The West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield is situated at the convergence of the rivers Colne and Holme. Inhabitants of the area discovered that the water – which flows from the Millstone Grit Pennine hills – gave excellent results for the washing of raw wool.
The industry was traditionally cottage based, with spinning and weaving often taking place in the same dwelling. Many of the workers operated from smallholdings, supplementing their income with the manufacturing of wool textiles.
But then came the industrial revolution of the 19th Century, bringing with it great change as the wool textile industry became mill based and mechanised.
Virtually all the valleys’ inhabitants were left with little option but to take their skills into the mills undertaking the processes of scouring, carding, spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing as many of the mills were totally vertical and carried out all processes.
Manufacture of these fine fabrics demanded a high level of expertise and Huddersfield quickly became synonymous with fine woollen and later, fine worsted cloth manufacture.