During the 19th century the demand for watercress grew especially in the urban and industrialised areas. Artificial plank-lined beds provided dozens of crops per year. The beds in Hinstock supplied watercress to the Potteries. There were three separate bed systems in the village. The largest was at the mill pond at Shakeford. The beds at Bearcroft Pool were run by the local butcher. The beds in the photograph taken at the turn of the 20th century were at Pixley Lane and remained in production until 1918. The work was hard and uncomfortable and the labourers complained of rheumatic ailments later in life.