Kirkby Malzeard & Laverton

Businesses and Trades

This section is a work in progress.

What was Kirkby like for previous generations? We can only touch the surface using archive material, and word of mouth from older residents. But going back over 100 years? That’s what I find interesting. Looking at the census of 1861, 1891,1901 and 1911, we start to get the idea of just what a thriving market town Kirkby must have been. Even before these censuses, going back to 1817, Ripon was so worried about Kirkby holding weekly markets, that they sent a letter to the ‘Freemen, Inhabitants and Tradesmen’ trying to stop the markets taking place as it would damage the Ripon businesses.

Going further back in time, to the Middle Ages, there were 3 gates on Main Street that were used as pens for different types of animals. One gate was near the Market Cross, another near the Pinfold, and another near where the triangle of grass is at the west end.

Kelly’s Directory 1822.
Moving back to the late 19th, early 20th century we can use maps and censuses to give a feel for the area. As transport wasn’t as easy as it is now, becoming as self sufficient as possible, and being able to obtain what was needed locally, was very important.
It’s very hard to imagine Kirkby, in 1861, having 10 tailors, 10 dress makers and 3 bonnet makers! The following compares Kirkby with Grewelthorpe and Galphay:

For more in depth information on occupations etc., please have a look at the census section.