For their support and input I wish to thank: my agent Jessica Woollard, Alice Howe and all at David Higham Associates. Kevin Duffy, Hetha Duffy, my editor Leonora Rustamova, Lin Webb and all at Bluemoose Books for the continued support. Delaney Jae for the cover artwork.
I extend gratitude to The Royal Society of Literature whose Brookleaze Grant enabled the undertaking of valuable research time. I am also extremely grateful to the Society Of Authors’ Roger Deakin Award, of which this book was the recipient, and which facilitated the completion of this work.
Thanks also to Steve Hartley, great, great, great, great, great grandson of King David Hartley. Steve has kept the Hartley story alive and his (currently unpublished) book Yorkshire Coiners Chronology and website www.yorkshirecoiners.com are key resources for anyone who wishes to read more on the subject. The story of The Coiners lives on the lips of generations, and in the descendents of those on both sides of the law, so a broader thank you is extended to friends, neighbours and passing strangers in Calderdale, West Yorkshire who have imparted information, stories or opinions on the subject.
Thanks also to Carol Gorner, Phoebe Greenwood and Richard Clegg at the Gordon Burn Trust. Robert and Jenny Dutson at The Workshop in Hebden Bridge for the practical coining advice. Claire Malcolm, Anna Disley and everyone at New Writing North. Jeff Barrett and all at Caught By The River. Emma Marigliano, Lynne Allan and all at The Portico Library, Manchester. The respective editors at the various publications I contribute to. Thank you to Boff Whalley for sending me extracts from his book Protest Walks. Steve Ely. John Billingsley at Northern Earth magazine. All at The Book Case, Hebden Bridge. Nick and Candice Small. David Atkinson and Anna Barker. Anthony Luke. Lisa Cradduck. Katy, Matt and Iris Calveley. Michael Curran at Tangerine Press. Sam Jordison and Eloise Millar at Galley Beggar Press. Alan The Ex-Postman. Rob St. John and Emma Cardwell. Amy Liptrot. Jenn Ashworth. Michael Stewart. Stephen May. Ian Stripe. Thanks also to Richard Dawson and his vile stuff.
I reserve special gratitude to my parents, family and to my wife Adelle Stripe, who first suggested that perhaps this story needed telling.
Benjamin Myers
Upper Calder Valley
AD 2017