An extract from the Victoria History of the County of Northamptonshire
[1906]
[p.333] In the latter part of the seventeenth, the whole of the
eighteenth, and the first two decades of the nineteenth centuries, weaving
was extensively carried on in the district embraced by the parishes of
Kettering, Rothwell, Desborough, Braybrooke, Little Bowden, and the
neighbouring villages. The principle articles woven were tammies and
shalloons. The former was a thin woollen material of open texture used
for straining purposes; it was also made into flags, often in bright
colours. The latter was a coarse woollen stuff.
[p.334] About the year 1820 silk-weaving was introduced from Coventry to
Desborough. At first the workers walked to Desborough and back again to
Coventry, but small manufactories were soon started, and afterwards larger
ones were built at Kettering, Rothwell, and Desborough, most of which are
now used as shoe factories. The weaving was done on the old handloom, and
despite the creation of the factories many of the workmen had looms in their
own houses, whilst some of them used the jacquard looms for ornamental silks
and velvets. The various kinds of articles woven in silk were coloured silk
plushes, black plushes for silk hats, plain and colour silks, black and
coloured velvets, figured velvets, terries, plain and figures satins. This
industry employed a large number of hands in the three towns mentioned
above, forming practically their staple trade; but owing to the keen
competition of the French, silk-weaving gradually declined until it ceased
about the year 1868, causing serious distress among the operatives.
... About 1830 the embroidery of nets for ladies' dresses was
introduced from Nottingham at Rothwell, Desborough and Clipston.
This trade supplanted the working of pillow lace, which had been
extensively carried on in this part of the county. The material
embroidered was cotton net for dresses, and later a silk net
figured with very elaborate designs for ladies' veils.
This net embroidery flourished until about the year 1866. The
very elaborate cloth waistcoats or vests that were in vogue
during the first half of the nineteenth century were likewise
embroidered at Desborough, but the industry died out with the
fashion about 1850. There was also a considerable amount of
linen spun and woven in this district.
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