West House, Fewston parish

[Joyce C]

Hello

I wonder if anybody has any thoughts on the following?

One of my ancestors gives her address as West Houses.  This I know to be a part of Fewston parish.  Looking up "West House" in Genuki gives the following
"West house or West House Factory, in the township & parish of Fewston, lower div of Claro, 5 miles from Otley, 121/2 from Knaresboro & Skipton. There are usually 500 boys and girls employed here"  This information is dated 1822.

I am interested if anybody has any knowledge of this factory, it must have been quite substantial to employ 500 boys and girls.  Also I wonder if any records might exist.

My ancestor was born in Kingston upon Hull about 1800 and I wonder if she went or was sent to Fewston specifically to work in the factory. 

Any thoughts would be very appreciated.

Thanks

Bob

[johig]

Hi,
If you give me a name I will look in 1841 census.
The house is not mentioned, but it maybe under a street name.

John

[saar3]

I Have a book called Washburn Valley Yesterday by David Alred that gives a lot of information about Westhouse Mill. I think it was actually in Blubberhouses and it was used for flax spinning. Apparently children were shipped out from workhouses and charitable institutions in large cities and set to work in the mills.

Will try and send a bit more information later. Sounds like a horrible place.

Mary

[johig]

Hi,
Do you know who the ancestor was?
If you go onto wikipedia.org  you will find West House Mill at Fewston.
It was pulled down to build a reservoir in 1874.

The Refs are 1 Washburn Valley Yesterday.
2 Lesser railways of Yorkshire Dales and the dam builders in the age of steam.
3 Timble man -diaries of a dalesman.

All info on Wikipedia page.

John

[Joyce C]

Hi again

Apologies for not replying to the last two posts but I haven't had the opportunity to log into the site for the past week or so.

Thank you both for your replies.

My ancestor was Mary March who was born in Hull in 1799/1800 ( I think to William March who was a soldier.)  She married Thomas Elliott in 1835, Fewston but prior to then she had a son William in 1828 (IGI) again reg in Fewston.  Incidentally I have found the family in 1841.

From Mary's notes it does seem possible that she might have come/sent from Hull to work in the factory.

Bob

[johig]

Hi Bob,

I don't know if you have this info.

THOMAS ELLIOT age 58 living in Pocklington.

MARY   ELLIOT  age 57    "      "       "

FANNY ELLIOT age 16     "     "        "

JANE ELLIOT   age 28     "      "       "

JOHN  ELLIOT age  4   "         "       "

JOHN  ELLIOT   age 1   "           "      "

This is from 1851 Census.

Have you got all the info up to 1891?

John

[Joyce C]

Hi John

Thanks for the information.

The Elliot line has been a tricky one for me to work out but recently I have found that in 1851 Thomas was actually in Barnsley ( don't ask me why!!!) whilst his wife and family were in Leeds.  Thomas died in 1856 and Mary in 1855, death certificates bear this out.

Thomas was born in Yarm and there lies another line of investigation!!!

Bob

[johig]

Bob,
If you need any help to look up the children let me know.

John

[Joyce C]

Hi John

Many thanks for your kind offer.  I think I have sorted out most of the children as far as possible including those that Thomas had from a previous marriage.

Bob