The Census in Skipton

 I recently took advantage of a free weekend on one of the genealogy websites to investigate a few families in Skipton.  The first port of call had to be The Dewhurst family, resident at Aireville Hall. 

In 1901, the head of the household was 81 year old John Bonny Dewhurst,  grandson of the company founder Thomas Dewhurst and son of the John Dewhurst whom the company was named after. He is listed as being a retired cotton spinner. Also resident at Aireville that cenus night was 49 year old Algernon Dewhurst.  He was the heir to the company and was the first Chairman of the ESCC on its formation in 1897. His occupation is given as Sewing Cotton Manufacturer.  Two of his siblings are also resident  - Frances (45) and Harold (39). Both are listed as being unmarried. Harold is in the family business as a cashier.

In the 1911 census, 59 year old Algernon is now the head of the household and is now marked as being retired from the cotton spinning business. Frances and Harold are still there, and still unmarried. Harold's occupation is now Farmer. 

The latest census that is currently available is from 1921. The same 3 ageing siblings remain together at Aireville. This time, Algernon is marked down as being 'Managing Director of English Sewing Cotton Co (retired)'. Harold is marked as both being a retired farmer and secretary of sewing cotton manufactory. There are more servants than family resident at Aireville. None of the next generation seem to want to have lived there and in 1944, Aireville Hall was sold to the local council by a Cyril Dewhurst,  resident of Windermere.

As an exercise in gathering some of the job titles available at Belle Vue Mill, I looked at several residents of local streets on the 1921 census. The following roles with the English Sewing Cotton Company or Belle Vue Mill are mentioned. I include the ages of the workers too. The spellings are as given on the official transcript but need further verification as they don't always make sense.

Runner Off - 16

Belt and Rope Spiecer - 44 

Thread Reel Fritcter - 14

Thread Reel Tray Collector - 12

Running Off - 16

Spinner - 15

Cop Winder - 50

Yarn Testing Clerk in Testing Office - 25

Book Keeper Doubling Department - 19

Cotton Dohbler - 31

Pattern Card Maker - 25

Cotton Hewer - 17

Cotton Spinner - 32

Tube Stamper - 27

Cone Winder - 16

Thread Packer - 39

Ticket Store Keeper - 35

Shuttle Cop Fastener Off - 16

Weaver - 14

Warp Dresser - 22

Box Carrier - 21

Rover - 18

Steam Turbine Drawer - 54

Hand Lpooler - 25

Cotton Winder - 31

Roving Carrier - 49

Grey Warp Baller - 15


Eller Beck, running alongside Belle Vue Mill



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