3
« on: Wednesday 01 December 10 17:42 GMT (UK) »
Hi,
rather a delayed response I'm afraid: I'm new to this (fascinating) thread. It's very likely that your ancestor went to St Etienne. A lot of Nottingham FWKs emigrated or travelled regularly to France. However, the most popular destination was Calais, where an English enclave developed, centered on the lace industry. Nottinghamians were instrumental in mechanising the local manufacture of lace. Bonington (father of the artist), Webster and Clark are credited with smuggling the first Leavers machines into France in about 1816.
There is a large and modern lace museum in Calais ('Cité de Dentelle'), with working Leavers machines, and some Nottingham memorabilia (eg brass plates from Jardine lace machines).
Can't help you on St Etienne specifically I'm afraid, but their local museum will be able to help you.