Continuing the Highs and Lows September theme, this
week’s Sepia Saturday's prompt photograph shows an industrial scene, including a factory, a tall chimney and a goods train (see the end of this post). So take a look here at the local
history story of Rhymer’s Mill in the
rural Scottish Borders.
For over 200 years, textile production was an important part of the local economy.
We have one of the earliest descriptions of the village in t 1799 in "The First Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-1799," edited by Sir John Sinclair, where Parish Minister Rev. Lawrence Johnston wrote:
In the late 18th century, RHYMER'S MILL was a corn mill before being transformed by the Whale family into a textile mill where the production of gingham was introduced by Thomas Whale, succeeded by his two enterprising daughters Christian and Marion - two formidable women ahead of their time."The principal manufacture is linen cloth. There are between 40 and 50 weaver looms mostly employed weaving linen........ We have only one woollen manufacturer, though no place could be better situated for carrying out that branch of trade. The Leader Water runs along the west and there is plenty of wool to supply 20 manufacturers."
A carved inscription on the old mill building,
with the names C & M Whale clearly visible.
The
1851 Census identified Christian Whale as a 64 year old manufacturer
of gingham and cotton, employing 60 workers, mainly weavers and winders
of cotton. Also in the business was her sister Marion aged 56. Ten
years on in 1861 Christian, now aged 74 and Marion 66, were both
described as Gingham Manufacturers.
Rutherfurd’s 1866 Directory of the Southern Counties, commented
“Earlston produces quantities of the Earlston ginghams. There is no other place in the country where the same class of gingham is made”.
Two surviving examples of the Earlston Gingham in the collection of Auld Earlston
In the 1851 Census, at MID MILL Charles Wilson was owner:Rhymer's
Mill later became a dye works run by and the
path alongside the Leader Water is still referred to as "The Tenters"
where the dyed wool was hung out to dry. In 1911 the premises were
taken over by John Rutherford & Sons, agricultural engineers, who
operated at the mill until the business closed down in 2014.
********Young workers listed in the censuses include:""of the firm of Charles Wilson & Sons, blankets and plaiding manufacturers employing 18 men 7 women and 19 girls". Ten years on, the business had extended to making tweeds, and employed "28 men and 44 women, boys and young women".
- Piecer in a Woollen Factory (a 13 year old boy)
- Machine Feeder in a Woollen Factory (15 year old girl - sounds dangerous! )
- Steam Loom Weaver of Wool (18 year old girl)
Subsequently
Simpson and Fairbairn took over the business and greatly extended its
operations. It appears that the firm later adopted the name of Rhymer's Mill. The local heritage group Auld Earlston is fortunate to have a collection of photographs of the mill dating from the early 1900's .
We
often think that the role of women in the 19th century was one of all
things domestic. But for many of our female ancestors, life involved
working long hours in the mill in various aspects of textile
production, whether it be knitwear, tweed, cotton, lace or carpet production.
Down to the job in hand
Mill Road where houses were built for the workers
Rhymers
Mill weathered the storm of global depression in the 1920's and 30's.
The Mill was fully employed on service and utility clothing during the
Second World War. and the post war years saw a
boom time for the Borders as world wide stocks of clothes had to be
replaced, with the firm employing more than 300 workers, making it the
mainstay of the Earlston economy.
A current street sign in Earlston reminds us of the village's industrial past.
But
by the late 1950's and early '60's, the old problems of cheaper
competitors and vulnerability to changing fashions had returned. The
decline could not be stemmed and tidal wave of workers along Mill Road
turned to a trickle. The mill finally closed in 1969 when a workforce
of almost 100 was made redundant.
Earlston's role in the Borders textile industry
came to an end.
Two photographs taken in 1974
of the derelict Rhymer's Mill
*****************
With grateful thanks to Auld Earlston for permission
to feature photographs from its collection.
to feature photographs from its collection.
Sepia Saturday gives an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history and memories through photographs
What a lot of good history you have about the mills. So sorry to see the building was left to the elements, and that was 50 years ago. But there sure are reminders of it still around.
ReplyDeleteGingham is one of my favorite patterns in cloth except I like light colors - light blue, mint green, pink, lavender, and the like. I'm surprised there wasn't more interest in wool. As you pointed out, the area could have been supportive of it.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 19th and early 20th century girls/women were employed in the textile industry in the eastern part of Holland as well. But when they got married, they had to resign (or were fired). Married women belong in the kitchen, was the common belief...
ReplyDeleteIn Holland there is an increasing belief that some of these early industrial buildings should have monument status.
Do I see men climbing the chimney in the second picture? Must be the chimney sweepers :-)
I've always found industrial history much more interesting than that of wars and famous people. It's fascinating how textile manufacturing changed so many things like machinery, automation, power supply, and even social order, not to mention fashion trends, too.
ReplyDeleteI recently read a great book that I know you will like. The title is "The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World" by Virginia Postrel. The author presents an overview of fabric from ancient to modern times that covers every culture in the world. I found it very engaging as she convincingly argues that the "stone age" should be called the "string age."
Excellent history of the mill and the textiles created there, and kudos to the two enterprising daughters who took over the enterprise. I also had working women in my family -- mainly in the glove and shoe industries in upstate New York. In fact, one of my Italian-American great-grand aunts worked in a glove shop office until 70, never married and used her earnings to help support her extended family of origin. Such work was often liberating for women in that era.
ReplyDelete