Client Project- Holgate School

JUst some background info on Hucknall..

Hucknall, or Hucknall Torkard as it was once called, has roots dating back over 900 years. Once a country village, that developed into a small town, it achieved considerable prosperity when, during the eighteenth century, the trade of Framework knitting blossomed.

A national depression within the industry affected the town during the first six decades of the 19th century. A short lived glove industry (circa 1840-65) helped to keep the town’s economy afloat. Then another small industry prospered; that of the manufacturing copies of Russian Orenburg shawls. A shawl measuring 1.5 square yards, containing up to 1,400,000 loops and be fine enough to be pulled through a ladies ring.

The textile industry, within the town, survived the depression and modernised its processes in line with the rest of the country. For over another hundred years it remained a strong industry within Hucknall, although a new industry was needed to provide jobs for some displaced workers.

Then, during the 1860s, the coal mining industry set foot in the town; bringing with it massive employment opportunities. Rows of new houses were constructed and within the 30 years following 1861 the population grew over four fold. Consequently not only providing work for the struggling textile workers but bringing prosperity to the whole town.