The Industrial Development and Subsequent Job Opportunities Created in Leeds, Yorkshire, England that Motivated the Irish to Migrate there Before, During and After the Famine
Leeds is located in the West Riding area of Yorkshire, England. The towns of Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield were surrounded by pasture and dairy farming took place north of Leeds and Bradford. Farming was the primary focus of the Yorkshire economy before the Industrial Revolution took place. (Singleton, Tate, 1960, p 44-45). There appears to have been a significant migration trail from County Mayo and County Roscommon to Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield from what I have analyzed thus far in the England Census Records; I plan to study all three in detail to trace surnames Brennan, Corcoran, Coffey, Gahagan (and all variations of these surnames).
Yorkshire was known for the manufacture of woolen fabrics (occurring primarily in Leeds, Huddersfield, Halifax and Bradford). Leeds became a primary hub for the manufacture of Woolen Fabrics in the 19th century. What made Leeds so ideal was a ready supply of water from the River Aire and coal from nearby mines to fuel the boilers for steam driven machinery. Transportation of woolen products by waterway was facilitated by direct links between Leeds and other vital industrial centers in England like Hull to the East and Liverpool 128 miles to the west by the year 1830. (Baines, Edward, 1969, p xi, 13).
Train lines also linked Leeds and Manchester around 1849. There were a scattering of Irish immigrants employed in transportation related occupations in the 1841 Census such as Coach Wheel Maker, Coach Maker, Coach Painter, Boat Builder, Engine Fitter, Mechanic and Waterman. The 1851 Census showed increased numbers of Irish employed as Railway Laborers, Railway Foreman, Rail Porter, Coach Maker as well as Land Surveyors.
When Edward Baines produced his "History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York" in 1822, the Parish of Leeds consisted of 10 Townships. He described the different phases of Woolen Manufacture as being spread out over the Leeds area with Spinning, Weaving and Fulling taking place in the countryside west of town; after which the unfinished cloth was sent to "Cloth Halls" for purchase by merchants. Over time this process became increasingly mechanized and the quality of the fabric produced improved. Leeds began producing "Ladies Cloths", some Stuff Goods (though most was produced in Bradford and Halifax), blankets and carpets and expanded to include Flax Spinning for Canvas, Line, Sacking, Thread and Cloth Manufacture. Textile Manufacture wasn't the only Industrial growth occurring in the Leeds area. Pottery Manufacture, Crown and Green Glass, Steam Engine Production, Tobacco and Iron Foundries provided jobs for the Irish as well. Mills dotted the length of the River Aire for "Grinding Corn, Dyer's Wood, Rape Seed etc, as well as for Fulling Cloth and Turning, Carding and Spinning Machines." (Baines, Edward, 1969, p 29, 30).
Thus far, I have analyzed three different sub registration districts of the 1841 Leeds Census: Holbeck of Leeds Civil Parish, and Kirkgate and North Leeds of Leeds Town Civil Parish; plus the 89 districts, Leeds Cavalry Barracks and District Moral and Industrial Training School for Pauper Children of the 1851 Leeds North Leeds Census, the 1861 and 1871 census. There was a wide array of Irish-held occupations, but Laborers and Textile Industry employees were the most prevalent.
District 27 was the only district of the 39 Districts in Leeds, North Leeds 1841 Census that didn't have any Irish immigrants. The heaviest concentrations were in District 12 (Wellington Yard, Post Office yard, East Lane and Harper's Street), District 14 (in Gould's Buildings, Gould's Square followed by Back York Street, York Street, Cherry Tree Yard, Kirkgate and Kirkgate Prince's Yard and Cherry Lane), District 15 (on Hemingway's Yard plus East Lane off of it, Kirkgate, Smithfield Street, East Lane, Royal Oak Yard, Prince's Yard Kirkgate with the largest number by far on Boot and Shoe Yard). There were nine districts in the Kirkgate, Leeds Town Civil Parish 1841 Census and Irish-born were present in all of them with the heaviest concentration in District 11 (they were living on Wainswright Yard- and Front Row in this yard, Front Street Hamilton Court, Booth's Yard, Front Row, Hersfield Court, Mid Roy Walton's Court and Driver's Yard. The Holbeck, Leeds Civil Parish 1841 Census included six districts, all of which had a few Irish-born occupants (but none were in the Holbeck Workhouse). They were living on Providence, Canvas, Mary, Span, Water, Garden, Moor, Balloon and Charlotte Streets and Holbeck Lane.
There were 89 districts in the Yorkshire, Leeds, North Leeds 1851 Census (plus a Calvalry Barracks and District Moral and Industrial Training School for Pauper Children) and Irish were found in all districts. Once again the Textile Industry and Laboring occupations were heavily represented. The districts with the highest concentrations of Irish-born were Districts 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g, 1h, 2b, 2c, 2j, 2k and the Leeds District Cavalry Barracks. This is the first census in which counties and townlands of origin in Ireland were occasionally given. The Irish in District 1b were living in Goulden Buildings, Square Court and Passage followed by York Street and Cellar, Back York Street and Passage and just a couple on Church Lane and Church Street in Goulden Buildings. There were 31 Flax Mill Workers, 36 Mill Workers and 76 Laborers among other Irish-held occupations here. District 1d had a huge concentration of Irish living on Wellington Yard, Old Post Office Yard, East Lane, Harper Street and Kirkgate. Most of the Irish-born here were employed as Laborers followed by 29 Mill Workers, 7 Flax Mill Workers and others. District 1e Irish were living on East Lane, followed by Hemingway's Yard, George's Street, Prince's Yard, Wood's Court, Barr's Court, Royal Oak Yard and Kirkgate. In addition to many textile workers, there were 6 Tailors, 6 Shoemakers, 9 Rail Laborers and others. The vast majority of Irish living in District 1g were living on Back George Street followed by Ebenezer Street, Court and Beverly Court on Ebenezer Street, Clarkson's Street, Turner Court, Warwick Court, Eden Court, Shepherd's Court, Mill Garth Street, George's Street and Patterson Court on George Street. They were primarily employed as Laborers but there were many employed in Textiles, 20 Shoemakers, 12 Servants and 4 Lodging Housekeepers among others. The Irish in District 1h lived on Ebenezer Street, Union Street, Harwood Street and Court, Union Street and Court, Stead's Yard, Watecliff's Court and Short Court. Eight Laborers and a mix of other jobs were held. District 2b Irish lived on Watkinson's yard, Dunn's yard, Off Street, Phillip's Yard, Brick Street, Graham Court, Goulden Yard and Rising Sun Yard. Irish from 9 different Counties in Ireland were represented here. Laborers of all sorts and textile workers occupied a majority of the jobs. District 2c had a huge number of Irish with most living on Off Street and Yard, Lloyd's Arm's Yard, Riley's Court and yard, Duke Street, York Street, Hoyle's Yard and Toward's Court. There were 57 different Laboring jobs and a host of Textile Jobs among others. District 2j Irish lived on Lee's Square, Brick Street, Brussel's Street, Marsh Lane and Court, Dutton's Yard- Buildings, Off Street, Dyson's Yard, Helen Court, Ball's Yard and Hanson's Yard and Buildings. There were over 63 different Laboring jobs among others in this district. District 2k Irish lived on Helen Court, York Street and Court, Lamb Square and Court, Morton's Row, Purdy Court, Marsh Lane and Back Lane. Fourteen different Counties (even Townlands) of origin in Ireland were given for many in this district. The Textile Industry and Laboring jobs dominated this district. Finally, the Leeds District Cavalry Barracks had Irish Immigrants from all over Ireland (many of which gave Townlands and Counties in Ireland. More specific details are provided under the individual sub registration district links listed at the bottom of this page.
A compilation of the "Top Twenty Irish Towns in Britain 1851-1871" showed Leeds to be the 9th most populous for Irish immigrants (8,466 in 1851- 4.9%) and 6th most populous in 1871 (10,128-3.9%). Swift, Roger, 2002, p 35).
It is apparent that the Irish were drawn to the Leeds area due to the large number of job opportunities in the Textile Field and other Manufacturing prospects as well. Several churches provided places of worship for the thriving Irish community developing in Leeds: St Patricks, Burmantofts that was constructed around 1831 and Mount Saint Mary's, Richmond Hill that was built around 1857. Leeds Parish Registers that are over 100 years old can be viewed on microfilm at the West Yorkshire Archive Service Offices and less than 100 years by contacting the Leeds Diocesan Archives in Leeds. I have been informed by other genealogists that they have had trouble getting a response from the archives. According to the Leeds Diocese Archives website, they are located at Hinsley Hall and are open for research only by prior arrangement with them. The West Yorkshire Archives Office holds film for 3 Leeds Churches: St. Anne (the Cathedral that was completed in 1904), Mt. St. Mary and St. Patrick. A thriving Irish community, supportive religious community and economic opportunity brought the Irish to Leeds and kept many of them there.