Wakefield was a prosperous market town in the Middle Ages, but it was
transformed by coal mining during the Industrial Revolution. Mining
dominated the local economy until the last pits closed in the 1970s and
1980s. Trade in cloth and cloth finishing were also cornerstones of
Wakefield's economy, drawing in merchants from across the north. Local
families - the Milnes's and the Naylors - dominated the trade until the
economic depression of the 1820s and increasing mechanisation. Cloth
production started on a small scale and many houses in the area had a
weaving shed until the arrival of the first steam-powered mill in 1781
and the rapid expansion of fulling and scribbling mills in Wakefield.
Yarn spinning was more successful, and the huge Plumpton Park complex on
Westgate became the largest employer in the town. Heavy industry also
came to Wakefield. Steam engines were constructed at Fall Ing Foundry
from 1791 and the railways became a major employer. Greens Economiser
Works were a major concern until the 1960s. The city has been
transformed once more, with the major employers today being warehouse
distribution bases, retail parks and shopping outlets. Wakefield at Work
explores the working life of this Yorkshire city and its people, and the
industries that have characterised it. The book will appeal to all those
with an interest in the history of Wakefield.
