As so often happens while looking for one thing I turn up something else. I was checking something on the 1887 map and noticed 'Rope Walk' mentioned on Victoria Street Newton, I recalled also seeing this near Floweyfield, it got me to wondering why.
It seems that a rope-walk was a long straight narrow lane, or a covered
pathway, where long strands of material were laid before being twisted into
rope.
One inch rope required 72 strands of ‘binder twine’, so for 100ft of 1 inch rope, 7.200ft of twine was needed. That sounds like a lot of twisting and work.
Hand spinning was a skilled job, the spinner had to walk at just the right speed to keep the yarn smooth and make sure it was the correct thickness.
The rope made locally could possibly have been sold to farmers, mine and mill owners, hopefully a bit was left over for granny to have some fun
Hi htat looks like a great map is it available on the internet our can I buy it locally ? would really like a copy
ReplyDeleteThanks Alan
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteThe map,and others can be found here:
http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/tithemaps/TwinMaps.aspx
Thanks for the info on the map site Tom brilliant that you can compare present day with the past. Would highly recommend the site to anybody as it is so simple ( bit like me)
ReplyDeleteThanks again Alan
Thanks. I'd noticed these 'rope walks' on 1850s maps thought it was some kind of playground thing at first!
ReplyDelete