them out saying “Be off with you, take you title tattle somewhere else; There will be ructions if Master’s dinner is not on the table in time; be off.”     

 

From Harrogate the road went down a steep incline, where the driver had to stop in order to set the brake for the descent into Pannal.

After crossing the new bridge, replacing the ever widening ford; across the river Wharfe, at the foot of  Harewood Bank; they were requested to disembark and walk up the steep bank on foot, to save the horses.

Crossing an area, known locally as 'The Golden Acres'; Ebenezer remarked "This is a vast expanse of ripe corn. Someone has a job on to harvest this lot."

In Leeds they had to cross the coach park to the Dewsbury stand. They had an hour and a half to wait for the next coach. Ebenezer found them a workman's cafe, where they could get a drink, while they waited.

In Dewsbury they took a private hackney to the Stubley home in Upper Batley; arriving at eight o'clock in the evening, at the square mansion, built of the local Gray Ashlar stone; overlooking the wide valley.

"Just look at all the houses built up the valley sides; It makes you wonder where they all earn a living, doesn't it?” Remarked Alice.

"I suppose they all work in the factories." Answered Mary.

Joshua and Beatrix welcomed them.

"Welcome! To our home; what time did you leave home?" asked Beatrix

"How was the journey?" Joshua asked.

"Have you eaten? would you like to freshen up while I make you something?"

Mary answered, "We caught the six o'clock coach this morning, our two eldest sons took us to the coach station, we had to change coaches twice before Dewsbury, and no we haven't eaten, yes it would be lovely to freshen up and have a meal. Thank you Beatrix."

As they were eating Percival and Ebenezer passed on information about the family meeting.

Joshua replied, "Your children are forwards thinkers, they do right to protect what you have, I take it your parents are still active and wish to keep so.”

“Both our families have lived and worked there, for several generations, so we are well known, and there is much good will that goes along with it. It would take a newcomer, many years to build it up from scratch, our children will inherit all that. Plus both our older girls have good professional jobs locally."

 

The following day

They went to visit the area and visit one or two firms, for Percival and Ebenezer to have a look at the machines they would be working with.

Then they went to view the land for the proposed mill complex.

It was a large plot of land on the edge of town, larger than any of the hillside farms of home; with further land where Joshua said he could build homes for the section managers when they were required, he was proposing a gated private road to meet with the Leeds to Dewsbury road straight from the factory, back gate, up the side of the land.

There were to be two entrances.

The main one on Dewsbury Road, where an entrance between the main factory would be and Mill House, the home for the factory manager with a doorman and a private locked door from the main entrance lobby through the boardroom this would be for special visitors to wait in.

The second entrance would be at the opposite side of the site in Mill Lane, for raw materials and outgoing goods, close to the scouring and fibre processing machines.

They would have a supply of clean water from the main town supply. while they would have two waste water systems. The normal sewer system, and for the water from washing the wool and woven cloth; this will be taken, direct from the factory, to the adjacent water treatment works; where an extraction plant was to be assembled to extract the grease and lanolin, to be used in a nearby soap factory.

 

Beatrix and the ladies.

The ladies went with Joshua's wife Beatrix who also had money to invest and it was her who would do the office work and accounts.

They visited Beatrix’s emporium J&B’s in Dewsbury; she was greeted at each counter as they strolled around. Mens; women's and childrens clothes. Household goods and furniture; from kitchen to bedrooms.

“You have everything you could wish for in here Beatrix.” commented Alice.

“That was my aim when I first opened a shop, then this one came up for sale. It is the only one in town, you have to go into one of the cities to find another like it; Your homes will be fully furnished from here for you.”

Joshua had been in sales, mostly overseas and he intended to spend his time seeking out customers, around the United Kingdom, to begin with then expand to overseas using his present contacts as a stepping stone to their respective countries.

So, Percival and Ebenezer would be managing the whole operation between them, with Beatrix doing the all the paper work.

Beatrix, agreed that Gail would be a help in the office

“I will take her to J&B’s to learn office procedure, I am not saying your farm and Blacksmiths accounts are not correct, but this will be a much larger and busier office I won’t tell them who she is, just introduce her as a new girl, daughter of a friend.”

While the men were sorting out the work areas their wives were discussing living arrangements.

Two houses were to be built on site Ebenezer and Mary were to have the house close to the factory gates (Mill House). Ebenezer would then be available to open the gates first thing in the morning and to close them after the late shift.

Percival and Alice would have their home within the factory close to Percival's workshop. It would be known as ‘Engineers’. He expected to have to work late at times, as was often the case in their dales home.

The houses would be in similar style and layout as their farmhouses, with a large kitchen and lounge areas. Furniture would be supplied from Beatrix’s emporium and charged to the firm.

Beatrix gave them some brochures to select furniture from.

“I can order anything you wish through my office in Dewsbury and have it delivered here, if you are keeping your place in the dales on, you will need new furniture for your new homes, I can charge it to the factory account. Anything you require from floor covering, furniture and new bedding.”

 

 

Part two

 

Chapter One

 

The seed is sown.

 

1830 two men seated in the afternoon sun outside the Woolpack Inn on the Main Street of Hawes.

Hawes is famous for its creamy Wensleydale cheese. It is a market town at the head of Wensleydale.

The nearest market towns are all twenty miles away over the moors with steep inclines and un-fenced roads, that is with the exception of Leyburn twenty miles further down the Dale.

It was the Annual Farmers Market Day in Hawes 1830. there was little traffic, mostly farmers returning home after the auctions, the metal rims of their cart wheels clattering and grinding, on the cobbled street, and the clip clop of the horses hooves.

They were discussing the changes taking place in the world of textiles;

Industrial machines had been invented, which were revolutionizing the industry.

Percival Ward was the local blacksmith and general repairer for a host of farm and domestic items, folk said 'If its broke Percival can fix it'.

Ebenezer Worth was a local hill farmer who kept sheep, and a few cows, giving milk for domestic and local use; He spun the yarn, from his own flock; and wove cloth for country jackets and suits.

The main discussion around the market was changes to the production of woollen cloth with the new machines and how the mills were taking young lads from the farms, to work and live in the new towns.

"These new looms can do a week's work in a day." said Ebenezer

"Aye lad." retorted Percival.

"I can understand that and I can see how I could make a loom, but it's the spinning that gets me, how the fibres are drawn out by machine to make an even thread, spinning the yarn itself is relatively easy, its drawing the fibres in even quantity that gets me."

They were interrupted by a stranger.

He was dressed more for a city than for country life. He was wearing; a dark blue suit with a faint pinstripe, covered with a dark cape, with a red silk lining; Top hat; well polished, black shoes, and bow tie.

"Excuse me gentlemen; I am looking for, a Mr. Percival Ward, could you help me?"

Percival replied "Percival Ward? Well, I may know of his whereabouts. But who are you sir and what sort of business would you be about?"

"Very remiss of me gentlemen. I am Joshua Stubley from Batley in The West Ridding of Yorkshire. I am given to understand that Percival Ward is an expert in fixing and making machinery, I am wondering if I could prevail on his services, with respect; I have overheard your conversation, I am thinking about a project in the area you were discussing, I think Percival Ward may have some interest in that area and be able to help me."

"I am Percival Ward, sir; blacksmith, of this town, sir and this is my friend, Ebenezer Worth, hill farmer and hand loom weaver  from this area."

"Good afternoon to you Percival and to you also Ebenezer, may I call you Percival and Ebenezer? and you may call me Joshua."

The two men agreed to using first names and requested further information from Joshua.

"I have inherited a house, money and land; by a small stream in Batley, in the West Ridding of Yorkshire; the stream has enough flow to power a few machines.

My idea is to build a factory to produce woollen cloth, using locally produced wool but, instead of getting contractors to do things like scouring spinning and the finishing of the cloth; I want to do it all in my factory.

That way we will have control of the whole production. We will not be waiting for a time slot in someone else's factory neither will we be working to another firms quality we will set our own, much like you hill farmers use your own wool and do the whole work yourself on your farms.

Would you be interested, gentlemen? Both of you?"

Both agreed it was a good idea but required more details, they would have to leave homes. Homes where they had been brought up, where their families had lived for generations and their livelihood. It could mean splitting up their families.

"May we discuss this with our family's sir. It would be a huge upheaval, from the lives our families have lived for centuries. My own family have been the blacksmiths for the dale for many generations.

However, I can see lots of thing in favour. Are you staying in the dale? or a place where we can make contact?" said Percival.

"I, that is we, my wife and I, are staying at The Swaledale Tupp for a few days, you may leave a message for me there; my wife and her friend have taken the carriage to Richmond for the day, our plans are loose, we thought tomorrow we could visit Brimham Rocks or maybe Fountains Abbey."

Percival said, "We will consider your offer together Joshua and with our families, then let you have our decision."

Percival and Ebenezer both told their wives of the meeting They arranged to meet, again, a big change like this had to be discussed properly.

Both families met at Percival's home by the forge Percival and Ebenezer laid out the main details.

'Sales for hand woven cloth like they made was dropping off; the factories could produce a year's worth of cloth and more in a week.

It would mean leaving friends and family to start a new life in a town; but this Joshua had said he had land on the edge of the town and somewhere sheep could be kept,

Ebenezer was to be the manager of a group of weavers on the new machines also Percival would be kept busy looking after the machines and odd jobs around the factory.

They didn't think Joshua had any idea about the amount of land required by a flock of sheep or the amount of wool they could provide.

Joshua was a sales man and would keep his existing accounts open, while at the same time carrying their samples with him, so he would have two sources of income.

Both John and Arthur chipped in.

"We have been discussing this along with the girls; if this venture didn't take off that would mean we would have no income; wouldn’t it?"

"We should keep both the farm and the forge going.

We could stay here to work them, keep our sheep on our fells, but not take the fleece to market, you could buy it direct from us at the going market price, saving on the transport and market costs.

John has worked the forge since he was ten years old and would have completed any apprenticeship by now.

Joseph could stay here to complete his apprenticeship in the carriage works.

We have Arthur and Lydia at the Forge House both like to help out, same on the farm with Joseph and Margaret.

They don't have to do the heavy work but they have tons of experience they can pass on.

Frank could go to the mill and work with both Percival and Ebenezer and learn the whole operation, Joshua would be away most of the time by the sound of it and Frank would then be in a position of knowing everything that was happening, to be a sort of general manger.

The girls Martha, Elizabeth, can continue in their offices and Angela has a scholarship to Northallerton College, where she would be living as a border, it would be the same for her even if we decided to stay here, she would still have to go as a border.

The girls say they would help the two grandmothers run the houses, they would support each other, Gail could go with her mother and hopefully work in the mill office, she has been studying accounts and that sort of stuff, with the idea of taking over the farm accounts.”

“Well you seem to have it all sorted.” Ebenezer said “What we now need is a trip to the mill to see what it is like.”

The ladies agreed to going for a visit.

 

 

The visit

 

John and Arthur took them into Hawes in Percival's trap, for the six o'clock morning Northallerton coach.

Although the road to Northallerton was a Cross country road. Running from the Irish Sea at Barrow in Furness, in the west, to,  Hartlepool, on the east coast. The up keep was the responsibility of the local parish councils. Resulting in roads, in the towns and villages, being kept in good order; Once you were outside the community boundaries, the roads were neglected. in places they could be boggy, in others they could be extremely rough and uneven; so much, so that the traffic would weave across the track looking for the smoothest ride.

 

Approaching the village of Wensley, they could see across the valley.

Three stone built barns, standing well apart on a green, patchwork quilt of fields separated by dry stone walls.

 

"I wonder if they have places like this near where we are going?" asked Mary

"I understand that all the factories, are built alongside the streams, to operate waterwheels, like the one at Aysgarth, only larger wheels and more of them." Replied Alice.

 

The steep hill into Leyburn was cobbled to give the horses a grip.

In the cobbled Market Square, of Leyburn, surrounded by the stone built shops and houses, they changed to the Leeds coach.

 

Leaving Leyburn they took the right hand turn, over the humpbacked bridge, passing the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey.

The landscape changed from fields surrounded by dry stone walls built of stones cleared from the field and constructed with no mortar; to woodlands edged with the same drystone walls; after a few miles, it changed again to fields surrounded by hedges with tall trees doted here and there in the hedges to Ripon, where the iron shod wheels of the coach, clattered over the cobbled market square, where they stopped, at a coaching inn, in order to change horses, and a few passengers. On to Harrogate; where they stopped, for a break, at an inn; while they change the horses, passengers and luggage.  alongside an area known as, The Stray; an area of common land, where the ‘well to do’ ladies would ‘take the air’ and swap gossip; while their nanny’s, in their dark green uniforms would be taking their offspring for walks. in their coach-built perambulators; also swapping gossip, to be related later in the kitchen, until cook chased them out saying “Be off with you, take you title tattle somewhere else; There will be ructions if Master’s dinner is not on the table in time; be off.”     

 

From Harrogate the road went down a steep incline, where the driver had to stop in order to set the brake for the descent into Pannal.

After crossing the new bridge, replacing the ever widening ford; across the river Wharfe, at the foot of  Harewood Bank; they were requested to disembark and walk up the steep bank on foot, to save the horses.

Crossing an area, known locally as 'The Golden Acres'; Ebenezer remarked "This is a vast expanse of ripe corn. Someone has a job on to harvest this lot."

In Leeds they had to cross the coach park to the Dewsbury stand. They had an hour and a half to wait for the next coach. Ebenezer found them a workman's cafe, where they could get a drink, while they waited.

In Dewsbury they took a private hackney to the Stubley home in Upper Batley; arriving at eight o'clock in the evening, at the square mansion, built of the local Gray Ashlar stone; overlooking the wide valley.

"Just look at all the houses built up the valley sides; It makes you wonder where they all earn a living, doesn't it?” Remarked Alice.

"I suppose they all work in the factories." Answered Mary.

Joshua and Beatrix welcomed them.

"Welcome! To our home; what time did you leave home?" asked Beatrix

"How was the journey?" Joshua asked.

"Have you eaten? would you like to freshen up while I make you something?"

Mary answered, "We caught the six o'clock coach this morning, our two eldest sons took us to the coach station, we had to change coaches twice before Dewsbury, and no we haven't eaten, yes it would be lovely to freshen up and have a meal. Thank you Beatrix."

As they were eating Percival and Ebenezer passed on information about the family meeting.

Joshua replied, "Your children are forwards thinkers, they do right to protect what you have, I take it your parents are still active and wish to keep so.”

“Both our families have lived and worked there, for several generations, so we are well known, and there is much good will that goes along with it. It would take a newcomer, many years to build it up from scratch, our children will inherit all that. Plus both our older girls have good professional jobs locally."

 

The following day

They went to visit the area and visit one or two firms, for Percival and Ebenezer to have a look at the machines they would be working with.

Then they went to view the land for the proposed mill complex.

It was a large plot of land on the edge of town, larger than any of the hillside farms of home; with further land where Joshua said he could build homes for the section managers when they were required, he was proposing a gated private road to meet with the Leeds to Dewsbury road straight from the factory, back gate, up the side of the land.

There were to be two entrances.

The main one on Dewsbury Road, where an entrance between the main factory would be and Mill House, the home for the factory manager with a doorman and a private locked door from the main entrance lobby through the boardroom this would be for special visitors to wait in.

The second entrance would be at the opposite side of the site in Mill Lane, for raw materials and outgoing goods, close to the scouring and fibre processing machines.

They would have a supply of clean water from the main town supply. while they would have two waste water systems. The normal sewer system, and for the water from washing the wool and woven cloth; this will be taken, direct from the factory, to the adjacent water treatment works; where an extraction plant was to be assembled to extract the grease and lanolin, to be used in a nearby soap factory.

 

Beatrix and the ladies.

The ladies went with Joshua's wife Beatrix who also had money to invest and it was her who would do the office work and accounts.

They visited Beatrix’s emporium J&B’s in Dewsbury; she was greeted at each counter as they strolled around. Mens; women's and childrens clothes. Household goods and furniture; from kitchen to bedrooms.

“You have everything you could wish for in here Beatrix.” commented Alice.

“That was my aim when I first opened a shop, then this one came up for sale. It is the only one in town, you have to go into one of the cities to find another like it; Your homes will be fully furnished from here for you.”

Joshua had been in sales, mostly overseas and he intended to spend his time seeking out customers, around the United Kingdom, to begin with then expand to overseas using his present contacts as a stepping stone to their respective countries.

So, Percival and Ebenezer would be managing the whole operation between them, with Beatrix doing the all the paper work.

Beatrix, agreed that Gail would be a help in the office

“I will take her to J&B’s to learn office procedure, I am not saying your farm and Blacksmiths accounts are not correct, but this will be a much larger and busier office I won’t tell them who she is, just introduce her as a new girl, daughter of a friend.”

While the men were sorting out the work areas their wives were discussing living arrangements.

Two houses were to be built on site Ebenezer and Mary were to have the house close to the factory gates (Mill House). Ebenezer would then be available to open the gates first thing in the morning and to close them after the late shift.

Percival and Alice would have their home within the factory close to Percival's workshop. It would be known as ‘Engineers’. He expected to have to work late at times, as was often the case in their dales home.

The houses would be in similar style and layout as their farmhouses, with a large kitchen and lounge areas. Furniture would be supplied from Beatrix’s emporium and charged to the firm.

Beatrix gave them some brochures to select furniture from.

“I can order anything you wish through my office in Dewsbury and have it delivered here, if you are keeping your place in the dales on, you will need new furniture for your new homes, I can charge it to the factory account. Anything you require from floor covering, furniture and new bedding.”

 

 

Part two

 

Chapter One

 

The seed is sown.

 

1830 two men seated in the afternoon sun outside the Woolpack Inn on the Main Street of Hawes.

Hawes is famous for its creamy Wensleydale cheese. It is a market town at the head of Wensleydale.

The nearest market towns are all twenty miles away over the moors with steep inclines and un-fenced roads, that is with the exception of Leyburn twenty miles further down the Dale.

It was the Annual Farmers Market Day in Hawes 1830. there was little traffic, mostly farmers returning home after the auctions, the metal rims of their cart wheels clattering and grinding, on the cobbled street, and the clip clop of the horses hooves.

They were discussing the changes taking place in the world of textiles;

Industrial machines had been invented, which were revolutionizing the industry.

Percival Ward was the local blacksmith and general repairer for a host of farm and domestic items, folk said 'If its broke Percival can fix it'.

Ebenezer Worth was a local hill farmer who kept sheep, and a few cows, giving milk for domestic and local use; He spun the yarn, from his own flock; and wove cloth for country jackets and suits.

The main discussion around the market was changes to the production of woollen cloth with the new machines and how the mills were taking young lads from the farms, to work and live in the new towns.

"These new looms can do a week's work in a day." said Ebenezer

"Aye lad." retorted Percival.

"I can understand that and I can see how I could make a loom, but it's the spinning that gets me, how the fibres are drawn out by machine to make an even thread, spinning the yarn itself is relatively easy, its drawing the fibres in even quantity that gets me."

They were interrupted by a stranger.

He was dressed more for a city than for country life. He was wearing; a dark blue suit with a faint pinstripe, covered with a dark cape, with a red silk lining; Top hat; well polished, black shoes, and bow tie.

"Excuse me gentlemen; I am looking for, a Mr. Percival Ward, could you help me?"

Percival replied "Percival Ward? Well, I may know of his whereabouts. But who are you sir and what sort of business would you be about?"

"Very remiss of me gentlemen. I am Joshua Stubley from Batley in The West Ridding of Yorkshire. I am given to understand that Percival Ward is an expert in fixing and making machinery, I am wondering if I could prevail on his services, with respect; I have overheard your conversation, I am thinking about a project in the area you were discussing, I think Percival Ward may have some interest in that area and be able to help me."

"I am Percival Ward, sir; blacksmith, of this town, sir and this is my friend, Ebenezer Worth, hill farmer and hand loom weaver  from this area."

"Good afternoon to you Percival and to you also Ebenezer, may I call you Percival and Ebenezer? and you may call me Joshua."

The two men agreed to using first names and requested further information from Joshua.

"I have inherited a house, money and land; by a small stream in Batley, in the West Ridding of Yorkshire; the stream has enough flow to power a few machines.

My idea is to build a factory to produce woollen cloth, using locally produced wool but, instead of getting contractors to do things like scouring spinning and the finishing of the cloth; I want to do it all in my factory.

That way we will have control of the whole production. We will not be waiting for a time slot in someone else's factory neither will we be working to another firms quality we will set our own, much like you hill farmers use your own wool and do the whole work yourself on your farms.

Would you be interested, gentlemen? Both of you?"

Both agreed it was a good idea but required more details, they would have to leave homes. Homes where they had been brought up, where their families had lived for generations and their livelihood. It could mean splitting up their families.

"May we discuss this with our family's sir. It would be a huge upheaval, from the lives our families have lived for centuries. My own family have been the blacksmiths for the dale for many generations.

However, I can see lots of thing in favour. Are you staying in the dale? or a place where we can make contact?" said Percival.

"I, that is we, my wife and I, are staying at The Swaledale Tupp for a few days, you may leave a message for me there; my wife and her friend have taken the carriage to Richmond for the day, our plans are loose, we thought tomorrow we could visit Brimham Rocks or maybe Fountains Abbey."

Percival said, "We will consider your offer together Joshua and with our families, then let you have our decision."

Percival and Ebenezer both told their wives of the meeting They arranged to meet, again, a big change like this had to be discussed properly.

Both families met at Percival's home by the forge Percival and Ebenezer laid out the main details.

'Sales for hand woven cloth like they made was dropping off; the factories could produce a year's worth of cloth and more in a week.

It would mean leaving friends and family to start a new life in a town; but this Joshua had said he had land on the edge of the town and somewhere sheep could be kept,

Ebenezer was to be the manager of a group of weavers on the new machines also Percival would be kept busy looking after the machines and odd jobs around the factory.

They didn't think Joshua had any idea about the amount of land required by a flock of sheep or the amount of wool they could provide.

Joshua was a sales man and would keep his existing accounts open, while at the same time carrying their samples with him, so he would have two sources of income.

Both John and Arthur chipped in.

"We have been discussing this along with the girls; if this venture didn't take off that would mean we would have no income; wouldn’t it?"

"We should keep both the farm and the forge going.

We could stay here to work them, keep our sheep on our fells, but not take the fleece to market, you could buy it direct from us at the going market price, saving on the transport and market costs.

John has worked the forge since he was ten years old and would have completed any apprenticeship by now.

Joseph could stay here to complete his apprenticeship in the carriage works.

We have Arthur and Lydia at the Forge House both like to help out, same on the farm with Joseph and Margaret.

They don't have to do the heavy work but they have tons of experience they can pass on.

Frank could go to the mill and work with both Percival and Ebenezer and learn the whole operation, Joshua would be away most of the time by the sound of it and Frank would then be in a position of knowing everything that was happening, to be a sort of general manger.

The girls Martha, Elizabeth, can continue in their offices and Angela has a scholarship to Northallerton College, where she would be living as a border, it would be the same for her even if we decided to stay here, she would still have to go as a border.

The girls say they would help the two grandmothers run the houses, they would support each other, Gail could go with her mother and hopefully work in the mill office, she has been studying accounts and that sort of stuff, with the idea of taking over the farm accounts.”

“Well you seem to have it all sorted.” Ebenezer said “What we now need is a trip to the mill to see what it is like.”

The ladies agreed to going for a visit.

 

 

The visit

 

John and Arthur took them into Hawes in Percival's trap, for the six o'clock morning Northallerton coach.

Although the road to Northallerton was a Cross country road. Running from the Irish Sea at Barrow in Furness, in the west, to,  Hartlepool, on the east coast. The up keep was the responsibility of the local parish councils. Resulting in roads, in the towns and villages, being kept in good order; Once you were outside the community boundaries, the roads were neglected. in places they could be boggy, in others they could be extremely rough and uneven; so much, so that the traffic would weave across the track looking for the smoothest ride.

 

Approaching the village of Wensley, they could see across the valley.

Three stone built barns, standing well apart on a green, patchwork quilt of fields separated by dry stone walls.

 

"I wonder if they have places like this near where we are going?" asked Mary

"I understand that all the factories, are built alongside the streams, to operate waterwheels, like the one at Aysgarth, only larger wheels and more of them." Replied Alice.

 

The steep hill into Leyburn was cobbled to give the horses a grip.

In the cobbled Market Square, of Leyburn, surrounded by the stone built shops and houses, they changed to the Leeds coach.

 

Leaving Leyburn they took the right hand turn, over the humpbacked bridge, passing the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey.

The landscape changed from fields surrounded by dry stone walls built of stones cleared from the field and constructed with no mortar; to woodlands edged with the same drystone walls; after a few miles, it changed again to fields surrounded by hedges with tall trees doted here and there in the hedges to Ripon, where the iron shod wheels of the coach, clattered over the cobbled market square, where they stopped, at a coaching inn, in order to change horses, and a few passengers. On to Harrogate; where they stopped, for a break, at an inn; while they change the horses, passengers and luggage.  alongside an area known as, The Stray; an area of common land, where the ‘well to do’ ladies would ‘take the air’ and swap gossip; while their nanny’s, in their dark green uniforms would be taking their offspring for walks. in their coach-built perambulators; also swapping gossip, to be related later in the kitchen, until cook chased them out saying “Be off with you, take you title tattle somewhere else; There will be ructions if Master’s dinner is not on the table in time; be off.”     

 

From Harrogate the road went down a steep incline, where the driver had to stop in order to set the brake for the descent into Pannal.

After crossing the new bridge, replacing the ever widening ford; across the river Wharfe, at the foot of  Harewood Bank; they were requested to disembark and walk up the steep bank on foot, to save the horses.

Crossing an area, known locally as 'The Golden Acres'; Ebenezer remarked "This is a vast expanse of ripe corn. Someone has a job on to harvest this lot."

In Leeds they had to cross the coach park to the Dewsbury stand. They had an hour and a half to wait for the next coach. Ebenezer found them a workman's cafe, where they could get a drink, while they waited.

In Dewsbury they took a private hackney to the Stubley home in Upper Batley; arriving at eight o'clock in the evening, at the square mansion, built of the local Gray Ashlar stone; overlooking the wide valley.

"Just look at all the houses built up the valley sides; It makes you wonder where they all earn a living, doesn't it?” Remarked Alice.

"I suppose they all work in the factories." Answered Mary.

Joshua and Beatrix welcomed them.

"Welcome! To our home; what time did you leave home?" asked Beatrix

"How was the journey?" Joshua asked.

"Have you eaten? would you like to freshen up while I make you something?"

Mary answered, "We caught the six o'clock coach this morning, our two eldest sons took us to the coach station, we had to change coaches twice before Dewsbury, and no we haven't eaten, yes it would be lovely to freshen up and have a meal. Thank you Beatrix."

As they were eating Percival and Ebenezer passed on information about the family meeting.

Joshua replied, "Your children are forwards thinkers, they do right to protect what you have, I take it your parents are still active and wish to keep so.”

“Both our families have lived and worked there, for several generations, so we are well known, and there is much good will that goes along with it. It would take a newcomer, many years to build it up from scratch, our children will inherit all that. Plus both our older girls have good professional jobs locally."

 

The following day

They went to visit the area and visit one or two firms, for Percival and Ebenezer to have a look at the machines they would be working with.

Then they went to view the land for the proposed mill complex.

It was a large plot of land on the edge of town, larger than any of the hillside farms of home; with further land where Joshua said he could build homes for the section managers when they were required, he was proposing a gated private road to meet with the Leeds to Dewsbury road straight from the factory, back gate, up the side of the land.

There were to be two entrances.

The main one on Dewsbury Road, where an entrance between the main factory would be and Mill House, the home for the factory manager with a doorman and a private locked door from the main entrance lobby through the boardroom this would be for special visitors to wait in.

The second entrance would be at the opposite side of the site in Mill Lane, for raw materials and outgoing goods, close to the scouring and fibre processing machines.

They would have a supply of clean water from the main town supply. while they would have two waste water systems. The normal sewer system, and for the water from washing the wool and woven cloth; this will be taken, direct from the factory, to the adjacent water treatment works; where an extraction plant was to be assembled to extract the grease and lanolin, to be used in a nearby soap factory.

 

Beatrix and the ladies.

The ladies went with Joshua's wife Beatrix who also had money to invest and it was her who would do the office work and accounts.

They visited Beatrix’s emporium J&B’s in Dewsbury; she was greeted at each counter as they strolled around. Mens; women's and childrens clothes. Household goods and furniture; from kitchen to bedrooms.

“You have everything you could wish for in here Beatrix.” commented Alice.

“That was my aim when I first opened a shop, then this one came up for sale. It is the only one in town, you have to go into one of the cities to find another like it; Your homes will be fully furnished from here for you.”

Joshua had been in sales, mostly overseas and he intended to spend his time seeking out customers, around the United Kingdom, to begin with then expand to overseas using his present contacts as a stepping stone to their respective countries.

So, Percival and Ebenezer would be managing the whole operation between them, with Beatrix doing the all the paper work.

Beatrix, agreed that Gail would be a help in the office

“I will take her to J&B’s to learn office procedure, I am not saying your farm and Blacksmiths accounts are not correct, but this will be a much larger and busier office I won’t tell them who she is, just introduce her as a new girl, daughter of a friend.”

While the men were sorting out the work areas their wives were discussing living arrangements.

Two houses were to be built on site Ebenezer and Mary were to have the house close to the factory gates (Mill House). Ebenezer would then be available to open the gates first thing in the morning and to close them after the late shift.

Percival and Alice would have their home within the factory close to Percival's workshop. It would be known as ‘Engineers’. He expected to have to work late at times, as was often the case in their dales home.

The houses would be in similar style and layout as their farmhouses, with a large kitchen and lounge areas. Furniture would be supplied from Beatrix’s emporium and charged to the firm.

Beatrix gave them some brochures to select furniture from.

“I can order anything you wish through my office in Dewsbury and have it delivered here, if you are keeping your place in the dales on, you will need new furniture for your new homes, I can charge it to the factory account. Anything you require from floor covering, furniture and new bedding.”