Was a visit to Styal Mill the best way to learn about the working and living conditions in nineteenth century Textile mills in England?

The wages paid at Styal were lower than Manchester mills and Stockport mills, but the standard of living at Styal was higher than other mills and their wages were higher. Women were paid less than men, and workers earned fixed wages; but spinners were paid piece rates so when production went down so did their wages.

Average weekly wages

Manchester Styal

833 Children under 13 3/9d to 4/2d 1/- to 3/-

833-50 Reelers and Winders 8/- to 9/6d 4/- to 7/-

834-50 Carding (male adults) 13/6d to 16/- 8/- to 17/-

834-50 Carding (female adults) 8/- 6/6d to 7/-

838-50 Mule Spinners (male) 16/- to 22/- 10/- to 13/-

838-50 Throstle Spinners (female) 7/6d to 10/6d 6/- to 7/-

846-50 Weavers (male and female) 10/6d to 11/- 6/6d to 8/-

Education was provided as a treat an hour or two on Sunday and Samuel Greg built an Apprentice house by 1790 Greg was unable to recruit his entire workforce locally so children were brought in from London, Liverpool, Cardiff, Norwich and Birmingham. The Apprentices at Styal Mill were looked after by a superintendent and his wife and they provided food lodgings, doctor and some education. The apprentice system at Styal Mill was abandoned in 1947.

The standard of family living at Styal was considered better than those in Manchester. A source tells us of the games Samuel Greg put in the garden for the apprentices amusement, this included a swing a bat and ball were lying around. Other mills however worked the apprentices through the night, dragging them to their machines to do their work; others had fallen amongst the straps and got desperately hurt.

Mortality rate at Styal 7 per 1,000

Mortality rate at Manchester 33 per 1,000

Doctor Holland of Knutsford employed from 1788 for a fee of £20 per year, diseases were common. Eye inflammation and Lung cancer, deafness, "Mule Spinners" cancer, cancer of the mouth, body deformities and tuberculosis. The temperature of the mill 64-70f.

Punishments at Styal were light compared to the harder methods used at Styal, sometimes weights were attached to the nose and ears. Fines were paid by the children working overtime. A serious offence was to run away from the mills, as this caused great inconvenience.

Mills were full of people working long hours with unfamiliar machines, this had great risks of injury and fire. Accidents were very common in cotton mills. In 1833 machines were fenced off, and this was not made compulsory until 1944, so although the Gregs Safety Record compared favourably with others.

Overall I do think the trip to Styal Mills is the best way to learn about mill life in the 19th Century, because it was one of the greatest mills there was in England. It particularly focused on working and living conditions and improved them for its workers and I think it is certainly the best and most interesting way to learn about how the working and living conditions were improved at Quarry Bank Mill, due to Samuel Greg.