Author Topic: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s  (Read 3156 times)

Offline cire

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Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« on: Tuesday 14 March 17 19:57 GMT (UK) »
I am looking at the family of John and Jemima Cox who emigrated to Australia and arrived in Victoria in early 1853. I see that there is a letter in the National Archives from the clerk to the Guardians of he Kidderminster Poor Law Union, listing quite a large number of carpet weavers and their families, including John and Jemima, who were asking for assistance in getting to Australia. Was there a particular reason for such a large number of weavers, presumably out of work at this time.?

Eric
Beeston, Whithead & Towle
Allesley, Bloxham from c. 1815
Foleshill, Gee (Jee) Adams Millerchip
Burton Dassett, Bloxham to c. 1815

Offline goldie61

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Re: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 14 March 17 21:53 GMT (UK) »
Yep.
A bad time for Kidderminster carpet weavers.

There was an article in the WDYTYA magazine March 2014 all about them.

I quote;
“ The early 1800s were troublesome for Kidderminster. As the Masters prospered, the workforce felt they too should benefit from the industry’s success and a series of disputes followed, resulting in the Kidderminster’s Weaver’s Strike (1828). grinding industry to a halt for 21 weeks.
A disaster for the local economy, life for the weavers became impossibly hard, and many struggled to survive.
“ The unveiling of the first power looms during Queen Victoria’s Great Exhibition of 1851 marked a dramatic change in carpet manufacture. Driven by steam, these looms were bigger and louder than ever.
The mechanisation of the industry saw the weaver’s role change significantly.”

Will pm you with the rest.

There is a ‘Museum of Carpets’ at Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster.
Also ‘The Hive’, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, which evidently 'Along with excellent local history, is also the current repository for the carpet industry’s Weaver Union achives’.
Lane, Burgess: Cheshire. Finney, Rogers, Gilman:Derbys
Cochran, Nicol, Paton, Bruce:Scotland. Bertolle:London
Bainbridge, Christman, Jeffs: Staffs

Offline cire

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Re: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 15 March 17 16:57 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for the reply. I will e-mail you shortly. It would be interesting to find out how many of the people mentioned in the letter in the National Archives went to Australia. One day when I've got nothing else to do ----- you never know!!!!!!

Eric
Beeston, Whithead & Towle
Allesley, Bloxham from c. 1815
Foleshill, Gee (Jee) Adams Millerchip
Burton Dassett, Bloxham to c. 1815

Offline philheeks

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Re: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 01 April 17 11:45 BST (UK) »
Hi Eric

I don't know if you live near WOR but if you do it could help you if you paid a visit to Kidderminster carpet museum in Green Street as it could well help you understand more about the industry. If you don't live near WOR you could still look the museum up on the internet & possibly get in touch with them.

All the very best

Phil

ps I use to live in Kidderminster
Worcestershire - Heeks, Maiden, Pinchin, Hartland, Tredwell, Holliday, Morton, Collins, Aldington, Saunders
Oxfordshire - Gomm, Hamblet, Austin, Winter,
Herefordshire - Lowe
Radnor - Lowe, Powell
Gloucestershire - Holliday, Pinchin


Offline cire

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Re: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« Reply #4 on: Monday 03 April 17 21:04 BST (UK) »
Hi Phil
Thanks for the reply. Not  a long way from Kidderminster but I don't think my mobility scooter would get me that far!!!!!!

Goldie sent me a copy of the article which was very interesting." Health and Safety at Work" not very good in those days. I don't know whether he carried on carpet weaving in Australia.
He was a "carpet weaver" on his death cert, but a "gentleman" on one of his daughter's wedding cert!!!

Eric

Beeston, Whithead & Towle
Allesley, Bloxham from c. 1815
Foleshill, Gee (Jee) Adams Millerchip
Burton Dassett, Bloxham to c. 1815

Offline philheeks

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Re: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 13 April 17 11:25 BST (UK) »
Hi Eric

Its a shame that your not mobile enough to get to Kidderminster carpet museum as it would have been a help to you, but you may find something out or even get more info from them if you have a good look at their web site - good hunting

All the very best

Phil
Worcestershire - Heeks, Maiden, Pinchin, Hartland, Tredwell, Holliday, Morton, Collins, Aldington, Saunders
Oxfordshire - Gomm, Hamblet, Austin, Winter,
Herefordshire - Lowe
Radnor - Lowe, Powell
Gloucestershire - Holliday, Pinchin

Offline Leandra Ford

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Re: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 05 September 19 09:04 BST (UK) »
Hi Eric,

I note that this thread is now 2.5 years old but am hopeful of a reply since you were recently active. Do you by any chance have a copy of that letter in the National Archives, or a reference to it so that I may purchase a copy? My ancestors were carpet weavers in Kidderminster. My 3g-grandparents, Charles Smith and Emma nee Webb, emigrated from there to South Australia in 1852 with their two children.

Best wishes,
Leandra

Offline goldie61

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Re: Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 05 September 19 22:07 BST (UK) »
This is it on the National Archives Discovery site

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13445617

Lots of names I see. I've not checked for those you're interested in.
Lane, Burgess: Cheshire. Finney, Rogers, Gilman:Derbys
Cochran, Nicol, Paton, Bruce:Scotland. Bertolle:London
Bainbridge, Christman, Jeffs: Staffs

Offline goldie61

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Lane, Burgess: Cheshire. Finney, Rogers, Gilman:Derbys
Cochran, Nicol, Paton, Bruce:Scotland. Bertolle:London
Bainbridge, Christman, Jeffs: Staffs