While not literary in the sense of a classic novel, the story of the Cragg Vale Coiners is a legendary piece of local history that has inspired a wealth of modern literature, most notably Benjamin Myers’ brilliant and visceral novel, The Gallows Pole. For anyone interested in the darker corners of West Yorkshire’s past, this story is essential.
The King of the Valley
In the late 18th century, “King” David Hartley led a band of locals who practiced a daring and illegal trade known as clipping. They would shave the edges off genuine gold coins and use the clippings to forge entirely new ones. This wasn’t just a small-time scam; it was a sophisticated, valley-wide operation that involved dozens of families and nearly brought the British economy to its knees.
The Coiners’ story is a masterclass in community secrets. These weren’t professional criminals from the city; they were weavers and farmers operating from remote farmsteads hidden in the folds of the Cragg Vale hills. It’s the ultimate village mystery—everyone knows what’s happening behind closed doors, but the bond of loyalty (and perhaps a little fear) keeps everyone silent.
A Setting for Suspense
When I’m writing a plot that involves deep-seated local loyalties and hidden motives, I often think of the Coiners. Their legacy reminds us that these quiet Yorkshire valleys have always been home to rebels and dreamers who weren’t afraid to play by their own rules. The physical landscape—the steep valleys and the dense woodland of Cragg Vale—provided the perfect cover then, and it continues to provide the perfect atmosphere for my mysteries today. There’s something delicious about the idea that beneath a peaceful exterior, an entire community might be in on the secret.