Image ID: 21278

Slum housing in Idlewells, Sutton in Ashfield

Idlewells
Sutton in Ashfield
England

It has been suggested that Idlewells was named after the River Idle which flowed through it. However, the course of the River Idle took it through Brook Street, Low Street, through Portland Square and towards Tenter Lane. Nearby Spring Street does suggest that there was some water nearby, though. Idlewells was demolished during the slum clearance, but its name is perpetuated by the Shopping Centre 'The Idlewells' which was later built on the site. The houses have frameknitter windows on the upper floors. The stocking -frame was a hand operated machine about the size of a small loom or small upright piano and was used to knit stockings or hose, and other small articles of clothing like hats gloves and scarves or mufflers from wool, silk and cotton. The frame work knitters worked at home, and either had a frame shop or workshop in the garden or a special room often on the top floor of the house with a special extra wide window to let in the maximum light for the stockinger to work.

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Keywordsframeknitterwindowsrenderedpantilesbrickwomanapronroofstonewallpovertytinbath

Sutton in Ashfield Library