1738 Lewis Paul invents the first mechanical carding machine

This photograph, taken by Arthur Winter, shows the improved carding machine, which was made by Richard Arkwright in 1775.

Carding is the process used to separate the cotton fibres into lengths before spinning. It was originally done by hand using two metal brushes, called cards, which were used to comb the fibres in one direction.

The machine Lewis Paul invented made the production of carded cotton quicker. Improvements were made to the carding machine by James Hargreaves in 1762 and Richard Arkwright in 1775. The carding machine eventually became a large power driven machine made of iron, which was used in factories like Horrockses Yard Works in Preston.

For more information on the carding process go to the cotton process activity.