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In the doldrums 1810-1850

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John Heathcoat

Luddite frame breaking
Early framework knitters were a prosperous group. An average Nottingham framework knitter in 1714 earned 10 shillings and 6 pence for a four day week; those that produced fine embroidered work could earn as much as 20 shillings a week. Others soon entered the industry hoping to enjoy the same standard of living, but rising numbers diluted standards and earnings in the less skilled branches. Like all fashion-based industries, knitting was vulnerable to sudden shifts in demand and earnings were affected.

Select committee report 1819

The emergence of trade unions
The Stocking Makers' Association for Mutual Protection, formed in 1776, was the first association in the knitting industry to formally represent the workers. The Association campaigned for a Bill to regulate framework knitters' wages, but when the Bill failed in 1779, the association fell apart. Workers continued to campaign against low wages with the support of their trade societies. If framework knitters went on strike against a hosier that had reduced pay rates, the society would use its subscription income to provide the strikers with money.

Framework Knitter Scene at Newarke Houses Museum

The 1844 Royal Commission
After the strikes of framework knitters in the 1810s and 1820s, wages in common branches of the industry remained at a low level for a further twenty years. Reports highlighted the poor conditions faced by workers. A factory commissioner noted in 1833 that 'The men sat at their work back to back; there was just enough space for the necessary motion, but not without touching each other'. He also commented that the majority of men over twenty looked 'sickly and emaciated'.

Timeline

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