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Old 15-08-2011, 20:32   #10
Tealeaf
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Re: Old Oswaldtwistle Map 1878

Quote:
Originally Posted by Retlaw View Post
Is this any better, it appears to show the owners of land the houses will be built on, not sure about the street names not familiar with that area of Ossy.
Retlaw
I still can't read the detail, Walter - my eyesight, I'm afraid - but the general view appears to suggest that these are plots of land sold off to various developers for housing schemes back in the late 1870's.

If so, it would be interesting to find out how many of those names on those plots coincide with the names of various local mill owners of the time. Which raises the questions:

a) Were they simply providing housing for their workers?

b) Were they involved in speculative building ventures?

c) Or was it another lot altogeather, who were simply property developers involved in putting money up front to get an ROI somewhat higher than that in the weaving industry?

d) Or a combination of two or three of the above.

Either way, it does suggest that the idea of investment in property - rather than industry - goes back earlier than the 20C, and the rot in British manufacturing set in alot earlier than to what is usually subscribed.

Last edited by Tealeaf; 15-08-2011 at 20:37.
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