Frame knitters' workshop, 42-44 Bushloe End, Wigston, Leicestershire

Photograph taken 1972 © Copyright Crown copyright.NMR ref: bb72/03087

The hosiery industry maintained an almost exclusively domestic system of production until the mid-19th century, of which this frameshop with an attached house is a unique survival. It was built in 1880 and the machines seen here were last used in 1972 (when this photograph was taken).

Location

Leicestershire Wigston

Period

Victorian (1837 - 1901)

Themes

The machines to the right of this picture are carding machines. These used spiked drums in which the cotton was rotated. This process aligned the fibres, which were then placed in buckets as lengths or 'slivers'. The slivers were combined on a doubling frame, which is the machine that most of these women are working on.

Frame knitters' workshop, 42-44 Bushloe End, Wigston, Leicestershire

Location

Period

Themes

Tags