Huddersfield Woollen Industry
There are a number of reasons why the woollen industry became established
in the area, most notably
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The herbage was only suitable for the grazing of sheep and
appeared to give the fleece a finer, silkier texture.
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There was an abundant supply of water. This was used for driving
the early machines used in the production of cloth and also
provided for the fulling and dyeing processes.
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The water was soft, i.e. it percolated through the peaty moorland
which instilled a subtle acid in it. This acid was used as a
solvent in the washing and dyeing processes.
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After the introduction of steam power the area was ideally
situated adjacent to rich coal seams.
Records indicate that there was a Roger the Fuller (Fulling is
a process where the woollen material was pounded in water to make
it thicken and 'felt' the fibres together) at Holme in 1274 and
a John the Dyer of Almondbury in 1297.
It is suggested that foreign labour was brought in to the area
c1430 from Flanders. One of the oldest families in Almondbury was
the Flemings, this being an indication of their Flemish background.
Note also that there is a Fleminghouse Lane in Almondbury today.
Up to 1530 the wool was spun by distaff and spindle but then the
one-thread spinning wheel was introduced. This was surpassed by
the old hand-jenny of Hargreaves.
In the reign of Charles the Second legislation was passed that
forbade anyone to be buried in anything other than woollen cloth.
This was to protect the wool trade and also minimise imports of
lace and other cloths.
In 1738 a patent was granted to John Wyatt of Birmingham for spinning
cotton by machinery. Other inventions and improvements soon followed.
In 1780 the first scribbling machine was set up in the district
at Ing Nook Mill, New Mill.
In 1784 Dr Cartwright invented the power loom, and thenceforth the
manufacture and trade of the woollen industry increased dramatically.
In 1727 Daniel Defoe visited the town and relates that woollen
goods were produced in abundance and that the people favoured oaten
bread and oatcakes. He also remarked that the ale in Huddersfield
was remarkably good.
Prior to the building of the Cloth Hall in 1768 the manufactured
cloth would have been sold in the Market Place, Charles II granting
the Ramsden family the rights to a market every Tuesday.
The cloth was transported by horse and wagon until the opening
of navigable waterways. In 1780 the river Calder was made navigable
from Wakefield to Halifax and then in 1785 the Ramsden canal was
dug between the Calder at Cooper Bridge to Aspley.
The introduction of machinery at the turn of the 18th century led
to many people being put out of work. Coupled with the Napoleonic
wars and the shrinking of the retail market because of this conflict
the dissatisfied workers conspired to destroy the machinery. The
movement was started in Nottinghamshire where they were led by Ned
Ludd, hence the name Luddites.
The centre of Luddism appeared to revolve around Wood's Cropping
Shop at Longroyd Bridge.
At the end of the war with Napoleon the country was left with heavy
taxation, debt and the markets were glutted with unsaleable goods.
Thus the mills were brought to a standstill. This gave cause for
the insurgents to rally again and in June 8th 1817 hundreds of men
assembled at Folly Hall and there awaited reinforcements that were
rumoured to be on their way from outside the area. The Yoemanry
were called for and a few shots were fired before the soldiers retreated
and the mob dispersed.
Other uprisings were dealt with in the area including mass meetings
at Dumb Steeple and Grange Moor, the latter being raised with the
intent of marching on London. However the King's troops from Huddersfield
broke up the riot and over 20 people were sentenced to death for
their part in the uprising. This sentence was later commuted to
transportation for seven years.
Another abortive uprising occurred in 1842 when the South Lancashire
Plug Rioters passed through the area, drawing plugs from a number
of mill boilers in the area thus interrupting the manufacturing
process.
The Riot Act was read and the streets were cleared by a troop of
the 7th Lancers without bloodshed.
In January 1818 there was a catastrophic fire at Atkinsons Mill,
Colne Bridge, in which 17 young girls beteen the ages of 9 and 18
lost their lives. Children were pressed into labour at early ages
in the textile industry as they were able to bring in a small pittance
in wages to poor households. It was a practice for the workforce
to be locked in to the mills for the duration of their shift which
could last up to 18 hours or more.
In an effort to stop this exploitation of the young Mr Richard
Oastler of Fixby Hall emerged as a champion of the oppressed factory
workers and in 1831, at a great meeting in Huddersfield, he put
forward a proposition for a ten hour working day for 5 days and
an 8 hour working day for Saturdays.
In 1832 Oastler led a march to York in support of the 10 Hour Bill
in an effort to demonstrate Yorkshire resolve to Parliament.
The Factory Bill became law in January 1834. It stipulated that
no child under 9 years should be employed, that children under 13
should work no more than a 48 hour week and should have 2 hours
schooling per day, that the under 18's should not work more than
a 60 hour week with no night work and that a system of regulation
should be set up to enforce the law.
SOURCES
- Huddersfield Official Guide - 1932
- Old Huddersfield 1500-1800 by George Redmonds
- Official Handbook of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee,
June 22 1897
- The Story of Huddersfield by Roy Brook - First Published 1968
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