PROJECT SPENCER

CHAPTER 1

HISTORY

What significance has the industry had on Stapleford and the surrounding area?

INTRODUCTION

By looking at the historic development of industries of Stapleford it is possible to understand how it develop into the town it is today. The main industry of Stapleford was mainly around agriculture up until the 18th century, when the textile industry arrived in the form of framework knitting and lace making. Many 18th century framework knitters’ cottages survive in Stapleford on Nottingham Road today. Although Stapleford is close to coal deposits, these did not begin to be mined until the 19th century. The Erewash Canal, to the west of the town, was completed in 1779 and had a landing near the Stapleford and Sandiacre Bridge. There were two brickworks near the town in the early 19th century and further local employment was available at a colliery to the north of the town.

LACE INDUSTRY

LACE COTTAGES IN STAPLFORD

Two knitters’ cottages (119 & 121) provide evidence of the hosiery industry that once thrived in many Midlands towns and villages. Stocking-frame knitters often worked from homes specially constructed Stapleford, Nottingham Road for the purpose. The frames stood on the top floor, which had a distinctive row of windows designed to let in as much daylight to the workshop as possible, with horizontally sliding "Yorkshire sashes".
During the first half of the 19th Century, when these houses were constructed, stocking hose was becoming less fashionable and demand was dropping. Consequently the prices paid to stocking makers declined steadily over this period. By 1844, there were 33 stocking frames in Stapleford but many lay idle and conditions in the operating workshops and homes were said to be deplorable.

Agriculture continued to be important in the area, but during the 19th century various industries grew in Stapleford including lace making, and Joseph Fearfield, who was a warp tatting maker built a lace factory. It was a three-storey factory at Fairfields in Stapleford, housing 53 machines and employing 200 people. People came from outlying cottages and neighbouring villages to work mainly in the fast developing textile industry. In 1844 there were 33 stocking frames operating in Stapleford and 270 lace machines. By the 1880’s three lace factories were producing in the town along with a silk works and a lace machine-manufacturing factory.

The Old Lace Mill Fredrick Street Stapleford

A factory containing 100 machines