Follow the Yarn

In 1836 Preston cotton spinners tried to persuade mill owners to pay them the same wages as spinners in Bolton. The mill owners agreed to give them a 10% increase in wages but only if they gave up their trade union. The spinners refused. On the 7th November around 600 spinners went on strike.

The strike action stopped the supplies of yarn to the weaving mills. The looms were shut down and 7,800 weavers were thrown out of work. The strike lasted for three months. The weavers had no savings or a trade union and were forced to rely on charity from the parish and food from the soup kitchens. On the 5th February 1837 the strikers were eventually forced back to work.