Pigot and Co.'s Royal National and Commercial Directory of August 1841: Holmfirth
The following section is reproduced from Pigot and Co.'s Royal National and Commercial Directory of August 1841.
Holmefirth, Hinchliff Mill, Hepworth, Nether and Upper Thong, Austonley, New Mill, Thurstonland, Wooldale and Neighbourhood
Holmefirth is a populous village, partly in the townships of Wooldale and Cartworth, in the parish of Kirk-Burton, and partly in the township of Upper-Thong, parish of Aldmonbury, in the wapentake of Agbrigg, West Riding, between six and seven miles south from Huddersfield ; situated at the junction of the Holme and Ribbleden streams, and on the sides of three hills. The prevailing manufacture is that of woollen cloth, of which great quantities are forwarded to the Huddersfield market, as well as to other parts of the kingdom. The extent of trade in this district may be conceived from the fact, that upwards of forty mills are to be found within the circle of two miles from Holmefirth, all (with the exception of four mills, for grinding corn,) employed in the various processes of the woollen manufacture. At Hinchliff Mill, a hamlet one mile south-west from Holmefirth, are some powerful waterfalls and scribbling mills. The church, or rather chapel, is a handsome edifice of stone, with a square tower : the living is a curacy, in the patronage of the vicar of Kirk-Burton ; the present curate is the Rev. R.E. Leach. There are places of worship for independents and Wesleyan methodists. A national school was built here in 1831, towards the erection of which the national school society granted £200, and nearly £1,000 more were subscribed by the spirited inhabitants ; it is a lofty building, in the gothic style, and is at once an architectural ornament to the place, and an honour to its founders. Fairs are held on the last Saturday in March, the Saturday next before Old May day, and the first Saturday after the 26th of October. The townships of Wooldale and Cartworth contained, according to the census taken in June, in the present year (1841), 7,043 inhabitants.
Hepworth is a village and township, in the same parish, wapentake and riding as Holmefirth, about a mile and a half south-east from that village; and the manufactures are of the same nature as those of that place — in addition to which there are several coal mines and stone quarries in the neighbourhood. A chapel each for Wesleyan and primitive methodists are the places of worship. The population, by the late census (1841), amounted to 1,436.
Nether and Upper Thong (or Thongue) are townships and villages in the parish of Aldmonbury, from one to two miles from Holmefirth. The manufactures are of the same description as those which prevail in the places before mentioned. At Nether Thong a parliamentary church was erected in 1830 ; it is of stone, and rather a handsome edifice, dedicated to All Saints ; the living is a curacy, in the patronage of the vicar of Aldmonbury ; the Rev. David Hughes is the present curate. A chapel for Wesleyan methodists is at Dean-house, a hamlet a little to the north; and there is one also at Upper Thong. The population of both these townships is about 3,500.
Austonley is also a township in the parish of Aldmonbury. A new church was completed here in March, 1840 ; it'is dedicated to St. David, and was erected partly by voluntary contributions, and partly by the Diocesan Church Building Society : the living is in the gift of the vicar of Aldmonbury. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan methodists. Population, according to the late census, 1,940.
New Mill is a thriving village in the parish of Kirk-Burton, about a mile and a half north-east from Holmefirth. Besides the woollen manufacture, for which there are several establishments, stone quarries and coal mines are worked to some extent, and there is a considerable brewery and a pottery. The places of worship are Christ church, a neat stone structure, erected in 1830 by the parliamentary commissioners ; and a chapel for unitarians. The living is a curacy, under Kirk-Burton, the present minister is the Rev. Ebenezer Elliott. Fairs are held on the Monday before the last Wednesday in February, the first Wednesday in August, and the first Wednesday after the 14th November, all for cattle, pedlary, &c. The population is returned with Kirk-Burton parish.
Thurstonland is a village and township in the same parish as New Mill, about a mile north-east therefrom. There is a chapel of ease under Kirk-Burton, and one for Wesleyan methodists. A free school for the instruction of children of the poor of this township was founded in 1763, by Mrs. Ann Ludlam. The population of the township, in 1831, was 1,098.
Wooldale is a populous township and ancient village, in the same parish as Thurstonland, not far from that township, and about 6 miles south from Huddersfield. The society of friends have a meeting house here ; and a school was erected about seventy years ago (by means of a legacy and subscriptions), on part of the Waste given by the Duke of Leeds. Population, according the the census taken in June, 1841, 4,800.
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