Public Talks & Meetings
Previous Talk/Meeting
Low Moor Village
Ann-Marie Proud’ s presentation will focus on the twenty years between these two census dates using these records and the diaries of John O’Neil to illustrate life in and around what was at this time one the largest water turbine driven cotton mills in the world.The period will be further illuminated by extracts from the remaining diaries of mill worker John O’Neil. This extract indicates the quality of O’Neil’s record:
On Sunday, 17 February 1856 he wrote,
'It is just a year today since I came to Low Moor from Bentham in Yorkshire and I think I am better off and so is my daughter than we would have been had we stayed in Bentham.' On the first day of the year 1856 he had summed up: ‘Here I am at Low Moor near Clitheroe in Lancashire working at the power looms and my daughter is winding [in a factory in Clitheroe town]. We have both of us plenty of work but little for working, but as we cannot mend ourselves we must bear with it as well as we can. I had a very pleasant Christmas as far as I was able but did not get drunk. Jane was at the Catholic Soiree and spent a very pleasant evening. We have been working all day and a very dull day it has been. It was the shortest day we have had yet and everything is dull. No news from the army in the Crimea this fortnight. And nothing but bad yarn and bad weft to torment us’.
On the last day of 1856 he wrote:
‘Now that the year is ended I find that I am in rather better circumstances than I was at the beginning and Jane is also a great deal better, and if we should remain here another year it is hard to tell what state we may be in if we live. But at any rate we must hope for the best for so long as God gives us health and strength we are willing to work and to do our best. She has plenty of good clothes, more than ever she had in her life before, and if nothing happens I will have a new suit this next summer and until then I will do my best’.
Review
A History of Low Moor Village 1851 – 1871.
On January 6th, Clitheroe Civic Society were given a presentation by Anne-Marie Proud based on a thesis she had produced to gain her B.A. some years ago. A fascinating series of facts was presented, concerning the population of Low Moor, living in their typical village homes consisting of a living room, kitchen and two bedrooms. Ranging from anywhere between 6 and 17 persons in one home , one wonders where on earth they all slept on the night of the census!!. The cottages were “tied houses”, meaning that at least one person must work in the mill owned by the Garnett family. In one case it was just a young couple ; brother and sister, but this still counted. The Garnetts seem to have been good and fair employers providing celebrations for special events , a reading room with baths - (but without alcohol !!) Comparisons were made between the three census of 1851,1861 and 1871. The discoveries were quite complex but showed that at times of unemployment people were apt to move away or to take up residence with relations. Most workers DID work in the mill , with just a few working on the land or in other trades necessary to the lives of the villagers. A unique diary of the time by mill weaver John O’Neill was quoted, as instances of “short-time” working , wages for the amount of looms worked etc, created a picture of life in this little village .
The Society’s next presentation will be on Monday , February 3rd at 7-30 p.m. by Civic Society member, Barbara Alty, on the history of Shaw Cottage – her home and the longest continually inhabited dwelling in Clitheroe.
Please note the NEW venue for all future Civic Society presentations. This will be at the Catholic Centre Assembly Hall in Lowergate - just opposite the car park (free at this time of night). Members are admitted free of charge, visitor’s admission £3.00 (including light refreshments) and Students free.
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