Lancashire Cotton Industry and the Factory System (1770-1851)

1. Rising cotton demand fuels Lancashire expansion

   Jan 1, 1770Labels: Lancashire towns, Handloom weavers

   • Britannica

2. Arkwright builds Cromford water-powered spinning mill

   Jan 1, 1771Labels: Richard Arkwright, Cromford Mill

   • Science Museum
   • Cromford Mills

3. Arkwright’s 1775 patent strengthens the factory model

   Jan 1, 1775Labels: Arkwright patent

   • Cromford Mill
   • Arkwright

4. Crompton invents the spinning mule in Bolton

   Jan 1, 1779Labels: Samuel Crompton, Spinning mule

   • Lancs Museums
   • Bolton

5. Arkwright’s key patent is set aside in court

   Jun 25, 1785Labels: Arkwright litigation

   • 1902 Encycl
   • Arkwright

6. Steam power begins to reshape Manchester-area cotton mills

   May 1, 1790Labels: Steam power, Piccadilly Mill

   • Piccadilly Mill
   • Manchester timeline

7. Parliament debates child labor in cotton factories

   Jun 14, 1819Labels: Parliament debates, Child labor

   • Hansard

8. Cotton Mills and Factories Act sets early limits

   Jul 2, 1819Labels: Cotton Mills

   • Act 1819
   • Hansard

9. Peterloo Massacre deepens tensions in industrial Manchester

   Aug 16, 1819Labels: Peterloo Massacre, Manchester

   • Britannica
   • Natl Archives

10. Liverpool–Manchester Railway opens, speeding cotton trade

    Sep 15, 1830Labels: Liverpool and

    • L MR
    • Science Museum

11. Factory Act creates inspectors and schooling requirements

    Jan 1, 1833Labels: Factory Act, Factory inspectors

    • Britannica
    • Natl Archives

12. Anti–Corn Law League forms in Manchester

    Jan 1, 1838Labels: Anti Corn, Manchester

    • Corn Law League

13. 1842 “Plug Plot” strike shuts down Lancashire mills

    Aug 8, 1842Labels: Plug Plot

    • 1842 strike
    • Preston 1842

14. Ten Hours Act limits workday for women and youths

    Jun 8, 1847Labels: Ten Hours

    • Act 1847

15. Great Exhibition showcases Britain’s industrial system

    May 1, 1851Labels: Great Exhibition

    • Great Exhibition
    • Crystal Palace