Lancashire Loom

Lancashire loom made by J. & R. Shorrock, Darwen, Lancashire, about 1880-1900.

Power looms like this were so widespread across Lancashire in the second half of the nineteenth century and first half of the twentieth century that they were known as 'Lancashire looms'. There were over three quarters of a million across the county by 1850. One weaving shed could contain 700 looms like this, being operated by workers for up to 12 hours a day, weaving cotton yarn into cloth.

This example was manufactured by J.R. Shorrock and Co. in Darwen, Blackburn, towards the end of the nineteenth century. Darwen became a centre for cotton manufacturing in the nineteenth century, and engineering industries like J.R. Shorrock and Co. grew up to supply the textile mills with machinery.

Details

Category:
Textile Industry
Object Number:
Y1997.120
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Measurements:
crate: 965 mm x 2265 mm x 1200 mm,
type:
loom
credit:
Gift of Bradford Industrial Museum

Parts

Lancashire Loom

Lancashire Loom

Parts from a disassembled Lancashire loom, made by J. & R. Shorrock. Late 19th Century. Comprised of metal and wooden parts on pallet.

Wrapped parts at front of pallet: 1 x Metal bar with metal attachments. 1 x Hooked metal bar with metal attachment. 1 x Metal Pole with metal attachments.

Wrapped parts in middle of pallet: 1 x Shaped metal part with curved pronged end. 1 x Metal bar with teeth/indentations at base and cog and wheel at one end. 1 x Small metal part with 2 feet and curved pronged end.

Wrapped parts at back of pallet: 1 x Metal bar twisted at ends with slots in metal at middle. 1 x Wooden bar with screws and metal strip at back. 1 x Metal bar with gear at end and metal attachments. 1 x Metal bar with teeth/indentations at base and cog and wheel.

Large parts strapped to pallet: 3 x rollers (2 x wooden, 1 x wood with metal textured parts like grater) 1 x flat metal frame. 1 x metal pole with large wheel at one end. 1 x Wooden and metal part

Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1997.120.1
type:
loom
Lancashire Loom

Lancashire Loom

Parts from disassembled Lancashire loom, made by J. & R. Shorrock. Late 19th Century. Comprised of large metal frame with gear at side with two frames and a number of parts inside four Really Useful Boxes. The Really useful boxes have been numbered and description below lists parts inside boxes:

Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1997.120.2
type:
loom