The Industrial Revolution: Technological Innovation in the Textile Industry, 1672-1929 - Key Data

This collection traces the development of the Industrial Revolution in Britain through two prominent families connected to Bolton’s textile industry. The Crompton family were significant due to Samuel Crompton’s invention of the spinning mule in 1779, an innovation which allowed massive productivity when producing textiles on a grand scale. The Heywoods became famous through Robert Heywood, who used his successful textile business to launch a political career during the rise of the Chartist movement.

Correspondence between key figures amongst the family and their respective businesses make up the bulk of the collection. The collection also includes property descriptions and valuations, newspaper cuttings, and travel journals. Overall, these papers provide a useful look at the social, political, and economic impact of the Industrial Revolution in Northern England.