10th July 1812: Cotton Mill at Earby, near Skipton, burns down - arson suspected

In the evening of Friday 10th July 1812, the cotton mill of a Mr Crook at Earby, near to Skipton - and part of the West Riding of Yorkshire at that time - was found to be on fire and was eventually burned down. The Leeds Mercury reported 8 days later that "from the nature of the circumstance, strong suspicions are harboured, that it was done by some incendiary". The Lancaster Gazette, published a day after the fire, reported that the insurance "will not near cover the loss".