Abstract
ALL the early estimates of the number and size of cotton mills in Britain are based on an estimate of the number of Arkwrighttype factories and a calculation of the supposed value of these investments (see Tables 3 and 4). Colquhoun’s mill census in 1787 seems fairly accurate, but he thought the mills were all of 2,000 spindles and cost £5,000 each to build, while in fact most were built on the model of Arkwright’s smaller (1,000 spindle) mills. Consequently, his estimates of £715,000 (1787) and £775,000 (1790) for fixed capital are too high, and £500,000 would be nearer the true figure. Colquhoun made no estimate of capital invested in weaving, dyeing, bleaching and printing, and indeed no one else did so before 1834.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
G. W. Daniels, ‘Samuel Crompton’s Census of the Cotton Industry in 1811’, Economic History, ii (1930–3) pp. 107–10.
J. H. Clapham, ‘Some Factory Statistics of 1815–16’, Economic journal,xxv (1915).
E. Butterworth, Historical Sketches of Oldham (1856) pp. 140, 153, 183, shows that from 1821 to 1825 the number of Oldham cotton manufacturers rose from 60 to 139.
C. Wilson, ‘The Entrepreneur in the Industrial Revolution in Britain’, History xLn (1957) p. 103.
S. DChapman, ‘The Peels in the Early English Cotton Industry’, Business History xi (1969) pp. 87–8.
J. R. Hume and John Butt, ‘Muirkirk, 1788–1802: The Creation of a Scottish Industrial Community’, Scottish Historical Review, xl,v (1966) p. 167.
M. M. Edwards, The British Cotton Trade, 1780–1815 (Manchester, 1967 ) pp. 191, 234.
Musson and Robinson, Science and Technology in the Industrial Revolution, esp. chaps. 8–10, 12–14; A. and N. Clow, The Chemical Revolution (1952) chaps. 8–12. For large integrated firms after 1850, see D. A. Farnie, ‘The English Cotton Industry, 1850–96’, unpublished M.A. thesis (Manchester, 1953) chap. 17.
For case studies, see R. Boyson, The Ashworth Cotton Enterprise (Oxford, 1970); Unwin, Samuel Oldknow; and S. D. Chapman, ‘James Longsdon, Farmer and Fustian Manufacturer’, Textile History, I (3) (1970).
Notts. C.R.O., DD4P 79/63; Unwin, Samuel Oldknow p. 13. 37 e.g. J. Butt (ed.), Robert Owen, Prince of Cotton Spinners (Newton Abbot, 1971) chap. 7; Boyson, The Ashworth Cotton Enterprise chap. 3.
M. H. MacKenzie, ‘Calver Mill and Its Owners’, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal, LXXXIII (1963).
Edwards, The British Cotton Trade, pp. 195–8; for landlords, see, e.g., W. B. Crump and G. Ghorbal, History of the Huddersfield Woollen Industry (Huddersfield, 1935 ) pp. 77–8.
S. Pollard, ‘Fixed Capital in the Industrial Revolution in Britain’, Journal of Economic History, may (1964); Edwards, The British Cotton Trade, pp. 225–30.
G. Turnbull, A History of Calico Printing in Great Britain (Altrincham, 1951) pp. 73, 82.
Unwin, Samuel Oldknow p. 148; P.R.O., B1/124, p. 21.
S. D. Chapman, The Early Factory Masters (Newton Abbot, 1967 ) pp. 139–41.
T. S. Ashton and R. S. Sayers, Papers in English Monetary History (Oxford, 1953 ) p. 38.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1972 The Economic History Society
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chapman, S.D. (1972). The Structure of Industry and Capital Requirements. In: The Cotton Industry in the Industrial Revolution. Studies in Economic History. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01515-3_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01515-3_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-01517-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-01515-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Business & Management CollectionBusiness and Management (R0)