Norfolk families heading for Yorkshire - anyone?

[Nick_Ips]

Hi Kate,

I've got BELLs from the Hickling area of Norfolk going to Durham, generally involved in coal mining.  I can't claim any definite knowledge on the subject, but it does seem to be a trend.  A common link seems to be ports on the East coast, which makes me wonder if such moves were facilitated by shipping involved in the coal and grain trades.

Best wishes,

Nick

[Seghill Lass]

My family were agricultural workersin Norfolk and my research showed that the cottage industries, which gave them extra work, started closing down and moving to Nottingham.  They went to Yorkshire Middlesbrough and Guisborough and became Ironstone Miners. Later they moved again to Northumberland where they became coal miners. 

Pat (ex Geordie)

[ScouseBoy]

I  have someone called  Avies  born about 1834  in Norwich  moving to Liverpool,  and I think working on the docks.

[Serge]

Hi There. There was also a large influx of East Anglian people who came to Burton-on-Trent from the early 1860`s to 1920`s,they were known as "Norkies",although most of them came from Suffolk.They were employed by the many breweries here,and stayed from Michaelmas until Easter.Employed mostly as Maltsters because of their strongness acquired working the land.The brewery reps would recruit them in local pubs,and pay for a one-way train ticket,then if they stayed till Easter they would pay their ticket back and also give them a bonus.My own G.Grandfather did that and eventually my Grandfather Burton Aldous(named after the town)born in Peasenhall in 1878 came here along with his brothers and settled as did many others.There are still a lot of east anglian names left in the town,but alas no more Aldous my cousin being the last one left for Australia in the 1970`s.

[Jeuel]

Hi

I've got a family member born North Norfolk in 1813 who by 1841 was working in a coal mine in Northumberland.

My Norfolk great-uncles, born in South Norfolk, all moved down to London to work as policemen, but one of them, immediately before he joined the Met, had worked in Armstrong's munitions factory in Newcastle, so yes, Norfolk folk often journeyed a long way for work.

I know that my south Norfolk lot had a choice between agriculture (in decline; poorly paid and seasonal) or fishing.  My gt grandfather lost all 3 of his brothers in a fishing accident and his wife was determined none of her sons would be fishermen.

[Nick_Ips]

The seasonal migration to Burton (but not Yorkshire) was the subject of an Anglia Television 'Bygones' programme which featured original footage of the journey and life in Burton.  A few years ago the programme was released on DVD and makes fascinating viewing for anyone with ancestors involved in this business.  There was a seasonal aspect to it because of the lack of work on farms in the Winter months - they also ran special train services between the areas.

Nick

[diddymiller]

most of my Norfolk Skillings moved up to Tyneside!!

I remember the bit in the Who doyou think.. episode too.

Diddy

[Redroger]

I believe that there was a general agricultural depression in
England during the second half of the 19th century. My mother's family were ag labs in Cambridgeshire, again East Anglia, relatives of my father lived in South Lincolnshire, again near enough. Many of my mother's relatives moved north, to industrial Teeside, her uncle moved to Australia, and an uncle of my father from Pinchbeck South Lincs. moved to Canada, he returned 20 years later, complete with bride!

[findem]

In Essex another factor causing seasonal and permanent migration north was the practice where farm labourers were on half wages in winter, there were probably farmers in Norfolk with the same mean streak.  Not sure where I read that but I think it was in a topic somewhere on the Essex board regarding the migration north from the Dengie area of Essex.

Regards.