History of Bedfordshire - Industry and Agriculture

Industry and Agriculture

Owing to its favorable agricultural conditions, up until at least the late nineteenth century Bedfordshire was predominantly an agricultural rather than a manufacturing county. From the 13th to the 15th century sheep farming flourished, Bedfordshire wool being in demand and plentiful. Surviving records show that in assessments of wool to the king, Bedfordshire always provided its full quota. Tradition says that the straw-plait industry owes its introduction to James I, who transferred to Luton the colony of Lorraine plaiters whom Mary, Queen of Scots, had settled in Scotland. Similarly the lace industry is associated with Catherine of Aragon, who when trade was dull, burnt her lace and ordered new to be made. As late as the 16th century the lace makers kept Catterns Day as the holiday of their craft. The Flemings, expelled by Alva's persecutions (1569), brought the manufacture of Flemish lace to Cranfield, whence it spread to surrounding districts. The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and consequent Huguenot immigration to Great Britain, gave further impetus to the industry. Daniel Defoe writing in 1724–1727 mentions the recent improvements in the Bedfordshire bone-lace manufacture. In 1794, after the French Revolution, further French refugees joined the Bedfordshire lace makers.