APROPOS my article about the four Bromptons of North Yorkshire (D&S Times, July 29) I have received a note from a well-informed resident of Northallerton who tells me that during July, a memorial to the former linen workers of nearby Brompton was unveiled at Water End in the village.

It honoured those who worked as handloom weavers in their homes and also those who worked in factories run by the Wilford and Yeoman families. The memorial stone is on a plinth made from bricks saved from the factory chimney when it was demolished a few years ago. The actual unveiling was carried out by an elderly lady who used to work in the factory. I am told that the Brompton Heritage Group was responsible for the erection of the memorial.

The linen industry of Brompton dates to the latter years of the 17th century when there was a move by weavers to get away from working in the towns. This also owes its origins to the enclosure of fields, which allowed people more spare time, so some took up spinning, weaving and knitting.

Between 1660 and 1710, four houses in Brompton possessed looms, with one of them owning two. By the end of that century, there were many more linen weavers in Brompton and it is felt that the village’s proximity to Northallerton markets fuelled the expansion.

By the time of the 1801 census, 206 householders were recorded in Brompton, 55 of which were listed as working in manufacturing, a higher proportion than earned their living in agriculture. By 1823, over 300 weavers were employed in Brompton.

The village had eight linen manufacturers, more than most other villages – even Northallerton had only three.

Brompton’s long association with linen manufacture and weaving reminded me that some 30 years ago, I had a meal in the Manor House Hotel at Brompton and found myself in a bar named after the Clacking Shuttles of Brompton. The hotel, now a private house, stood on land formerly occupied by a linen factory and one old travel book in my possession said: ‘There is a railway station at Brompton where there is a large (drill) linen factory.

There is nothing to call for special notice.’ Clacking Shuttles was the name of a novel by Florence Bone which was published many years ago priced 1s 6d (7.5p). It was set in the old coaching days at a village called Rumbton, which had some weavers’ cottages and a lower part called Boggy End. The nearby town was called Northendale.

The heroine, 29-year old Harriet Willow, lived in a large house with offices and a cobbled yard beyond which was a packing house and stable with mossy walls and big doors. Inside the stable was Harriet’s basketchaise and a big hooded Phaeton in which the family travelled.

The book then told of the village of Rumbton having a beautiful loom and a skilled weaver at almost every fireside.

At the manor was a warping house, where Betty Cornforth sat all day turning the handle that ran the already spun thread on to the spools for the hand looms in those cottages.

Apart from the nearby town of Northendale, there were places like Ossley and Gracious Priory (can I hazard a guess that these would be Osmotherley and Mount Grace Priory?).

It seems that the weavers of Brompton were very much aware of the politics of the time and great celebrations were held to mark the passing of the Reform Bill of June 25, 1832.

Just after midnight a whole ox was roasted and the festivities attracted a large crowd from Northallerton.

Six pieces of cannon fired repeated volleys during the day and all the houses and public buildings flew flags and bunting. Perhaps it would be best to quote from a report of the day: “About eleven o’clock, a procession left Brompton headed by a band of music with colours flying and banners bearing devices of various kinds.

Each person in the procession wore an orange ribbon on his coat, the members of the committee being distinguished by a rosette of white silk tied with blue ribbon.

“The most striking feature of this interesting exhibition was a stage erected upon a wagon on which a flax dresser, stripped, with tucked-up sleeves and a paper cap, was adroitly combing the flax before him; upon a form sat a weaver, throwing quite at his ease, the swiftly gliding shuttle ever and anon receiving his supply of bobbings from a fair maiden who, calmly and deftly, turned her wheel to keep him in continual action.

“An aged dame attired in a blue gown of ancient make sat with the utmost composure against a jovial flax dresser, drawing out the lengthened thread, an employment that conferred the appellation of spinster upon unmarried ladies of antiquity.”

The account went on to say that the spinning jenny was intended as an emblematical representation of linen manufacture at Brompton. The celebration must have been quite a big affair because over 500 people sat down for the feast.

Pair of Stockings?

A THIRSK reader has raised the question of whether the village of Oldstead near Kilburn, was ever known as Stocking. I have never come across this likelihood, although a rather vague area in the vicinity of Oldstead is sometimes referred to by that name. So far as I am aware, this does not refer to Oldstead itself but rather the wider area. Certainly, I have never come across Stocking as an old name for Oldstead.

Interestingly, there are other Stockings in that general locality.

There is an Open Stocking House on the road from Kilburn to Balk, but nothing of that name near Oldstead. My reference book Place Names of the North Riding by the A H Smith, of the English Place-Names Society, mentions Stocking House as early as 1196, not linking it with Oldstead, while Oldstead seems to have been in existence in 1247, being known as Oldsteade in 1541, with Newstead not far away.

However, there was a location called Stocking in Ryedale (somewhere near the Fryton/Coulton/Hovingham area) and also a Stocking House near Scawton in 1249. The latter seems to have been part of ancient Scawton. In fact, one of the lanes near Ampleforth is also called Stocking Lane.

It means there are lots of “Stockings” in the district around Coxwold/Ampleforth/ Hovingham but with no reason to believe that Oldstead village was once known by this name. Unless someone knows differently.

Nevison’s escape

IN THIS column on July 15 this year, I referred to the antics of the famous highwayman, Swift Nick Nevison, who is said to have been born at a house near Felixkirk, close to Thirsk.

However, during one of his travels it seems he was almost caught napping but some quick thinking on his part enabled him to escape to continue his activities as a highwayman.

The date of this adventure was August 18, its anniversary being yesterday otherwise known as the Feast Day of St Helena, or Helen’s Day.

On this day, the people of Walton, near Wetherby, abstracted water from St Helen’s Well and it was said to cure several ailments.

On St Helen’s Day, Swift Nick turned up and helped himself to a drink from the well, then settled down to relax but fell asleep.

Some local youths recognised him and, because there was a reward for his capture, decided to alert the authorities. But because the officials were nowhere to be found, the lads decided to capture him themselves.

Swift Nick awoke to find himself surrounded. He pointed a stick at them, pretending it was a gun – and they all fled. Their behaviour earned them the name of Walton Calves.