What is Rural History?The history of communities.The history of regions.The history of agriculture.The history of the development of society.The history of politics, travel, leisure, sports, the environment, the landscape, economics, health, poverty and crime.

Agriculture and Upper Coquetdale• Upper Coquetdale has, since people started using agriculture, been

a largely agrarian economy.• The terrain in the valleys is conducive to growing produce whilst

the hills and moors were used to pasture livestock.• Livestock pre-dominates in this area due to the terrain.• During the Middle Ages settlements had common pastures for the

use of all and most families kept a plot of land for produce and pigs, goats and hens.

• Many of the improvements in agriculture made during the 18th and 19th centuries took place in Northumberland; often the labourers and farmers were suspicious of these innovations and resisted them.

• Farming, or working as an agricultural labourer, was the most common profession until the early 20th century.

Trades, Crafts and Industries• Communities were more independent than now.• Were, however, inter-dependent for many essential trades and

services.• This is demonstrated within the various trade directories of the 19th

century.• Craftsmen often held positions of respect in their communities

because of their wider experience and education.• Many craftsmen would employ apprentices and journeymen.• Cottage industries were relatively common but were destroyed by

increasing industrialisation.• Even though a largely rural area there was industry in the area;

coalmining, quarrying, brick and tile production, textiles and brewing were all represented in the area.

Example 1: Thropton 1858

• Distribution Trades made up 42% of entries in directory.

• Farmers and Agricultural Trades: 18%• Gentry, Nobility and Clergy: 18%• Miscellaneous Crafts: 6%• Miscellaneous Services: 6%• Building Trades: 3%• Ironwork, Metals and Heavy Industry: 3%• Textile Manufacturers: 3%

• The most common occupation listed in the trade directory was Shopkeeper: 6.

• Tailors: 3.• Innkeepers and Publicans: 2.• Others included: Joiner; Boot & Shoemaker;

Butcher; Grocer; Blacksmith; Millwright; Wheelwright; Carrier; and a Draper.

• In this relatively small village there were 18 separate occupations and 33 individuals mentioned in the trade directory.

Thropton Top Five Occupations from 1861 Census

• Agricultural Labourer: 20 (17.7%)• Domestic Servant: 16 (14.2%)• Farmer: 6 (7.2%)• Tailor: 7 (6.2%)• Boot & Shoemaker: 4 (3.6%)

Snitter Top Five Occupations from 1861 Census

• Agricultural Labourer (or Carter): 26• Domestic Servant: 22• Farmer: 6• Miller: 4• Grocer: 3

Holystone Top Five Occupations from 1861 Census

• Agricultural Labourer: 8 (15.7%)• Domestic Servant: 8 (15.7%)• Boot & Shoemaker: 5 (9.8%)• Carpenter & Joiner: 3 (5.9%)• Farmer: 3 (5.9%)

Farming Report 1850

Leisure in Rural Communities

• The rural communities of Upper Coquetdale had to by and large make their own entertainment.

• Drinking seems to have been commonplace given the number of pubs, inns, beerhouses and illegal stills.

• Gambling was also no doubt commonplace.• Market days would have been a chance to gossip and

enjoy oneself.• Horse racing was a very popular pursuit and Rothbury

was said to have the best steeplechase course in northern England; races were also held at nearby Longframlington and at Morpeth.

Rothbury Garage 1926

Rothbury Station

New Possibilities

• The coming of the railways and of motor transport transformed small rural communities in Upper Coquetdale.

• The North British Railway Co. built a branch line connecting Rothbury to Morpeth and the main line in 1870.

• The line became part of the LNER in 1923.• Passenger service were halted in 1952 and the line closed

altogether in 1963.• Tourism became much more of a profitable industry.• Lodging Houses, Hotels and Cafes quickly became much more

common and profitable.

Crime• Upper Coquetdale has had a reputation for

poaching.• In the Middle Ages many of the locals were

prosecuted for hunting in the Royal Forest (including the local priest!).

• During the 19th century the poaching of salmon was a massive problem which was known to escalate into armed conflict between poachers and watermen.

• The poachers used spears called leisters to catch fish.