Conditions in the
factories
Scriven categorised the works
into three classes dependant upon their condition...
[ introduction ] [ list
of manufacturers ] [ 3 categories of manufacturers
]
Introduction
1) I have the honour to lay before you the
evidence that I have collected relating to the physical and moral condition of
the children labouring in the important district of the Staffordshire Potteries,
which comprise the parishes and townships of Stoke-upon-Trent, Longton, Fenton,
Lane Delph, Hanley, Shelton, Corbridge (sic), Burslem, Longport, and Tunstall,
extending from north to south, a distance of nine miles, of unequal breadth or
from one to three miles, and having a population of 70,000 souls, chiefly of
the working classes.
2) When first I began my
inspection of the several works, it was my intention report on each
separately, but I found there was so great a similarity in their character,
that it would have occupied my time uselessly, and been attended with no
advantage. I determined, therefore, to divide the whole into three distinct
classes, not according to their magnitude or extent, but to their merits as to
drainage, ventilation, and convenience.
3) In the places enumerated I have visited and
thoroughly examined no less than 173 of them, which be in at Golden Hill, north
of Tunstall, and terminate at Longton.
4) On a reference to a history
of the Potteries, written by Mr. Ward, the chief constable of Burslem, I find
that its origin as a manufacturing district dates from a very remote period,
consequently many of its buildings and hovels are of almost equal antiquity:
the sites of the several townships appear to have been selected with a due
regard for the health of their inhabitants, as each is considerably elevated,
and surrounded by a salubrious atmosphere, intersected by the fertile and
beautiful vale of Trent, as well as by canals and rivers of wholesome and
constantly flowing waters, having neither stagnant pools, bogs, nor ditches,
except those which may have been artificially created.
5) I am disposed to think, however, that in the
early ages of earthenware manufacture the effects of sudden transitions from
heat to cold, and vice versa, were never contemplated, or, if so, these
considerations were as nothing in the balance; as compared to the advantages
derived from the near approximation to the coal, stone, and marl pits, with
which the localities abound, their abundant produce being so essential to the
trade: certain it is that the temperature of Staffordshire, as a county, is
indisputably low; and the exposed situations of many of the factories render the
people who labour in them extremely susceptible of asthma and consumption.
6) Perhaps no time or period of
the year could have been more unfortunate than that in which I have been
engaged; first because the monied and commercial interests of America, a
country on which the welfare of this district so much depends, has been such
as to create fearful anticipations and an extraordinary depression of the
trade, by which thousands have been thrown out of employ.
In the second place,
manufacturers availing themselves of this (it is to be hoped temporary evil)
have allowed workpeople to absent themselves during the Christmas season, by
which they have been enabled to nurse their orders for a future day.
Thirdly,
the intensity of the frosts was such as to obstruct the navigation of the
canals by which they receive and transmit their materials and goods, thereby
compelling them to suspend every operation of potting.
List
of manufacturers
Earthenware, porcelain and figure manufacturers
Class |
Fenton
and Lane Delph |
2 |
Pratt |
1 |
Mason and Co. |
2 |
Green and Richards. |
1 |
Ginder and Co. |
2 |
J. W. Pratt. |
1 |
W. S. Edge. |
1 |
Knight and Elkin. |
3 |
Floyd and Savage. |
2 |
T. and J. Carey. |
2 |
Thomas Mayer. |
2 |
William Baker. |
|
Class |
Longton
and Lane End |
2
|
Hilditch and Co.
|
2
|
Broadhurst and Co.
|
2
|
Yale and Barkey.
|
2
|
Hulme.
|
2
|
Lockett.
|
2
|
Allerton, Brough & Co,
|
2
|
Harvey and Co.
|
2
|
Bridgewood.
|
2
|
Hawley.
|
2
|
Goodwin and Heles
|
1
|
Goddard.
|
2
|
Proctor.
|
2
|
Colclough, sen.
|
3
|
Grrard (sic) and Co.
|
2
|
Ashwell and Cooper.
|
3
|
Riddle and Lightfoot.
|
2
|
Deakin and Son.
|
2
|
Cheetham and Co.
|
3
|
Seabridge.
|
3
|
Bryant.
|
2
|
Hamilton and More.
|
2
|
Simpkin and Co.
|
2
|
Wynne and Wray.
|
2
|
Colclough jun
|
3
|
Booth.
|
2
|
Swifft and Co.
|
2
|
Simpson and Co.
|
2
|
Robinson and Dale.
|
3
|
Gallimore.
|
2
|
Cyples.
|
3
|
Copstick, jun
|
3
|
Copstick, sen
|
3
|
Everard and Co.
|
2
|
Martin and Co.
|
2
|
Beardmore and Co.
|
3
|
Jarvis.
|
3
|
Radcliffe.
|
3 |
Bailey, Goodwin, and Co. |
|
Class |
Stoke-upon-Trent |
1
|
Minton and Boyle.
|
2
|
Copeland and Garrett.
|
2
|
Adams and Sons.
|
2
|
Daniel and Sons.
|
3
|
Reid and Co.
|
2
|
Boyle.
|
1
|
Wedgewood and Sons.
|
|
Class |
Shelton |
1
|
Ridgeway.
|
2
|
Yates and May
|
1
|
Ridgeway Morley and Co.
|
2
|
Dimmock and Smith.
|
2
|
Richard Dudson.
|
3
|
Thomas Wllite.
|
2
|
Jos. CIementson
|
1
|
W. Ridgeway.
|
3
|
R. Bonth
|
3
|
W. Walle.
|
3
|
Thomas Salt.
|
|
Class |
Hanley |
2
|
Keeling and Shirley.
|
3
|
Copeland.
|
3
|
J. Burton.
|
3
|
Mills
|
3
|
Mayor
|
2
|
Furnival and Co.
|
2
|
Hackwood and Co.
|
1
|
Meigh.
|
3
|
Cutts.
|
3
|
Machin.
|
3
|
Radcliffe.
|
3
|
Lomas.
|
2
|
T. Dudson
|
2
|
Robens, Booth and Co.
|
1
|
Fourdrinier (Paper).
|
|
Class |
Longport |
1
|
Rogers and Son.
|
1
|
Davenport and Co.
|
1
|
Mayer and Co.
|
1
|
Phillips.
|
1
|
W. Davenport (Glass).
|
|
Class |
Burslem |
1
|
T. Wood and Co.
|
1
|
Alcock and Co.
|
2
|
Barker, Sutton and Co.
|
2
|
Cork and Condliffe.
|
2
|
Richard Daniel.
|
2
|
Meller, Venables and Co.
|
2
|
Hopkins
|
3
|
Pointon
|
2
|
Goodwin.
|
2
|
Wedgewood.
|
3
|
Wood and Co.
|
3
|
Hood and Co
|
2
|
Edwards and Co.
|
2
|
Vernon and Co.
|
3
|
Hawley
|
2
|
Maddock and Seddons.
|
3
|
Edge.
|
3
|
Meyer and Co.
|
3
|
Holland (Mrs.)
|
|
Class |
Corbridge
(sic) |
2
|
Harding and Coxson.
|
1
|
Alcock and Co.
|
1
|
Wood and Bromfield.
|
2
|
Goodwin and Sons.
|
2
|
Goodwin and Co.
|
2
|
Hughes and Co.
|
2
|
Dillon and Co.
|
2
|
Jones and Co.
|
|
Class |
Tunstall |
2
|
Marsh and Heywood.
|
1
|
Wood and Challoner.
|
3
|
Goodfellow.
|
3
|
Heath and Co.
|
2
|
Hall and Co.
|
2
|
Meir and Sons.
|
2
|
Podmore and Spilsbixry.
|
3
|
Wright, Rogers and Co.
|
1
|
Beswick and Lees.
|
3
|
Rowleys
|
1
|
Beech
|
1
|
Adams and Co
|
3
|
Tunnicliffe
|
3
|
(Blank)
|
All having one or more factories
|
class
1 |
class
2 |
class
3 |
TOTAL |
Fenton & Lane Delph
|
4
|
3.1%
|
6
|
4.7%
|
1
|
.8%
|
11
|
8.6%
|
Longton & Lane End
|
1
|
.8%
|
25
|
19.5%
|
12
|
9.4%
|
38
|
29.7%
|
Stoke-upon-Trent
|
2
|
1.6%
|
4
|
3.1%
|
1
|
.8%
|
7
|
5.5%
|
Shelton
|
3
|
2.3%
|
4
|
3.1%
|
4
|
3.1%
|
11
|
8.6%
|
Hanley
|
2
|
1.6%
|
5
|
3.9%
|
8
|
6.3%
|
15
|
11.7%
|
Longport
|
5
|
3.9%
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
3.9%
|
Burslem
|
2
|
1.6%
|
10
|
7.8%
|
7
|
5.5%
|
19
|
14.8%
|
Corbridge (sic)
|
2
|
1.6%
|
6
|
4.7%
|
|
|
8
|
6.3%
|
Longport
|
4
|
3.1%
|
4
|
3.1%
|
6
|
4.7%
|
14
|
10.9%
|
Total:
|
25
|
19.5%
|
64
|
50.0%
|
39
|
30.5%
|
128
|
100%
|
Three categories of manufacturers
8) In the first class, I have inserted all those
manufactories of most recent structure; many of them are built upon scales of
great magnitude, in some instances of beauty; among these may be mentioned the
Messrs. Minton and Boyles, Alcocks, and John Ridgeways; they contain large, well
ventilated, light, airy, commodious rooms, in all respects adapted to the nature
of the processes carried on in them.
9) The second class form by far
the most numerous, and are of greater or less extent, having from 50 to 800
hands engaged; most of them have been erected many years, and as the trade has
increased, so the rooms appear to have increased m a corresponding ratio.
Some
here and there, upon, around, and about the first premises, so that there is
neither order; regularity, nor proportion; the consequence of this is, that
men, women, and children are to be seen passing in and out, to and fro, to
their respective departments all hours of the say, no matter what the weather,
warm, cold, wet, or dry; the rooms, with very few exceptions; are either low,
damp, close, small, dark, hot, dirty, ill ventilated, or unwholesome, or have
all these disadvantages.
10) The third class, which include the
Egyptian-ware and figure manufactories are even still worse; but the children to
be found in them are very few, and in many of them there are none. In eight
cases out of ten of the whole, the places of convenience for the sexes are
indecently and disgustingly exposed and filthy. It has throughout appeared to me
most strange that masters should have paid so little regard to this offence
against decorum and morality; in some places the women and girls are compelled
to pass through the hovels where men and boys of the lowest character work, to
relieve the calls of nature; others sit under the same shed slightly partitioned
off, exposed to the vulgar gaze of half the men on the premises, to avoid which
the better disposed either wait their return home, perhaps, at some considerable
distance, or run to some opposite, next door neighbour for relief; independent
of the immoral and debasing tendency to which this neglect gives rise, their
impurities and unwholesomeness are evident.
In many cases I have observed under
and outside these houses pits for the reception of the excrementitions matter
filled to overflowing exhaling its subtle and noxious malaria to the sacrifice
of the health of all who breathe the within its influence. This I may be told is
a sweeping charge, but I would answer, not more sweeping than the evil
justifies.
11) The operatives are in their
general character a quiet, orderly people, possessing not only the
necessaries, but in most instances the comforts and luxuries of life; their
habitations are respectable, cleanly, and well furnished.
Before the
"strike" of 1836-7, many of them were tenanted by their owners; but
that unfortunate and mistaken attempt to coerce their masters, provoked by
some few itinerant demagogues that visited the neighbourhood under the
pretence of improving the condition of their occupants, occasioned most of
them to change hands, and contributed to reduce those who were in a previous
state of prosperity and happiness, to one of dependence, humiliation, and
poverty, from they have never recovered.
|