Hello there.

I have been asked to help write a short play and possibly a song about the 'Luddites' as part of a themed morris event.

There's not a great deal of time to do it in so I am looking for any short cuts to information that could be useful.

In particular I am seeking:

* Info associated with 'The Colne Valley', (west of Huddersfield), West Yorkshire, England.
The Colne Valley is the setting for this event and the valley includes the main villages/wards of Longroyd Bridge, Lockwood, Paddock, Crosland Moor, Milnsbridge, Longwood, Golcar, Linthwaite, Slaithwaite and Marsden.

* The main Luddite events and the major characters involved in this area of Huddersfield.

* Any songs about the Luddite uprising that already exist (so I don't have to write one!) that could possibly be used within the play that are historically correct and relevant.

The Colne Valley has a long history of the textile trade and once had mills and mill chimneys dominating it's entire landscape (remember "The dark satanic mills"?) and was, and still is, noted around the world for the quality of it's worsted cloth.

It is also noted for the great number of weaver's cottages on the hillsides with mullioned windows facing south so weavers got the maximum number of sunlight hours to work in.

I have lived in such a cottage built pre 1850 for 29 years now and that's where it all started until the machines of industrialized mass production and of course, the Luddites, came along.

I want the play to be as historically accurate as possible with plenty of reference to local events and the people that shaped our history.

I am also interested in seeing visual portraits/drawings/depictions of events and people and photos of settings appropriate to this theme that could add to the backdrop of the event in question.

So I am hoping you can 'fast track' me to some or all of the above.

Sincere thanks in anticipation dear folks. Hope you can help me out!

Chris