Column by historian Roger Bingham of Ackenthwaite:

WESTMORLAND bobbins kept the Industrial Revolution revolving by using an abundant natural resource - deciduous woodland.

Coppiced timber had long been used as charcoal to smelt local iron ore until, in the 18th century, smelting by coke came in. Fortunately, similar wood could be turned into bobbins for cotton spinning.

Westmorland had few cotton mills, though Milnthorpe had one in 1700. But, just to the south, cotton was king in Lancashire, where the demand for bobbins was inexhaustible.

Many mills were scattered along becks in east Westmorland, including at Old and New Hutton, Scalthwaiterigg, Skelsmergh, Selside, Garnett Bridge and several at Staveley.

At Crooklands, ‘Bobbin Mill Lane’ testifies to a small enterprise that survived into the 20th century. The last surviving bobbin mill was at Haverthwaite, which closed during the three-day week troubles in 1974.

Lunesdale also had a scattering of mills at Burton-in-Lonsdale, Wray and Lowgill and at Cowan Bridge, where the building was big enough to be converted into the school attended by the Bronte sisters.

At Caton, three bobbin mills belonged to the Hodgson family, who were also slave traders. They provided the enforced pickers and producers of cotton later to be spun by British bobbins.