Old Yorkshire Stone Crafts

Abstract

In 1938–40 I recorded several old Yorkshire stone crafts which were either dying out or had already ceased to be followed. These records were published as articles in The Quarry Managers' Journal during the years 1940 and 1941. As few students of folk life would have easy access to that material, some of the articles are now being reprinted here, without revision.Yorkshire, on account of its size and the diverse nature of its geological structure, boasts a wide variety of quarry products. Old industries have become decadent and new ones are taking their places; districts which were important quarrying centres a century ago are now almost without evidence of their former activity, whilst other areas are being eaten away by the gaping excavations of which modern quarrying is capable. Historical records of the quarrying industry are rare and the old craftsmen who treasured memories of their forefathers' activities are fast disappearing. (Fig. 1) By this survey it is intended to place on permanent record a brief historical account of the old stone industries which flourished in the county of Broadacres.