Attleborough History
Attleborough History

 

In 1150 Robert Earl of Leicester gave the nuns of Chaise-Dieu in France 6 virgates in Eton (Nuneaton) and Attleborough in exchange for land in Olney (Buckinghamshire). In 1243 the Prioress of Chaise-Dieu leased the manor of Attleborough to Nuneaton and about 50 years later the lease was converted to sale. At the dissolution of the monasteries the manor passed to Sir Marmaduke Constable with Nuneaton and descended with it, but remaining its separate manorial conditions, until at least 1815. By 1900 it had been acquired by the Earl of Harrowby. Manorial rights appear to have expired.

There is said to have been a chapel there with a priest paid £5 pa but nothing is known of its history (a suggested possible site is near The Green).

At the time of the 1851 census there were 1283 people (676 female, 607 male) living in the village. Of these only 608 gave their birthplace as Attleborough which shows a surprising level of mobility. There were 315 households (or more correctly people claiming to be heads of household) so the average household size was almost exactly 4. The age distribution of the inhabitants shows a remarkably youthful population

0-10  11-20  21-30  31-40  41-50   51-60  61-70  70+

 348     229     226    140     107      100      94     39

The range of occupations was very broad but the majority of those specifying an occupation (719), 488 were weavers of which 310 were ribbon weavers. Surprisingly agriculture employed only 85 so the village could be classed as industrial rather than agricultural. Although weaving was a fairly precarious occupation in the 1850s only 8 people were recorded as paupers. The occupations given are as listed below and one of note in the county hangsman who was also a sawyer.

 

 

 

 

Agricultural

 

Domestic

 

Trade

 

Weaving

 

 

Ag Lab

59

Servant

15

Dressmaker

7

Ribbon Weaver

310

Farmer

10

Laundress

9

Cordwainer

6

Silk Winder

44

Farm Servant

3

House Servant

8

Butcher

5

Silk Weaver

43

Plough Boy

3

Gardener

4

Errand Boy

5

Hand Loom Weaver

25

Landed Proprietor

2

H Keeper

4

Tailor

5

Hand Loom Weaver Silk

22

Proprietor Of Land

2

Wash Woman

4

Blacksmith

4

Silk Weaver Hand Loom

12

Day Lab

1

Charwoman

2

Carpenter

4

Engine Loom Weaver

9

Grazier (12 Acres)

1

General Svt

2

Grocer

4

Ribbon Manufacturer

4

Hay Trusser

1

Cook

1

Rake Maker

4

Frame Work Knitter

2

Jobbing Lab

1

Footman

1

Wood Turner

4

Ribbon Manufr.

2

Lab

1

Governess

1

Basket Maker

2

Stocking Weaver

2

Waggoner

1

House Maid

1

Boatman

2

Weaver

2

 

 

Service

1

Builder

2

Engine Loom Weaver Silk

1

 

 

Washer Woman

1

Builders Appr

2

Engine Weaver

1

 

 

 

 

Musician

2

Gimp Weaver

1

Extractive

 

Misc

 

Painter

2

Ribbon & Fringe Manufacturer

1

Coal Dealer

12

Nurse

15

Semstress

2

Ribbon Dealer

1

Bricklayer

7

Teacher National School

2

Wheelwright

2

Ribbon Warehouse Man

1

Stone Miner

6

Pupil Teacher

2

Apprentice

2

Silk Filler

1

Brick Maker

3

School Mistress

1

Baker

1

Silk Weaver Engine Loom

1

Brickyard Lab

3

Teacher

1

Brush Maker

1

Warper

1

Coal Miner

3

Engineer

1

Carrier

1

Weaver Silk

1

Stone Mason

3

Machine Worker

1

Draper

1

Winder Silk

1

Coal Higgler

2

Plain Sewer

1

Engraver

1

 

 

Drill Man

2

Rail Lab

5

Innkeeper & Baker

1

 

 

Miner

2

Plate Layer

2

Doctor

1

 

 

Miner Coal

1

Annuitant

11

Maltster

1

 

 

Stone Breaker

1

Pauper

8

Miller & Baker

1

 

 

 

 

Out Of Business

3

Miller

1

 

 

 

 

Pensioner Chelsea

2

Needle Woman

1

 

 

 

 

Infirm

1

Needle Worker

1

 

 

 

 

Lab (Infirm)

1

Pot Seller

1

 

 

 

 

Baptist Minister

1

Proprietor Of Houses

1

 

 

 

 

Clergyman Without Care Of Souls

1

Publican

1

 

 

 

 

Perpetual Curate

1

Rake Manufacturer

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sawyer

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sawyer / Hangsman

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shoe Maker

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toll Collector

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victualler

1

 

 

Source VCH and 1851 census CD

 

 

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