Timeline
Events 1762 - 1913

1821 Wages of cotton workers are reduced by 10%

Cotton workers outside Horrockses Yellow Factory.

Cotton workers outside Horrockses Yellow Factory.

During the Nineteenth century there were a number of trade depressions in the cotton industry. The mill owners tried to survive the depressions by cutting wages and the hours people worked.

In 1821 the Preston mill owners reduced the wages of their workers by 10%. Following the reduction the workers went on strike. The mill owners refused to increase wages. A month later the workers were forced to return to work.

The workers in the mills were paid more than handloom weavers. Cotton spinners earned between 20-25 shillings a week in 1820 compared to only about 8 or 9 shillings for handloom weavers.

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