FROM the beginning of the Industrial Revolution up to the present day, thousands of rural families have left the countryside to look for work.

While some families emigrated, many were attracted by the industrial centres of Lancashire, where there was a growing demand for labour in the cotton mills.

Whole families moved from the farms of North Yorkshire, taking their cattle with them, setting up shop as cowkeepers on the corners of Lancashire streets, providing fresh milk to the urban population.

The stories of these migrants have now been collected and will form a first archive of migration from the Dales.

The Upper Dales Family History Group, covering Swaledale and Wensleydale, celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, with an exhibition on the theme of “Those Who Left The Dales”.

A book has also been produced.

A programme of talks will take place, too, including one titled ‘Why move to Burnley?

A look at mill town life in 19th century Lancashire’ by Duncan Bythell, who grew up in the town.

He has written a history of the cotton industry, with which his family were linked for six generations.

His great, great grandfather, John Simpson, began as a hand loom weaver, working through the early days of increased mechanisation and the ‘room and power’ system, where the building and power source belonged to a company, but individual weavers rented the space and operated their own looms.  By pooling resources within a family, it was possible to buy up more looms and expand the business.

Although John never learned to sign his name, by the time of his death, in 1882, he was referred to as a cotton manufacturer, owning steam-powered looms that employed more than 100 people.

A number of Duncan’s ancestors moved into Burnley from various parts of the country, attracted by the advantages of cotton weaving.

His talk will look at what drew them there, what they found when they arrived, and the social and community life.

The industry was unique for the time in being well-paid work for girls and women, as well as men.

Duncan’s talk takes place on Friday, October 15, and the exhibition will be held at Tennants Auction Centre, in Leyburn. To find out more about the exhibition and book, or to book a place at the talks, contact Glenys Marriott on 01969 663738; or e-mail: glenys@bishopdale.demon. co.uk.

*Our photgraph shows Matthew Calvert (1866-1910) and his family. Matthew was born in Burnley just two months before the death of his father, also Matthew, who had moved to the town, from Gunnerside, in Swaledale, in 1860.

Matthew senior was a carpenter, like his father and brothers, and his small village, in a time of industrial decline, couldn’t support six carpenters.

Two of the brothers moved their young families to Burnley, settling in an area which already had a community of joiners, between the railway lines and Westgate.

Picture courtesy of Janet Baillie, Matthew’s great granddaughter.