History Craven

1 history

1.1 toponomy
1.2 prehistory
1.3 roman occupation
1.4 anglo-saxon
1.5 norman conquest

1.5.1 domesday book
1.5.2 14th century
1.5.3 16th century
1.5.4 17th century hearth tax


1.6 history of agriculture

1.6.1 sheep
1.6.2 forestry
1.6.3 cattle
1.6.4 crops
1.6.5 administration

history

craven: “the exact extent of find”

craven has been name of district throughout recorded history. extent in 11th century can deduced domesday book boundaries differ according whether considering administration, taxation or religion.

toponomy

the derivation of name craven uncertain, yet celtic origin related word garlic (craf in welsh) has been suggested has proto-celtic *krab- suggesting scratched or scraped in sense , alleged pre-celtic word cravona, supposed mean stony region.

in civic use name craven or cravenshire had, 1166, given way staincliffe. however, church archdeaconry retained name of craven.

prehistory

the first datable evidence of human life in craven ca 9000 bc: hunter s harpoon point carved out of antler found in victoria cave. traces of mesolithic nomadic hunters flint barbs set shafts. extensive finds of these microliths lie around malham tarn , semerwater. flint not occur in dales, nearest outcrop in east yorkshire. on higher ground microliths found near springs @ tree line @ 500 m (1,600 ft) indicating campsites close open hunting grounds. valley woodlands inhabited deer, boar , aurochs, higher ground open grassland fed herds of reindeer, elk , horse. no permanent settlements have been found of age, hunting here seasonal, returning plains in winter.

after 5000 bc long-distance trade indicated distribution of stone axes. lithic analysis can identify quarry source langdale in central cumbria , finds in ribblesdale , airedale indicating craven trade route through pennines.

neolithic farmers permanently settled in craven, bringing domesticated livestock , used stone axes clear woodlands, slash-and-burn, increase areas grazing , crops.

roman occupation

in first century romans, having trouble controlling brigantes in yorkshire dales, built forts @ strategic points. in craven 1 fort, possibly named olenacum, @ elslack 53°56′27″n 2°06′58″w / 53.94078°n 2.1160°w / 53.94078; -2.1160. through fort passes roman road linking 2 other forts: bremetennacum @ ribchester lancashire , @ ilkley yorkshire. archaeologists describe road running north-east ribblesdale 0.6 miles (1 km) east of clitheroe, bending eastwards near 53°53′35″n 2°20′29″w / 53.893°n 2.3413°w / 53.893; -2.3413, 0.6 miles (1 km) north of barnoldswick pass airedale through low 144 m (472 ft) pass near thornton-in-craven.

anglo-saxon

map of wapentakes c. 1000 ad

to collect danegeld in 991–1016 anglo-saxons divided territory tax districts. wapentakes of staincliffe , ewcross covered region call craven areas beyond such forest of bowland in lancashire; , sedbergh in cumbria north. church still using these areas in 16th century.

norman conquest

the farmlands progressively taken anglo-scandinavian farmers , given king selected normans. previous , subsequent landowners recorded in domesday book along area of ploughland.

the domesday book

the domesday book, on folio 301v, lists arable land in craven

the great domesday book of 1086 did not use later wapentake district names in part of england, did, instead used name craven. book included lands further west later description: melling, wennington , hornby on river lune in lonsdale , holker near grange on sands in cumbria.

the historic northwestern boundary of craven disputed. 1 faction declares before norman conquest north of england coast coast administered york , named kingdom of york. 1086 normans had designated 1 county in north of england , yorkshire. 1 may assume thereby norman yorkshire of 1086 same kingdom of york of 1065; , domesday book supports this. opposing faction proposes first yorkshire smaller, till 1974, , amounderness, cartmel, furness, kendale, copeland , lonsdale attached in domesday book merely administrative convenience.

also domesday book not describe width of craven @ all, arable land noted. ploughing minor part of craven agriculture, , cultivators had been reduced harrying of north. of craven uncultivable moorland , valley bottoms boggy, shady frost-hollows, soils of glacial boulder clay heavy plough. ploughing limited well-drained moderate slopes. higher slopes full of rock debris grazing cattle still primary living in craven, sheep marginal. because grazing land not tallied in domesday book full areas of estates of manors can induced

the areas of ploughland counted in carucates , oxgangs: 1 carrucate being 8 oxgangs , 1 oxgang varying fifteen twenty acres. vagueness comes oxgang signifying land 1 ox plough , varied heaviness of local soil. carucate area managed team of 8 oxen.

in 1086 roger of poitou tenant-in-chief of western side of craven: ribblesdale , pendle valley. in 1092 granted lonsdale defend morecambe bay against scottish raiding parties.

soon after henry of england s succession crown in 1100 arose rebellion of men variety of grievances. several yorkshire lords involved , suffered confiscation of estates. in craven these roger poitevin, erneis of burun , gilbert tison. king conducted reorganization of yorkshire establishing men more skilled in government. shortly after 1102 castleries in cravenshire divided between house of romille , house of percy. king intent cravenshire should retain compact structure added-in estates own demesne. result 2 partially interwoven castleries incorporating land in craven. percy estates concentrated in ribble valley castle @ gisburn while romilles dominated upper wharfedale , upper airedale fortress @ skipton castle.

14th century

craven still suffering scottish raiders; example in 1318 severely damaged churches far south kildwick.

in 1377, in form of poll tax records, earliest surviving detailed statistics of craven collected. them can compare income brackets of various occupations, , relative worth of villages. records list every hamlet , village using wapentake system. wapentakes of staincliffe , ewcross cover craven areas beyond such sedburgh north. young king richard ii had commanded poll tax pay off debts d inherited hundred years war. first application in 1377 flat rate , second of 1379 sliding scale 1 groat (4p pence) 4 marks. third tax of 1381 of 4 groats (1 shilling) , applied corruptly , led great rising of 1381.

16th century

the deanery of craven had similar boundaries wapentake of staincliffe , included following areas not in modern secular district of craven:

a large part of city of bradford, namely parishes keighley, addingham, , silsden , steeton eastburn parts of parish of kildwick. of bingley , part of ilkley, though never part of staincliffe wapentake, within craven , within bradford. (they in upper division of wapentake of skyrack.)
the northern section of modern lancashire district of ribble valley, including gisburn in craven, , bowland forest parishes of bolton bowland, slaidburn , great mitton, latter including waddington, west bradford, , grindleton. (sawley, while not technically in old deanery, in geographical area.)
the north-eastern section of modern lancashire district of pendle, including barnoldswick, bracewell, , part of old parish of thornton in craven includes earby , kelbrook

17th century hearth tax

these valuable records define area wapentakes. tax introduced government of charles ii @ time of serious fiscal emergency, , collection continued until repealed william , mary in 1689. under terms each liable householder pay 1 shilling each hearth within property, due twice annually @ equinoxes, michaelmas (29 september) , lady day (25 march). yorkshire records of 3 ridings transcribed, analyzed , available free online

history of agriculture
sheep

the hills , slopes of craven involved in history of sheep particularly in history of wool. after 5000 bc neolothic farming movement introduced domesticated sheep, roman occupation of britain introduced advanced sheep husbandry britain , made wool national industry. craven made accessible major roads ribchester ribblesdale , york through ilkley. extent of roman villa farm excavated @ gargrave implies practiced grazing on nearby moorland. 1000 ad england , spain recognized pinnacles of european sheep wool production. 1200 ad scientific treatises on agricultural estate management began circulate amongst cistercian monasteries in yorkshire dales. these indicated way greatest profit produce wool export.

“the famous monasteries under steep, wooded banks of yorkshire dales began movement in course of 4 or 5 hundred years converted of north england , scotland unused wilderness sheep-run.”

the mediaeval monasteries converted unused wilderness sheep farms

fountains abbey affected craven in upper wharfedale, airedale , littondale. in 1200 abbey owned 15,000 sheep in various locations , traded directly italian merchants. on limestone fells held extensive sheep runs managed granges located @ valley heads access both moors , rough pasture of valley sides. many granges developed hamlets. fountains’ sheep administrative centre @ outgang hill, kilnsey. 1320 bolton priory’s flock @ malham 2,750 , built extensive sheep farm buildings there. accounts show quarter of cheese sheep’s cheese, , of priory’s came wool sales. developed fulling, sorting , grading industries. feudal lords began imitate monastic management methods own estates , in 1350 when black death killed-off half rent-paying farmers had bailiffs substitute sheep-pasture tillage. export of wool flanders looms, , concurrent growth of cloth manufacture in england, aided edward iii s importation of flemish weavers teach people higher skill of craft, made demand wool english flocks supply. profitability of wool further increased landowners converted arable land sheep pasture evicting whole villages. on 370 deserted medieval villages have been unearthed in yorkshire. henry viii in 1539 suppressed monasteries , sold littondale , bolton priory s estates in lower wharefedale , airedale henry clifford, 1st earl of cumberland , lord of skipton. 1600 wool trade primary source of tax revenue queen elizabeth i. britain’s success made major influence in development , spread of sheep husbandry worldwide.

in more modern times industrial revolution brought factory production of wool cloth towns further down airedale , many craven families, made redundant agricultural machinery, moved south work in worsted mills. however, in 1966 price of wool fell 40% due increased popularity of synthetic fibres. farmers complain costs more shear sheep can wool , result reduced flocks. although tough wool of hill sheep still used carpet weaving, sheep breeding lambs sell on fattening meat in low pastures.

forestry

woodlands important component of landscape , crucial scenic beauty. small surviving areas of ancient woodland have high biodiversity value. pennines notably lacking in trees despite archaeological evidence showing 90% woodlands before human settlement. palynology indicates decline in trees coincided increase in grasses in neolithic times caused direct clearance pasture , overgrazing.

woodland, endure, must enclosed protect re-growth grazing

since sheep grazers, not browsers, not affect mature trees, devour seedlings. narrower face cattle, crop plants close ground , continuous grazing can overgraze land rapidly. ancient common grazing rights made impossible grow trees, fuel, because coppicing requires enclosure protect regrowth sheep, , rights deny enclosure.

from 2002 2008, yorkshire dales national park programme encouraged sheep farmers switch uplands livestock sheep cattle since not graze intensively. traditional breeds such blue greys , belted galloways can survive harsh winters , live off rough grasses sheep. until december 2013, national park farming , forestry improvement scheme offering grants farming, forestry , horticultural businesses become more efficient, more profitable , resilient whilst reducing impact of farming on environment.

since 1968, moorland has been reforested forestry commission. since 2005, collection of indigenous seeds , propagation produced saplings planting schemes began in 2010. between 2007 , 2013 dales woodland restoration programme funded creation of 450 hectares of new native woodland, on privately owned land.

cattle

in 16-17th century craven prized longhorn cattle both beef , high butterfat milk makes fine cheeses

in 16th , 17th centuries longhorn cattle prevailed in craven. quality bulls bought communally improve livestock on common land beside each village. in 18th century crossbred shorthorns; grown crossbreeds weighed 420 lb (190 kg) 560 lb (250 kg).

some graziers of craven highlands visited scotland, example oban, lanark , stirling, purchase stock brought down drove roads cattle-rearing district. in summer of 1745 celebrated mr birtwhistle had 20,000 head driven northernmost parts of scotland great close near malham, distance of ca 300 miles (483 km).

in 1818 craven heifer, bred meat on bolton abbey estate remains day largest , fattest cow of age ever shown in england, weighing 2,496 lb (1,132 kg).

in modern times dairy farming has predominated , after 1970s holstein friesians became popular breed weighing ca 1600 pounds (725 kg).

crops

pollen analysis shows peak of arable agriculture in craven 320-410 ad. outbreaks of pestilence in 6th century , in 7-8th century resulted in shift away ploughing grazing. however, anglo-saxon chronicle records danish viking settlers “were engaged in ploughing , making living themselves.” cultivation lynchet terraces , ridge-and-furrow fields of middle ages visible alongside many villages particularly in wharfedale , malhamdale , tithe records show grew crops of oats, barley , wheat , in rotation, beans , peas. wool boom of 16th century caused arable land turned pasture. in 18th century miller’s records show had import wheat grind , sell flour farmers still grew oats formed principle article of subsistence, made bread , puddings cooked oatcakes.

“we browt on haverbreead , cheese”

administration

in 18th century national board of agriculture commissioned survey of agriculture in region, view of improving it. published in 1793 general view of agriculture of west riding of yorkshire, 140-page book detailing every factor. wide variety of soil composition resulted in tithes ranging 6 shillings 3 pounds per acre , farms leasing 50 500 pounds per year. details parish quantities of cattle , crop produced, rotation , market value. report recommended more wheat , turnips; more sheep , of better breed; criticized poor drainage , design of farm buildings , taught principles of farm management.

average wages paid employees 12 pounds per annum victuals , drink; , temporary labourers 2 shillings , sixpence per day beer. hours of work in winter “dawn till dark” , in harvest time “six till six, 1 hour dinner , drinking”. author shows concern virtue , welfare.