Bobbin lace. Courtesy Charnwood Museum
Loughborough, 1816: inventor John Heathcoat is growing rich on the back of his patented lacemaking machine. Traditional lacemakers in the East Midlands either go to work in the factories, or face losing their livelihoods in this chapter of the Industrial Revolution.
An exhibition at Charnwood Museum in Leicestershire, opening on April 20, follows the lives of these workers after the 1816 Luddite attack on Heathcoat’s lacemaking factory.
A bobbin lacemaker. Courtesy Charnwood Museum
The Lacemakers’ Story, researched by Friends of Charnwood Museum, runs until July 8 and looks at the 200-mile walk undertaken by many to follow Heathcoat to a new factory, and the adventures of others who sailed to Calais and even the colonies of Australia in search of better lives.
While the East Midlands prospered from a commercial boom as a centre of textile production in the late 18th century, many craftspeople employed in cottage industries lost out. Traditional lacemakers were put out of work by Heathcoat’s Loughborough Frame machine, and those employed in his factory were incensed when he cut their wages by a third in 1816.
The Emigrants - an etching depicting the epic journey the lacemakers would have made. Courtesy Charnwood Museum
Following the example of the mysterious Ned Ludd, who was notorious for destroying factory machinery, a group of Luddites attacked Heathcoat’s factory later that year. Leader James Towle was hanged for his part in the attack, and others were transported to Australia.
In the wake of the attack 500 men, women and children followed Heathcoat, on foot, to a new factory he set up in Tiverton, Devon.
Heathcoat was aware of the local resentment towards him, and it is believed this is why he built a secret room in his house to hide from angry mobs should they come for him.
Museum Keeper Susan Cooke crawling into the secret chamber under Heathcoat's house in Loughborough. Courtesy Charnwood Museum
The Charnwood exhibition charts all these events, plus the adventures of those who emigrated to France, and after that country’s revolution of 1848, to Australia, rather than face the poorhouses back in England.
Events accompanying the exhibition include lacemaking demonstrations and a Luddite Trail through Loughborough. The hour-long trail has a booklet to go with it available from the Museum now, and two guided walks will take place on Sunday April 22 (2.30pm and 3.30pm, book places on 01509 233754).
A new musical theatre production, The Lacemakers, has also been created based on the exhibition. The Lacemakers, following the personal stories of a couple caught in the upheaval of 1816, opens at Loughborough Town Hall on April 20 at 7.30pm.
