Hebden Census 1881 - Age Profiles

The following chart shows the percentage of the population over a given age. It gives an indication of mortality rates and life expectancy. The indication from these figures are that 56% of the population were now living beyond their teens, much the same as in 1871, with 50% surviving to 24. The average age was over 27½.

Hebden Census 1881 - Surnames

A number of family names dominate the census, but less so than in previous years, with six surnames being shared by a quarter of the population. The following surnames occur ten or more times in the census. This table can be sorted by clicking on a column heading.

Hebden Census 1881 - Employment

As with the previous census, an attempt has been made to record the occupation for the whole population. Some people record more than one occupation, especially the farmers with small holdings. If a farmer works in the lead mining industry, for example, both his employments will be included in the statistics below, but this will not have a significant effect on the figures.

People with no recorded occupation

215 people, or 69% of the population, are recorded as having no paid occupation or are scholars. All those without such occupation are children, wives, a few young daughters, a few retirees, a pauper, and 10 unemployed.

The main industries

The main occupations recorded relate to the textile industry, the lead mining industry, and farming. The following figures indicate the occupations that can be definitively assigned to an industry. Those employed in mining has halved from 1871. Textiles has reduced to a trickle.

Textiles

The textile industry seems to have well and truly died in the village, and it is likely that the four people employed were working at Linton Mill.

Lead mining industry

Although 31 of those in paid work were employed in the mining industry, the actual number has halved since 1871, as the only active mining activity in the parish was the driving of Hebden Horse Level. This only employed 12 men, so the remaining 19 were probably working in the Grassington Moor or Appletreewick mines.

Farming

32 people, about a third of the working population, were employed in the farming industry, much the same as in 1871. There appears to be 20 farm holdings varied between 13 acres and 421 acres, with a total of 2490 acres, an average of 125 acres, and a median of 57 acres. However, these figures are not to be relied on, as only half of those declaring themselves as farmers gave the size of their holding. In three cases the occupation of a younger member of a family was 'Farmer's son'. It is assumed that this indicated that they were working on the farm unless under 10 years old.

The Children

All but 6 of the 68 children aged between 4 and 12 were recorded as being scholars. There is one 'School master' and one 'School mistress' recorded. The youngest child employed was a 13-year old farm labourer.

Where people were born

The following chart depicts the 'localness' of the population in terms of where they were born. Region 1 is Hebden and the surrounding villages Appletreewick, Burnsall, Cracoe, Grassington, Greenhow Hill, Hartlington, Linton, Thorpe and Threshfield. Region 2 encompasses the area within an easy day's travel and the Skipton hinterland, and includes Pateley Bridge. Region 3 includes the neighbouring large towns such as Leeds, Bradford, and Burnley and Dales villages slightly further afield, and Region 4 covers anything further afield.