A Hucknall History
Archaic Yard Addressing
Constructing a potential 20th century mining town eventually allowed most households to personally claim their own "Back Yard."
Growth had been critically delayed until Hucknall Huthwaite Urban District Councillors finally fulfilled basic demands to supply fresh mains water. As soon as piped connections were established, it removed limitations allowing rapid residential street expansion. The necessity to room an open Back Yard followed general Heath and Sanitation guidelines, which were actually primarily concerned in ensuring all residents had sufficient fresh air. Even the smallest rear yard was therefore able to accommodate brick outhouses to commonly add luxury of a water closet plus coal shed. Ideally presenting longer rear gardens encouraged tenants to grow fruit and vegetables, until peacetime prosperity afforded private ownership preferring to more leisurely maintain flower bordered lawns.
Most of the listed communal yards presented localised 1881 Hucknall-under-Huthwaite census addressing prior full development along modern streets. Surnames generally identify wealthier titled farmers able to afford land on which to build and or take charge over a cluster of smaller cottages. Some might have begun housing extended family, but larger yards still reliant on natural water supplies homed rising numbers of poorer working families. Oldest recognisable yards were likely sited alongside the most ancient rural highway thereafter named Blackwell Road. Bigger yards filled out sloping west side the principal farm track defining length of Main Street. Turning that poor farmland into a more profitable 19th century residential hub helped firstly support the FWK home industry of Frame Work Knitters, plus local colliers before New Hucknall Colliery invited overwhelming numbers of mining families.
Finding reference given to some lesser known smaller yards may reveal temporary or changing ownership of less significance. On the other hand, Market Street offers examples for some of Huthwaite's colloquially acknowledged areas. Describing odd shaped entranced layout behind these Pear Tree Cottages best remembered Pudding Bag Yard, after originally addressing Allsop's Yard.
Ellispool presented another unofficial but nonetheless well remembered name for properties lining opposite side Market Street. And like all bigger well established yard areas, their circa 1960 demolition was enforced through final phase of Slum Clearance Acts.
Largest and most influential grounds by far in Huthwaite was a commonly known Pit Yard. Original Colliery Houses seen in 2003 still stand to claim modern Mill Lane address amid another housing estate replacing redundant New Hucknall industrial buildings.
16 Mar 13 by Gary Elliott Updated 30 Aug 20