Spinners

Spinning is the process by which fibres are drawn out and twisted together to produce a continuous thread. Traditionally, spinning was the duty of unmarried daughters living in poor households, hence the term 'spinster' for an unmarried woman.

Over the centuries, the introduction of mechanisation and other technologies transformed spinning from a cottage industry into a full-fledged industrial powerhouse. Spinning mills were established throughout lowland Scotland, mainly staffed by women and young children. Wages, by any standards, were low and the standard working week was 50-60 hours.

At one time, the cotton mills at New Lanark, on the River Clyde, employed thousands. Run by David Dale, and his son-in-law Robert Owen, New Lanark was revolutionary, in both social and economic terms. As steam power began to replace the water provided by rivers and streams, large mills were built in areas of greater population, helping to turn towns such as Paisley and Dundee into thriving cities.

Places to Visit
New Lanark
Although many local museums contain examples of spinning equipment, the World Heritage Village at New Lanark is a must-see for anyone with connections to the lives of industrialised Scots.
www.newlanark.org

Verdant Works, Dundee
If your forebears came from Dundee it is highly likely they had a connection to the jute industry. In which case, a visit to the working mill at Verdant Works would prove endlessly fascinating. www.verdantworks.com