Lockwood was once a massive part of Huddersfield’s textile industry and a new book reveals the tough lives the millworkers faced.
The book by historian Keith Robinson has been published by Huddersfield Local History Society and tells the stories of hundreds of Lockwood millworkers – men, women and children – as they struggled to a earn a living in often dangerous working conditions.
The theme of this year’s Heritage Open Days is Everyday Histories and on Saturday, September 12, people can join Keith on a short walk to see how Lockwood changed in the 19th century from a rural spa to a centre of the textile industry.
The walk will end with the launch of Keith’s book which is called The Millworkers of Lockwood: Two Centuries of Struggle and focuses on workers at 10 Lockwood mills.
Keith details Lockwood millworkers’ attempts to improve their existence through strikes and political campaigns as well as illustrating how many sought a better life through other means and how some ended up destitute.
He has used a wide variety of archival sources to delve into the experiences of those millworkers and names 76 of them in the text.
Keith said: “Without a doubt the lives and experiences of Lockwood workers are completely representative of textile workers across the wider Huddersfield area.’’
Keith’s walk will focus on many themes in his book including child labour, accidents, worker unrest and the development of the textile unions, as well as examining the horrendous living conditions in Lockwood in the 19th century.
His book is the latest in what has become an annual series for Huddersfield Local History Society.
Publications secretary David Griffiths said: “We now have nearly 20 titles in print covering a wide range of subjects. We are always looking to break new ground and Keith’s book opens up the story of the town’s industrial workers which has been a missing link in our range. Proposals for future books are always welcome.’’
The walk starts from Euro Tyres on Bath Street, off Albert Street, on Saturday, September 12 at 2pm.
The book launch is at 3pm at Grappolo Restaurant, 2 Water St, Lockwood, HD4 6EJ.
Pre-booking is not required.
The Millworkers of Lockwood: Two Centuries of Struggle (£10, 190pp, 22 illustrations) will be available at the book launch and in local bookshops from September 14.
It can also be obtained (plus postage & packing) from the society’s website https://huddersfieldhistory.org.uk/publications
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content, copywriting and ghost-writing autobiographies.
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