In the preceding chapter it has been shown that a textile manufacture, which could be called a cotton manufacture, had become established in Lancashire certainly by the beginning of the seventeenth century. From what has been said so far, it will be apparent that the manufacture was by no means in a state of stagnation during the century and a half before 1770. Economically and politically, the period was a favourable one for development. The turmoil of the seventeenth century had an economic as well as a political significance. It marks the time when the opportunist regulations of industry and commerce, which are sometimes regarded as constituting part of a positive policy to further the welfare of the national community, definitely failed, notwithstanding much futile effort which continued into the next century.[219]

Consequently, the cotton manufacture was comparatively unhampered by such regulations, and it is not surprising that, particularly from the early years of the eighteenth century, development was taking place in all directions. Quite apart from the remarkable inventions of machinery and the discovery of a new source of power, it is more than probable that the latter years of the century would have witnessed considerable changes. Before these events, the developments in industrial and commercial organisation, and in communications, pointed to the fact that a wider economy was emerging. It was in such conditions that a new cotton manufacture made its appearance in Lancashire.

ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN TRADES IN MANCHESTER IN 1772

All the following tables have been compiled from the first Manchester Directory

Fustian No.
Manufacturers 55
Callenderers 14
Dyers[220] 9
Dressers 2
Shearers 3
Total 106
Check No.
Manufacturers[221] 45
Callenderers 7
Check and Fustian Manufacturers 12
Total 64
Smallware No.
Manufacturers 37
Weaver 1
Callenderers 3
Smallware and Fustian Manufacturers 5
Smallware and Thread Manufacturer 1
Smallware Manufacturer and Hatter 1
Smallware Manufacturer and Hosier 1
Total 49
Silk and Linen No.
Silk and Linen Manufacturers[222] 7
Silk Manufacturers and Silk Weavers[223] 10
Silk Mercers 4
Silk Dyers 4
Thread Makers 3
Linen Drapers[224] 12
Linen Dyers[225] 7
Linen and Cotton Printers 3
Total 50

Woollen No.
Manufacturers[226] 9
Drapers[227] 8
Dyers 4
Woolcombers 2
Woollen and Fustian Manufacturers 3
Total 26
Merchants No.
Yarn Merchants 14
Cotton Merchants[228] 5
Yarn and Cotton Merchants 3
Yarn Merchants and Check Manufacturers 3
Yarn Merchant and Thread Manufacturer 1
Total 26
Miscellaneous No.
Hatters[229] 15
Reed Makers 9
Loom Makers 8
Comb Maker 1
Drum Maker 1
Callender Maker 1
Pattern Book Maker 1
Fringe Makers 2
Kendal Stuff Makers 2
Velvet Dressers 4
Cloth Dressers[230] 4
Callenderers 2
Twister 1
Dyers[231] 9
Total 60

In the fustian list there are 22 partnerships, in the check list 20, in the smallware list 11, in the silk and linen list 9, in the woollen list 2, and in the merchants’ list 2.

COUNTRY TRADESMEN WITH WAREHOUSES IN
MANCHESTER IN 1772

Fustian Manufacturers

Locality No.
Bolton 21
Little Bolton 3
Cocky Moor (Nr. Bolton) 3
Horwich 1
Little Lever 1
Over Hulton 2
Leigh 8
Bedford (Leigh) 1
Chowbent 6
Lowton 4
Astley 2
West Houghton 2
Oldham 5
Lees 3
Clarkfield 1
Austerlands 1
Loeside 1
Saddleworth 1
Heywood 3
Bury 1
Audenshaw 1
Ashton 1
Worsley 1
Haigh (Wigan) 1
Unidentified 3
Total 77

Check Manufacturers

Locality No.
Gorton 4
Prestwich 3
Levenshulme 2
Rusholme 1
Fallowfield 1
Moston 2
Newton (Manchester) 1
Collyhurst 1
Cheetham 1
Pendleton 1
Flixton 1
Middleton 1
Audenshaw 1
Failsworth 3
Werneth Low 1
Unidentified 2
Total 26

Miscellaneous

Locality Description No.
Ardwick Yarn Merch’t Chapmen 2
Collyhurst Woollen Manufacturers 2
Cheetham Yarn Merch’t Chapmen 2
Burnage Yarn Merch’t 1
Crumpsall Linen and Cotton Merchant 1
Blackley Frieze Maker 1
Audenshaw Woollen Manufacturer 1
Patricroft Yarn Merch’t 1
Wigan Cotton Merchant 1
Total 12

CROFTERS OR WHITSTERS IN THE MANCHESTER
AREA IN 1772[232]

Locality No.
Newton (Manchester) 12
Droylsden 4
Gorton 4
Openshaw 2
Audenshaw 1
Levenshulme 6
Kirkmanshulme 2
Burnage 2
Heaton Norris 1
Reddish 1
Blackley 8
Moston 1
Harpurhey 2
Failsworth 1
Cheetham 1
Kersal 1
Prestwich 4
Radcliffe 2
Bolton 2
Little Bolton 2
Harwood (Bolton) 2
Halliwell (Bolton) 2
Oldfield Lane (Salford) 3
Pendleton 10
Worsley 2
Total 78

Map showing the location of Manufacturers and Crofters in the Manchester area in 1772

Manufaturer location

The figures correspond with those in the preceding tables e. g. Manchester, 55 Fustian Manufacturers.

Fustian Manufacturers red figures
Check ” blue ”
Smallware ” yellow ”
Crofters ” green ”

REGULAR CARRIERS FROM MANCHESTER IN 1772

Destination No. Days of Departure
London 6 5, Wed. Sat. 1, Tu.
Birmingham 1 Fri.
Bolton 2 Tu. Th. Sat.
Bristol 1 Wed.
Burnley 2 Tu. Th. Sat.
Bury 1 Tu. Th. Sat.
Cambridge 1 Th.
Chester 2 1, Tu. Th. Sat. 1, Th.
Chorley 1 Tu. Th. Sat.
Chowbent 1 Tu. Th. Sat.
Colne 1 Fri.
Derby 1 Th.
Doncaster 1 Sat.
Halifax 2 1, Tu. Th. Sat. 1, Mon. Th.
Huddersfield 1 Mon. Th. Sat.
Lancaster 1 Mon. Fri.
Leeds 1 Tu. Th. Sat.
Liverpool 1 Tu. Th. Sat.
Macclesfield 1 Tu. Th. Sat.
Newcastle-on-Tyne 1 Th.
Northwich 2 Tu. Th. Sat.
Nottingham 2 1, Th. 1, Sat.
Pontefract 1 Sat.
Preston 1 Mon. Fri.
Rochdale 2 Tu. Th. Sat.
Salop 1 Sat.
Sheffield 2 1, Th. 1, Fri.
Stockport 2 Every day
Wakefield 1 Tu. Th. Sat.
Wigan 2 Tu. Th. Sat.
York 1 Sat.

One stage-coach ran to London, and one to Liverpool, each on three days of the week.

On the Old Navigation between Manchester and Liverpool 21 vessels were engaged. On the New Navigation between Manchester and Warrington 9 vessels were engaged, also a number of open vessels called Tuns, and between Warrington and Liverpool 11 vessels were engaged. A 40 Tun Boat sailed between Manchester and Altrincham three days a week, and coal boats arrived in Manchester from Worsley every day.