horse hand weaver?

[Bee]

I've just found a female ancestor on the 1901 census who gives her occupation as 'horse hand weaver', anyone got any ideas as to what she actually did.

[krisesjoint]

Hi Bee I Have never heard of a Horse Hand Weaver R U sure your ancester was not a horse hair weaver!  ......There were a lot of Horse Hair Weavers about weaving fabric On a Hand  Loom from the horse hair mainly from the tail of the horse and the mane.....As they generally clipped the horses tail anyway it became an ideal resourse owing to the amount of horses about...LOL....A Use for something they had plent of and an occupation for the women as well...Children were also employed as horse tail combers preening hairs from the tails of living horses...The Facric made was strong and very Durable and easy to clean making it ideal for uphostery....It Was also used as a stiffening fabric for Gentlemens coats and collars....Beautiful designs could be made using all the different coloured horses.....Very sort after by the Upper Classes.........Hope this has helped.....Kris 

[Bee]

thanks Kris,

It did cross my mind that it might have been a transcription error, anyway it makes a change from all my domestic servants.

Bee

[Hackstaple]

House Hand Weaver? Surely by then any large production of woven goods would be by factory. Perhaps she worked from home?