women's industry

[ernestine]

Can anyone out there let me know of any sites, books etc there are on the 'women's industrial revolution' particularly West midlands chain making/nail making and lace making between 1840-1900. I'm researching two great grandma's industries. Thanks

[Jane Eden]

Hi ernestine

I wouldn't exactly describe the lace trade as a womens industrial revolution, more like needs must and hard work. I have a great interest in lace in the East Midlands and there are many books available. The 2 most authoratitive books are:

Felkins history of the machine-wrought hosiery and lace manufactures  W Felkin
(First written in 1867, he lived 1795-1874)
I have a copy of the centenary edition from the library at the moment. This is the book all other books on lace refer back to.

Nottingham Lace 1760s-1950s  Sheila A Mason
This is the 2nd book that people refer to. An excellent book that studies all aspects of the lace industry.

If you are in to framework knitters a 3rd book as an introduction is:
As poor as a stockinger, Framework knitting and the Luddites in Nottinghamshire  Christopher Weir

Please contact me for any other information on lacemaking. (I know nothing on chain/nail making).

Jane 

[behindthefrogs]

There is a very good article in the November 1999 Family Tree Magazine on Women Nail makers, which covers the period in which you are interested.  My Perry family were nail makers and factors.

David

[Gardener]

If you haven't already seen it there is a reproduced article on chainmakers' conditions from 1896 here...click on the conditions of the cradley chainmakers link

http://theemporium.bravepages.com/index.htm