Nidderdale is a mainly agricultural area, also known for the linen industry and lead mining.

The main town is Pateley Bridge, but until recently, our area of concentration were the villages of Hampsthwaite Parish, namely Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Darley and Felliscliffe, with many smaller villages and settlements such as Menwith, Kettlesing, Swincliffe, Thornthwaite and Padside plus numerous farms.

We have been working to include the census material for the whole of Nidderdale down as far as Scotton and have completed the census returns for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901.

Also included are the settlements in the Washburn Valley, between Wharfedale and Nidderdale.

We have also transcribed some districts for the 1911 census.

The 1841 census is the oldest surviving census for Nidderdale, taken around the 7th June 1841. All the members of the household were listed, but their age, if over 15, was normally rounded down to the nearest five years, though many enumerators ignored this instructiom. Place of birth wasn't given nor was relationship to the head of the household.

The 1851 census, taken on the 30th of March, was a vast improvement, listing occupations, correct age, place of birth and relationships.

The indexes here all include the folio number enabling you to find an entry in the original census films. Most should also include the schedule number, which denotes the individual households.

 

The census is available by year, on the menu bar above, or by district, by clicking the area on the map left.

The dates of all the censuses were as follows:

• 1841 – 6 June
• 1851 – 30 March
• 1861 – 7 April
• 1871 – 2 April
• 1881 – 3 April
• 1891 – 5 April
• 1901 – 31 March
• 1911 – 2 April