Snow Hill in 1962; some of the so-called ‘step houses’ built over hand loom weavers shops Pic: Preston Digital Archive
Hand loom weavers dominated the Preston textile trade until the 1830s. However, by the 1840s, when power looms had largely taken over, hand loom weaving had become synonymous with the ‘iron teeth of poverty’.A poll book of 1830 registered over 1,500 weavers working in Preston. With family members, the number was closer to 5,000. Consequently, over 1,000 houses were used for weaving, more than a quarter of the dwellings in the town. The boom time was in the 1790s.
One stated: “The children who are employed in this branch of manufacture, at their own homes are more to be commiserated with than most operatives in the large manufactories”.century they could work as they pleased, now they were forced to work from five in the morning till twelve at night. Even with these hours prices were so depressed they only made enough for a subsistence standard of living.
In Preston, cellar weaving shops are known at the bottom end of Friargate and around the Spittals Moss factory, off Kirkham Street.Cheap labour actually slowed the introduction of power looms in Preston. A report from 1834 found 13,000 hand loom weavers were still working, for very low wages, of about five or six shillings a week. That was for 12 hour days. The rent for a cellar dwelling was around two shillings.
By the 1860s most hand loom weaving had gone, however the production of ‘fancies’ or fine cloth that could not be produced by machine continued for a time.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: autosport - 🏆 90. / 53 Read more »
Source: Motorsport - 🏆 11. / 86 Read more »
Source: Motorsport - 🏆 11. / 86 Read more »
Source: autosport - 🏆 90. / 53 Read more »
Source: BBCNews - 🏆 3. / 97 Read more »
Source: hellomag - 🏆 24. / 68 Read more »