mr-aitch
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 34
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
|
Does anyone know of the names of companies, locations etc which were engaged in Boot/Shoe making in the 19th Century in Linlithgow. Many of my relatives were involved in this line of work including the tanneries supplying the leather.
I know that the Scout/Guide Halls in Dog Well wynd were previously a shoe factory and the two primary schools in Preston Road were built over the site of the last tannery in Linlithgow
Many Thanks
Les
Hi, Les.
The best source for the information you want would be the Valuation Rolls which started in 1855 and there are annual copies at the West Lothian Local History Library. The first six years are on film and the remainder in large bound books. Either way it would be a long task reading through them.
However, I've been able to extract the number of footwear workers there were in the town in 1851, 1881 and 1901 which may be of interest:
1851
54 shoemakers
2 shoe makers
0 bootmakers
0 boot makers
1881
329 shoemakers
1 shoe maker
5 boot makers
5 bootmakers
1901
72 shoemakers
5 shoe makers
4 boot makers
8 bootmakers
The 1895 25" map shows three tanneries named as such - two on the north side of High Street between the street and the loch. The other, a much larger concern on the south side of the town between the railway and the canal, was named as Rivalds Green Tan Works
The factory in Dog Well Wynd belonged to Dougal & Steel but the map shows no tanneries on Preston Road. What were there in 1895 were the Gowan Stank Glue Works (an appropriate name?) and the slaughterhouse.
The 1893-94 Business Directory of Linlithgowshire lists the following:
Boot and Shoe Makers
(those marked * are wholesale)
George Aitken, 228 High St
Geo. Brotherston, Muiravonside
*Dougal & Steel, Dog Well Wynd
*W.&G. Dougal, 210 High St
*David Duncan, 264 High St
John Eccles, Muiravonside
*Thomas Glen, 126 High St
Geo. Henderson, 56 High St
Hannah Hutton, 98 High St
*Wm. Little, 71 High St
*J.&W. M'Alpine, 233 High St
*Wm. Mack, 238 High St
*Alex. M. Meek, 162 High St
*A. Morrison & Sons, 292 High St
Jas. Paterson, 197 High St
David Rattray, 56 High St
Robert Taylor, 36 High St
Curriers, Tanners and Leather Merchants
Thomas Boyd, 241 High St
P.&A.M. Callender, 338 High St
A. Hardie & Sons, 232 High St
Alex. Meek, 162 High St
Morrison & Sons, 296 High St
Skinners
Thos. Boyd, 241 High St
T. Nimmo & Co., Rivalds Green
I hope this is of some use, Les, but, I repeat, the best place for your research is the Local History Library - if you can get there, of course.
Regards,
Tom
|
Author
Logged