Yorkshire was one of the largest counties in the kingdom.
Administratively it was split into three Ridings, North, East and West, all with vastly different landscapes and economies.
The North Riding was still heavily wooded, with numerous deer parks, and the many mineral deposits such as Alum, Copperas, and Jet were exploited.
Even more important to the regional economy was the knitting of socks, and as John Speed said "wherewith even the decrepit and children get their living".
The coastal ports of the East Riding from Middlesbrough to Hull were havens for the shipping that sailed the East Coast of England.
The West Riding had considerable variety, ranging from the fells and moors of the Pennines to the central Yorkshire plain of the Ouse valley.
Even in 1610 textile production was already established around the town of Halifax.
