Framework Knitters, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire

[Jane Eden]

Hi

Just found these links. They are new to me. Both very interesting for FWK.

Hinckley District Museum

http://www.hinckleyandbosworthonline.org.uk/pp/business/bronze.asp?id=27907

Knitting Together

http://www.knittingtogether.org.uk/

Jane

[Keith Sherwood]

Well done with those two, Jane,
More fascinating reading on the subject!  And I've been receiving PM's from a Rootschatter whose husband has been following this FWK thread with great interest too - they have possibly more parish record details on my POLLARD family of framework knitters in Anstey...
Keith

[Jane Eden]

Hi Keith

On the Knitting Together site it mentions small museums in Notts, Derbys and Leics aswell. I will keep these in mind and try to go to some of them. When I do I will take my camera and let you know what they are like.

Jane

[Keith Sherwood]

Jane,
This humble little thread seems to be knitting together really well, an excellent source for others who might find this an interesting topic, if you'll excuse the pun.  More photographs would certainly add to the general picture...
Keith

[wilkipet]

hi folks, I havejust been reading the Notts FHS journals where I foundsome interesting articleson FWK.
 Jan 2003 Vol No 10 photo in Calverton parish church of window portraying Rev. William Lee, the inventor of the FWK.
In theOct 2003 is a Book Appreciation of the Nottinghamshire Lace Makers. It is out of print but ca be found. Apparently there is list of knitterswho signed a deed restricting working hours etc. Some Notts librarieshave copies.
Gerald

[Keith Sherwood]

Gerald,
Nice to think a Reverend was responsible for starting the whole FWK thing off.  It also seems as though Notts. is as strong an area for it as Leics.  Does the Calverton window actually depict the Rev. Lee with his invention, do you know...?
Keith

[Jane Eden]

Hi

I can't find reference to the window but the church has a website

http://www.stwilfrids.co.uk/

There is a memorial window in Christs College Cambridge to William Lee. Lee received his theological training at Cambridge. He then became Curate at St Wilfrids until his stocking frame duties took over. He invented the frame about 1589.

Jane

[Keith Sherwood]

Jane,
More fascinating details - I had no idea that Gerald was talking about so early a date.  I must pop down the road, then, and have a look inside Christs College over the weekend.  I presume the memorial to William Lee is in the chapel there?
Keith

[wilkipet]

hi Keith and Jane, The window is on the front page of the journal.
The three counties of the East Mids were all active in the knitting business. The top brand names go back to the beginning of the 17th century, when they were the merchants.
The London Guild forced the business out to the Midlands.
They even went to Calais to avoid the restrictions, smuggling out the essential parts. It wasbasically a family affair with Dad working the machine(s) and doing some ag.lab while mother, and the kids did most of the work. It has been said the factory was actually easier on the women and children. I read the other daythat thewomen in the hosiery trade in the 1950s were earning 4 x their husbands'wages in the pit. I know my aunts were very well off (relatively!).
But it allcame to an end about the same time as coal.
Gerald