Monument record 1681/33 - Post medieval dye works

The site of the dye-works lies in front gardens and within highway boundary and is likely to have good survival. Even if only of the 17th and 18th century its accurate location and potential good survival may warrant investigation, but it may prove have earlier origins and could shed light on the chronology, scale and nature of the cloth industry within the post medieval village.

{1} A significant woollen cloth industry existed in Northamptonshire in the medieval and post medieval period and it would seem that Brigstock was involved in the industry. The presence of a fulling mill in the manor in the 14th century has already been noted. In 1620 there was a certain Richard Stanierne of Brigstock, weaver, while in 1777 there were at least two weavers and a woolcomber in the village.
In 1725 the old Dye House plot is recorded as lying on the south side of the stream. The presence of a dye-works would suggest that in the 17th century there may have been more than just one or two weavers working in the village. Whereas it has been suggested that the woollen cloth industry was reintroduced to central Northamptonshire in the 17th century it is conceivable that the industry actually survived at least in a modest way from the medieval industry.

<1> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Brigstock (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100441.

<2> 1725, Brigstock Survey, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100446.

Record last edited

Sep 23 2011 10:56AM