Kidderminster carpet weavers 1850s

[cire]

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

[goldie61]

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’.

[cire]

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

[philheeks]

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

[cire]

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

[philheeks]

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

[Leandra Ford]

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

[goldie61]

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.

[goldie61]

These might be of interest

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10553653

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10553781