June 2023 Group Meeting Report
THE FABRIC PRINTERS OF CRAYFORD
Rivers played a big part in Crayford’s textile industry. During the 17th century raw calico was exported by The East India Company from Calicut in Southern India, travelling along The Thames by barge to Erith Docks. Water taken from rivers running through chalk are known for producing fine quality fabrics. Nearby Crayford was an ideal location for the processes of turning raw material into the finest quality fabrics, shawls, striped blazers and bandanas, admired by Queen Victoria, winning a gold medal at The Great Exhibition in 1851 and sold in prestigious stores such as Harrods and Liberty.
At our June meeting our speaker Peter Daniel showed us illustrations from the 1800’s of mills several storeys high with smoking chimneys similar to the textile mill towns of Lancashire. The landscape paintings of designer William Hubbard, show these mills surrounded by rural scenes many featuring cows – cow dung and water was used to ‘fix the colour’ of printed articles. Calico printers employed in the mills used hand carved wooden blocks, repeatedly dipped in dye and applied to the fabric to produce the design – before the invention of machines with engraved rollers which transferred the pattern to the cloth.
Charles Swaisland was one of the major mill owners, opening the first of his factories in 1814 with his nephew Amos and setting up a school to preserve the skills to produce high quality work. GP & JB Baker acquired the business in 1893. Augustus Applegarth owned another calico printing factory – but went bankrupt in 1842. His factory and home were acquired by David Evans in 1843. William Hubbard was a designer, often inspired by flowers grown by wife Mary. The designs of George Haite and his father are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1860 The Red House in Bexleyheath became the home of William Morris, famed member of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
The factory workers, many very young, had long days. Working conditions were comparatively good but the hard times of ‘the Hungry Forties’ brought discontent and greatly affected the working classes and the poor - the rising price of bread and other basic food; the influx of desperate people including Ireland’s famine victims; depression in trade causing pay cuts and lay-offs and a political system favouring the landowning classes. Crayford mill workers were drawn to the Chartist Movement. Peter gave a vivid description of the Chartist meeting at Kennington Common on 10 April 1848, on the way to deliver a petition supporting their six point Charter to Parliament. This was thwarted by 85,000 special constables and 8000 soldiers. Strikes happened on several occasions, beaten by hunger and in 1887 striking local workers were replaced by printers from Lancashire. Many wanted to return but were prevented - breaking the terms of the Master and Servant Act resulted in prison. To avoid confrontation with local workers they were housed separately in ‘Manchester Row’.
Many of us remember visiting David Evans & Co. to buy fabrics and silk scarves. The factory closed in 2001 ending Crayford’s association with fabric printing.
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
Our next meeting will be Wednesday 5th July when Mark Lewis will tell us tales of Smugglers of Kent in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Doors open 7pm for 7.30 pm start. Alexandra Suite St Mary's Road Swanley £2 members £3 visitors. Membership £5 annual which includes a monthly newsletter and reduced entry fee to meetings. Everyone welcome no need to book. Come along to a meeting and give us a try.
THE FABRIC PRINTERS OF CRAYFORD
Rivers played a big part in Crayford’s textile industry. During the 17th century raw calico was exported by The East India Company from Calicut in Southern India, travelling along The Thames by barge to Erith Docks. Water taken from rivers running through chalk are known for producing fine quality fabrics. Nearby Crayford was an ideal location for the processes of turning raw material into the finest quality fabrics, shawls, striped blazers and bandanas, admired by Queen Victoria, winning a gold medal at The Great Exhibition in 1851 and sold in prestigious stores such as Harrods and Liberty.
At our June meeting our speaker Peter Daniel showed us illustrations from the 1800’s of mills several storeys high with smoking chimneys similar to the textile mill towns of Lancashire. The landscape paintings of designer William Hubbard, show these mills surrounded by rural scenes many featuring cows – cow dung and water was used to ‘fix the colour’ of printed articles. Calico printers employed in the mills used hand carved wooden blocks, repeatedly dipped in dye and applied to the fabric to produce the design – before the invention of machines with engraved rollers which transferred the pattern to the cloth.
Charles Swaisland was one of the major mill owners, opening the first of his factories in 1814 with his nephew Amos and setting up a school to preserve the skills to produce high quality work. GP & JB Baker acquired the business in 1893. Augustus Applegarth owned another calico printing factory – but went bankrupt in 1842. His factory and home were acquired by David Evans in 1843. William Hubbard was a designer, often inspired by flowers grown by wife Mary. The designs of George Haite and his father are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1860 The Red House in Bexleyheath became the home of William Morris, famed member of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
The factory workers, many very young, had long days. Working conditions were comparatively good but the hard times of ‘the Hungry Forties’ brought discontent and greatly affected the working classes and the poor - the rising price of bread and other basic food; the influx of desperate people including Ireland’s famine victims; depression in trade causing pay cuts and lay-offs and a political system favouring the landowning classes. Crayford mill workers were drawn to the Chartist Movement. Peter gave a vivid description of the Chartist meeting at Kennington Common on 10 April 1848, on the way to deliver a petition supporting their six point Charter to Parliament. This was thwarted by 85,000 special constables and 8000 soldiers. Strikes happened on several occasions, beaten by hunger and in 1887 striking local workers were replaced by printers from Lancashire. Many wanted to return but were prevented - breaking the terms of the Master and Servant Act resulted in prison. To avoid confrontation with local workers they were housed separately in ‘Manchester Row’.
Many of us remember visiting David Evans & Co. to buy fabrics and silk scarves. The factory closed in 2001 ending Crayford’s association with fabric printing.
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
Our next meeting will be Wednesday 5th July when Mark Lewis will tell us tales of Smugglers of Kent in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Doors open 7pm for 7.30 pm start. Alexandra Suite St Mary's Road Swanley £2 members £3 visitors. Membership £5 annual which includes a monthly newsletter and reduced entry fee to meetings. Everyone welcome no need to book. Come along to a meeting and give us a try.