<<< Back
Title: A view of Ratcher and Hough Stones, above Holebottom - MOT00115
Click on the photo to enlarge. Click here to Comment
To license a hi-res version of this image or order a print: Copy the full title, including the number and quote this when contacting us. Not all images are available to license or print.
Title
A view of Ratcher and Hough Stones, above Holebottom - MOT00115
Description
Three hundred years ago, most of the population would be found in the farms and cottages on the upland "shelf", in areas such as Shore, Mankinholes and Bottomley. Families were self-sufficient, growing and producing most of their own food and clothing.
Gradually, the merchant clothiers, the entrepreneurs of the 17th - 18th century emerged. The domestic system with its "putting-out" system became the norm. Hand loom weavers working at home would take their woven pieces to the clothier at the "takkin' in shop". In return he would furnish them with more wool to be taken home and spun and woven. The clothier would visit the cloth or piece hall to sell the woven pieces and to buy wool. A view of Ratcher and Hough Stones, above Holebottom.
The three-storey Ratcher cottage on the right is a typical example of the building constructed specifically for a cottage industry. It was later used as a bobbin factory for Lawrence Wilson from 1823.
-----
Peter Hunt has provided the following information: I lived here at Hough Stones from birth in 1953 until the family sold it in 1978. In 1953 it was 2 dwellings until about 1960 when my parents bought the cottage and turned it into a single dwelling. It had no mains services in 1953. A private water supply.
Hough Stones on the left was originally 2 dwellings until about 1960 when both cottages were turned it into a single dwelling. It had no mains services in 1953 and a private water supply.
Gradually, the merchant clothiers, the entrepreneurs of the 17th - 18th century emerged. The domestic system with its "putting-out" system became the norm. Hand loom weavers working at home would take their woven pieces to the clothier at the "takkin' in shop". In return he would furnish them with more wool to be taken home and spun and woven. The clothier would visit the cloth or piece hall to sell the woven pieces and to buy wool. A view of Ratcher and Hough Stones, above Holebottom.
The three-storey Ratcher cottage on the right is a typical example of the building constructed specifically for a cottage industry. It was later used as a bobbin factory for Lawrence Wilson from 1823.
-----
Peter Hunt has provided the following information: I lived here at Hough Stones from birth in 1953 until the family sold it in 1978. In 1953 it was 2 dwellings until about 1960 when my parents bought the cottage and turned it into a single dwelling. It had no mains services in 1953. A private water supply.
Hough Stones on the left was originally 2 dwellings until about 1960 when both cottages were turned it into a single dwelling. It had no mains services in 1953 and a private water supply.
Source
Todmorden Information Centre Trust
Date
No date yet
Rights
PHDA - Todmorden Information Centre Trust
Relation
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
Identifier
MOT00115.tif
Collection
Citation
“A view of Ratcher and Hough Stones, above Holebottom - MOT00115,” Pennine Horizons Digital Archive, accessed October 1, 2026, https://penninehorizons.org/items/show/10443.
Comments - Please note we may use your comments in our database and on this website