The Dusty Miller public house, Mytholmroyd, where the Coiners often met; it was here that they plotted the murder of William Dighton.
Led by "King" David Hartley, the Coiners obtained real coins from publicans, sometimes on the promise that they could "grow" the investment by smelting the original metals with base ores. They "clipped" the edges of genuine coins, leaving them only very slightly smaller, and collected the shavings. They then melted down the shavings to produce metal for counterfeits. Designs were punched into the blank "coins" with a hammer and a "coining kit". The coiners then had their accomplices place the fakes into circulation. Most of the counterfeit coins had French, Spanish or Portuguese designs.
The success of the Cragg Coiners was in part due to the remoteness of the isolated region of Yorkshire where they operated.
Downfall
In 1769, William Dighton (or Deighton), a public official, investigated the possibilities of a counterfeiting gang in Cragg Vale. A coiner by the name of James Broadbent betrayed the gang by turning King's evidence and revealing the gang's existence and operations to authorities. Dighton had Hartley arrested.
Isaac Hartley, "King" David's brother, engineered a plan to have Dighton murdered, with a number of coiners subscribing a total of 100 guineas in support of the plan. On 10 November 1769, two farm hands employed by the Coiners, Matthew Normanton and Robert Thomas, ambushed Dighton in Halifax and shot him dead in Bull Close Lane.
Charles Watson-Wentworth (the Marquess of Rockingham and former Prime Minister) was tasked with hunting down the killers. He had 30 coiners arrested by Christmas Day. David Hartley was hanged at 'York Tyburn' near York on 28 April 1770, and buried in the village of Heptonstall, West Riding of Yorkshire.[1] His brother Isaac escaped the authorities and lived until 1815. Dighton's murderers were also caught[1] and hanged, Thomas on 6 August 1774 and Normanton on 15 April 1775.
Known members
Bell House, home of David Hartley
David Hartley, who lived at a farm called Bell House, was the leader of the gang. He was married to Grace Sutcliffe in 1764.
Isaac Hartley, David Hartley's brother, lived at Elphaborough Hall, Mytholmroyd. Recruited Matthew Normanton and Robert Thomas to kill William Dighton
Thomas Sunderland, Joseph Shaw and a Mr. Lightoulers were engravers for the Coiners
James Broadbent, the informant
Jonathon Bolton, Luke Dewhurst and Abraham Lumb were subscribers to Isaac Hartley's plan to kill Dighton along with David Hartley and Isaac himself [1]
Other Coiners included John Wilcock, Thomas Clayton, Matthew Normanton, Thomas Spencer and James Oldfield.
In popular culture
The Cragg Coiners were the subject of a children's novel Gold Pieces by Phyllis Bentley. The story is seen through the eyes of a fictitious 12-year-old boy who lives nearby and who befriends the son of David Hartley. All the places and the main characters such as David Hartley and William Dighton are given their real names. Gold Pieces was reprinted in 2007.
The story of the gang was used as a basis in the independently published graphic novel, The Last Coiner, written by Peter M. Kershaw.[2][3] David Hartley is renamed "David Hawksworth" and is portrayed, through manipulated photography, by the actor Keith Patrick.
The Chumbawamba song, "Snip Snip Snip", from the album Shhh, is inspired by the story of the Cragg Coiners.
The story of the coiners is told in a song called "King of the Coiners" written by UK singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Tilston published in his 2008 album Ziggurat.
During a 2016 episode of the BBC's Last Tango in Halifax, the story was part of an evening dinner conversation at Caroline McKenzie-Dawson's (played by Sarah Lancashire) new house. One of the characters (Harry played by Paul Copley) retold the story of the Cragg Vale Coiners and mentioned that Matthew Turnton was known to haunt the house.
The story of David Hartley and the Coiners is the subject of a researched novel entitled The Gallows Pole by author Ben Myers, published in 2017. It received a Roger Deakin award for writing concerned with "natural history, landscape and environment" and won the Walter Scott Prize 2018.[4] The novel has been translated into several languages. Director Shane Meadows adapted the novel as a BBCtelevision drama, co-produced by Element Pictures and A24,[5] first broadcast on BBC Two on 31 May 2023.[6] The popularity of the series led to a large surge in visitors to the nearby large village of Mytholmroyd, and the smaller Heptonstall where most of the Shane Meadows series was filmed.[7]
In 2023 a stage play, The Coiner's Wife, about the Cragg Vale Coiners was written by Maurice Claypole as part of the 37 Plays project instigated by the Royal Shakespeare Company and published in February 2023.[8][9] It focuses on the story of Grace Hartley, wife of "King" David Hartley. According to a synopsis,[9] the play presents the events from a woman's point of view.
References
^ ab"News item". Leeds Intelligencer. 10 April 1770. p. 3. ...three coiners are ordered be drawn on a ſledge to the place of execution; and 'tis ſaid the other ten will be reprieved till next aſsizes. Normanton, Folds, Thomas, and Broadbent, on ſuſpicion of murdering Mr Dighton, officer of exciſe, to remain in the caſtle till the next aſsizes. Article available from British Newspaper Archive on subscription: Archive search Article
^Laing, Duncan (29 November 2006). "Telling the Coiners' story". BBC North Yorkshire.
^"Benjamin Myers wins the 2018 Walter Scott Prize". Walter Scott Prize. 1 June 2018. from the original on 15 April 2019.
^Bley Griffiths, Eleanor (19 May 2021). "BBC announces new Shane Meadows drama The Gallows Pole, based on "the biggest fraud in British history"". Radio Times. from the original on 19 May 2021.
^Richardson, Hollie; Davies, Hannah J.; Verdier, Hannah; Virtue, Graeme (31 May 2023). . The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
^Vinter, Robyn (16 June 2023). "'Definitely a lot busier': TV show lures visitors to coin gang's Yorkshire home". The Guardian.
^ abClaypole, Maurice (21 February 2023). The Coiner's Wife - A play in five acts: The untold story of Grace Hartley of Cragg Vale, wife of the infamous counterfeiter, 'King' David Hartley of the Yorkshire Coiners. LinguaBooks. ISBN978-1-911369-62-2.
External links
"Crag Coiners", The Mytholmroyd Net.
"Yorkshire Coiners", Yorkshire Coiners website
"Cragg Vale Coiners walk", illustrated map of the Cragg Vale Coiners walk.
"The Coiner's Wife", drama about Grace Hartley, the wife of "King" David Hartley.
August 20, 2023
cragg, vale, coiners, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Cragg Vale Coiners news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Cragg Vale Coiners sometimes the Yorkshire Coiners were a band of counterfeiters in England based in Cragg Vale near Hebden Bridge West Riding of Yorkshire They produced debased gold coins in the late 18th century to supplement small incomes from weaving Cragg Vale CoinersHartley family gravestone Heptonstall the inscription David Hartley 1770 is legible at the topFoundedAlso known as Yorkshire CoinersFounded by King David HartleyFounding locationCragg Vale Hebden Royd West Riding of Yorkshire EnglandYears active1760sTerritoryYorkshireEthnicityBritishMembership est 40 200Criminal activitiesCounterfeiting Contents 1 Activities 2 Downfall 3 Known members 4 In popular culture 5 References 6 External linksActivities Edit The Dusty Miller public house Mytholmroyd where the Coiners often met it was here that they plotted the murder of William Dighton Led by King David Hartley the Coiners obtained real coins from publicans sometimes on the promise that they could grow the investment by smelting the original metals with base ores They clipped the edges of genuine coins leaving them only very slightly smaller and collected the shavings They then melted down the shavings to produce metal for counterfeits Designs were punched into the blank coins with a hammer and a coining kit The coiners then had their accomplices place the fakes into circulation Most of the counterfeit coins had French Spanish or Portuguese designs The success of the Cragg Coiners was in part due to the remoteness of the isolated region of Yorkshire where they operated Downfall EditIn 1769 William Dighton or Deighton a public official investigated the possibilities of a counterfeiting gang in Cragg Vale A coiner by the name of James Broadbent betrayed the gang by turning King s evidence and revealing the gang s existence and operations to authorities Dighton had Hartley arrested Isaac Hartley King David s brother engineered a plan to have Dighton murdered with a number of coiners subscribing a total of 100 guineas in support of the plan On 10 November 1769 two farm hands employed by the Coiners Matthew Normanton and Robert Thomas ambushed Dighton in Halifax and shot him dead in Bull Close Lane Charles Watson Wentworth the Marquess of Rockingham and former Prime Minister was tasked with hunting down the killers He had 30 coiners arrested by Christmas Day David Hartley was hanged at York Tyburn near York on 28 April 1770 and buried in the village of Heptonstall West Riding of Yorkshire 1 His brother Isaac escaped the authorities and lived until 1815 Dighton s murderers were also caught 1 and hanged Thomas on 6 August 1774 and Normanton on 15 April 1775 Known members Edit Bell House home of David HartleyDavid Hartley who lived at a farm called Bell House was the leader of the gang He was married to Grace Sutcliffe in 1764 Isaac Hartley David Hartley s brother lived at Elphaborough Hall Mytholmroyd Recruited Matthew Normanton and Robert Thomas to kill William Dighton Thomas Sunderland Joseph Shaw and a Mr Lightoulers were engravers for the Coiners James Broadbent the informant Jonathon Bolton Luke Dewhurst and Abraham Lumb were subscribers to Isaac Hartley s plan to kill Dighton along with David Hartley and Isaac himself 1 Other Coiners included John Wilcock Thomas Clayton Matthew Normanton Thomas Spencer and James Oldfield In popular culture EditThe Cragg Coiners were the subject of a children s novel Gold Pieces by Phyllis Bentley The story is seen through the eyes of a fictitious 12 year old boy who lives nearby and who befriends the son of David Hartley All the places and the main characters such as David Hartley and William Dighton are given their real names Gold Pieces was reprinted in 2007 The story of the gang was used as a basis in the independently published graphic novel The Last Coiner written by Peter M Kershaw 2 3 David Hartley is renamed David Hawksworth and is portrayed through manipulated photography by the actor Keith Patrick The Chumbawamba song Snip Snip Snip from the album Shhh is inspired by the story of the Cragg Coiners The story of the coiners is told in a song called King of the Coiners written by UK singer songwriter guitarist Steve Tilston published in his 2008 album Ziggurat During a 2016 episode of the BBC s Last Tango in Halifax the story was part of an evening dinner conversation at Caroline McKenzie Dawson s played by Sarah Lancashire new house One of the characters Harry played by Paul Copley retold the story of the Cragg Vale Coiners and mentioned that Matthew Turnton was known to haunt the house The story of David Hartley and the Coiners is the subject of a researched novel entitled The Gallows Pole by author Ben Myers published in 2017 It received a Roger Deakin award for writing concerned with natural history landscape and environment and won the Walter Scott Prize 2018 4 The novel has been translated into several languages Director Shane Meadows adapted the novel as a BBC television drama co produced by Element Pictures and A24 5 first broadcast on BBC Two on 31 May 2023 6 The popularity of the series led to a large surge in visitors to the nearby large village of Mytholmroyd and the smaller Heptonstall where most of the Shane Meadows series was filmed 7 In 2023 a stage play The Coiner s Wife about the Cragg Vale Coiners was written by Maurice Claypole as part of the 37 Plays project instigated by the Royal Shakespeare Company and published in February 2023 8 9 It focuses on the story of Grace Hartley wife of King David Hartley According to a synopsis 9 the play presents the events from a woman s point of view References Edit a b News item Leeds Intelligencer 10 April 1770 p 3 three coiners are ordered be drawn on a ſledge to the place of execution and tis ſaid the other ten will be reprieved till next aſsizes Normanton Folds Thomas and Broadbent on ſuſpicion of murdering Mr Dighton officer of exciſe to remain in the caſtle till the next aſsizes Article available from British Newspaper Archive on subscription Archive search Article Coiners could soon be back in Calderdale Halifax Courier 5 October 2006 Laing Duncan 29 November 2006 Telling the Coiners story BBC North Yorkshire Benjamin Myers wins the 2018 Walter Scott Prize Walter Scott Prize 1 June 2018 Archived from the original on 15 April 2019 Bley Griffiths Eleanor 19 May 2021 BBC announces new Shane Meadows drama The Gallows Pole based on the biggest fraud in British history Radio Times Archived from the original on 19 May 2021 Richardson Hollie Davies Hannah J Verdier Hannah Virtue Graeme 31 May 2023 TV tonight Shane Meadows s first period drama is about the Cragg Vale Coiners The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Archived from the original on 31 May 2023 Retrieved 31 May 2023 Vinter Robyn 16 June 2023 Definitely a lot busier TV show lures visitors to coin gang s Yorkshire home The Guardian About 37plays co uk Retrieved 19 May 2023 a b Claypole Maurice 21 February 2023 The Coiner s Wife A play in five acts The untold story of Grace Hartley of Cragg Vale wife of the infamous counterfeiter King David Hartley of the Yorkshire Coiners LinguaBooks ISBN 978 1 911369 62 2 External links Edit Crag Coiners The Mytholmroyd Net Yorkshire Coiners Yorkshire Coiners website Cragg Vale Coiners walk illustrated map of the Cragg Vale Coiners walk The Coiner s Wife drama about Grace Hartley the wife of King David Hartley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cragg Vale Coiners amp oldid 1169481755, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
