Weavers wanted!

[Stanley]

I have had a request. Matthew Engels (Who wrote about England and included a piece about Barlick) is writing another book and needs to talk to weavers about their time in the mill. I can't think of one because mine are all dead. Does anyone know a weaver who would be willing to give Matthew some time?

[plaques]

I'll have a word with a friend of mine who spent a good portion of his life first weaving then tackling, he's now 83 so he should be able to go back a long way.

[Stanley]

Thanks P. Sounds ideal. Matthew is going to contact me and I'll pass the information on when it is to hand.
Any other contacts welcome.....

[Whyperion]

There should be one down at Bancroft left if she is still around on the firing days. Have another friend now over in Burnley who I think worked at Lamberts (?) in Colne.

[Stanley]

Chris says Matthew is on holiday but he has passed the information on to him. I'll report what happens.

[Stanley]

Matthew has contacted me and we will speak shortly......

[Stanley]

I shall be speaking to Matthew at 09:00 this morning......

[Stanley]

90 minutes on the phone. Matthew has a lot of homework to do and I think I have convinced him of that. He knows nothing about the industry and I suggested the easiest way to a quick understanding was to buy my book on Bancroft and read it. After all I have bought his books!

[plaques]

Does Matthew Engels know of Sam Hanna of Burnley who did a lot of film recording of local industries? Sam Hanna It may be worth his while having a look through some of his work.

[Stanley]

The impression I get is that the weaving bit isn't a major part of his new book and I'm afraid I buried him with new information yesterday He has retired to get his thoughts in order and then contact me again when he knows what he wants to concentrate on. I shall certainly mention Sam, it's a good suggestion.

[Whyperion]

I wonder in what context the story of weavers fits in his thoughts ? It seems clear that the move from self-employed weaving at a good rate to working in mechanised factories gave a great change, but in and around the Barnoldswick area the weaving sheds were organised as much on a co-operative or loom rent systems that the pre-concieved ideas of down-trodden workers going to the rate of a vicious employer was not always true. Though the histories here do show from time to time and place to place something akin to that might be true.