Lancashire Cotton Famine 1861-1865
Great distress was caused by the Lancashire Cotton Famine between 1861-1865. For those tracing their family history and finding out that their family tree or ancestry had connections to the textile industry of this period, might spare a thought for the hardship they faced. The entire industry was affected but it particularly struck at its heart, the Lancashire towns of Blackburn and Manchester. What was the origin of the famine you may ask? The answer is a simple one - the industry was dependent on American cotton and the Civil War put paid to the supply.
7 December 2007 More...