Papers relating to the Lancashire Cotton Industry

Two folio volumes in which were mounted in the 19th century miscellaneous documents, papers and plans relating to spinning and weaving activities in Lancashire at that time, mostly in the 1860s. Included are records respecting early trade unionism and questions of employment and wages, some concerning Rylands & Sons. Volume 2 contains several plans of textile machinery.

Dr D.A. Farnie has identified the volumes as being the personal business files of John Rylands, containing extensive entries in his own hand.

The collection is available for consultation by any accredited reader.

Presented to the John Rylands Library by Messrs Dendy, Paterson & Simpson of Manchester in June 1956.

Description compiled by Jo Humpleby, project archivist.

Catalogued in the Hand-List of the Collection of English Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library, 1952-1970 (English MS 1185).

The JRUL holds numerous archives relating to the Lancashire cotton industry, including the Rylands & Sons Archive, 1742-1949 (ref.: GB 133 RYL). Wigan Archives Service holds Rylands & Sons accounts, stock sheets, records of machinery purchases and sales, deeds and correspondence, 1830-66 (ref.: GB 132 D/DX El). The Royal College of Art hold a Rylands & Sons pattern book from 1901 (ref.: GB 1134 HMC).