Queen Street Mill

[Funkydrummer]

Set to reopen again after a lengthy closure.

Good news.

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/que ... -1-9706728" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Suratclaret]

Good news indeed...fantastic place to visit.

[CleggHall]

Excellent news, Burnley was built on cotton and should be proud of its history, working in a cotton mill was damned hard graft as Queen Street Mill reminds us.

[houseboy]

Excellent news, Burnley was built on cotton and should be proud of its history, working in a cotton mill was damned hard graft as Queen Street Mill reminds us.

Not sure what Queen Street Mill is but I assume it's some kind of museum gloryfying the cotton industry? Why? The cotton industry was built not on glory but the blood sweat and tears of vastly underpaid workers who were 'fined' for being late and accidentally breaking/losing any equipment. Children died under the looms because they had to sweep them as they were running. Shed workers wound up deaf from the noise, not to mention seriously ill from cotton dust. Mill owners grew fat and wealthy on the back of what was almost slave labour and many workers lived in houses belonging to the mill owner so if sacked would also lose their home.

I worked for quite a while as a younger guy in that industry in various departments (loom sweeper/warehouseman/cropper amongst other things) and if you have ever heard the sheer din of a shed full of old Lancashire looms (driven by unguarded belts and kicking up fabric dust) you would understand why many, including me, see no glory at all in it. And what I witnessed was the more 'modern' era so thankfully I never had to see the child labour or the criminal 'fines' inflicted on workers but I did see stuff that would now see owners jailed for health and safety reasons (and I don't mean namby pamby healthy and safety but real danger to life and limb).

Pride? Glory? Museums like this should only be there to say 'this should never happen again'.

[CleggHall]

Exactly houseboy, the museum represents all this and we should never forget, "good old days" it was not.

[houseboy]

Exactly houseboy, the museum represents all this and we should never forget, "good old days" it was not.

Perhaps it's not such a bad thing then. I just get a little concerned when we start 'gloryfying' things that simply are not glorious at all. I worked in the cotton industry through most of my teens and into my mid 20's at various places and worked at a place in Haslingden that must have had the last strap driven Lancashire loom mill in Lancashire (or possibly anywhere) and it was like working back in historic times. Obviously things improved at most places with things such as 'air looms' imported from Switzerland (amazing how relatively quiet they were), but it was not a great atmosphere to work in. Even as late as the 1970's there was still, among the older workers, a lot of 'cap doffing' to the bosses and 'respect' that seemed to come out of fear. There are a lot of things wrong with the modern world without a doubt, but that side of life I don't miss in the slightest.

[South West Claret.]

Ah yes the good old days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xku4HTKFi94" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mikeS]

Not sure the engine house is open yet as last year the chimney was being repaired after bricks fell out and through the roof.

[Devils_Advocate]

I thought it was part of the No Deal Brexit contingency plans

[IanMcL]

What are you talking about Houseboy?

I heard that the masters were kindly folk who, if you worked hard for your 6 days a week, may, on occasion, smile all the way to the bank!

[grapidianclaret]

Perhaps it's not such a bad thing then. I just get a little concerned when we start 'gloryfying' things that simply are not glorious at all. I worked in the cotton industry through most of my teens and into my mid 20's at various places and worked at a place in Haslingden that must have had the last strap driven Lancashire loom mill in Lancashire (or possibly anywhere) and it was like working back in historic times. Obviously things improved at most places with things such as 'air looms' imported from Switzerland (amazing how relatively quiet they were), but it was not a great atmosphere to work in. Even as late as the 1970's there was still, among the older workers, a lot of 'cap doffing' to the bosses and 'respect' that seemed to come out of fear. There are a lot of things wrong with the modern world without a doubt, but that side of life I don't miss in the slightest.

I worked in a mill for a couple of years too. Not a glorious job but it was interesting. I don't think the museum glorifies,it informs. Those who seek glory from it, can probably find it(good luck to them), those who see it as an indication of our history will find that too. so the same with all museums. Not sure if the Imperial war Museum glorifies war. I went there as a kid,and certainly didn't sprint out of it to join the services.

To prevent the errors of the past from being created again, we need to know about them. although, it doesn't seem to be working at the moment.

[Paul Waine]

My first summer job was painting in a textile factory. Luckily, it was in the dye shop and packing warehouse. After uni I did a lot of work on the office side of a number of textile mills. Yes, always noisy and dusty in the mills.

My grandfather was a mill worker - when he was working, but not much work thru most of the 30s. He was in his 60s when cotton lung took him.

Most jobs in "days gone by" were tough. Anyone fancy working done the pits? or labouring, when it really was a "pick and shovel" job?

Or an accountant before calculators and computers were invented?

Yes, it's important that we understand our past. I'm sure it will help us all appreciate the present a little more.

PS: Just kidding about the accountant's job - though £-s-d made the adds a lot harder!

[tim_noone]

What are you talking about Houseboy?

I heard that the masters were kindly folk who, if you worked hard for your 6 days a week, may, on occasion, smile all the way to the bank!

I had a spell at queen st Mill.... Roller carrying ..they paid you on a Wednesday lunchtime off to the commercial for a spot of underage drinking and went back the next morning...The manager "Bill" would just scratch his head..people in the mill seemed happy enough to me can't recall work place bullying or the like. But with hindsight most were death traps and health hazards.

[RalphCoatesComb]

I worked in a weaving shed at 18 and IT WAS MY JOB. I did my 8,10 or 12 hours and took my pay. That's what work is about.

Trying to make Political statements about this topic is wrong.

I am not a Mill Owner, or from the privileged class but, do your work - collect your pay, or get another job !

[joey13]

I worked in a weaving shed at 18 and IT WAS MY JOB. I did my 8,10 or 12 hours and took my pay. That's what work is about.

Trying to make Political statements about this topic is wrong.

I am not a Mill Owner, or from the privileged class but, do your work - collect your pay, or get another job !

And what other job would that be ?

[tim_noone]

And what other job would that be ?

Most people in work moan about it.... I think Ralph Enjoyed his job it put food on the table it's a pride thing.

[bfcmik]

Not sure what Queen Street Mill is but I assume it's some kind of museum gloryfying the cotton industry? Why? The cotton industry was built not on glory but the blood sweat and tears of vastly underpaid workers who were 'fined' for being late and accidentally breaking/losing any equipment. Children died under the looms because they had to sweep them as they were running. Shed workers wound up deaf from the noise, not to mention seriously ill from cotton dust. Mill owners grew fat and wealthy on the back of what was almost slave labour and many workers lived in houses belonging to the mill owner so if sacked would also lose their home.

I worked for quite a while as a younger guy in that industry in various departments (loom sweeper/warehouseman/cropper amongst other things) and if you have ever heard the sheer din of a shed full of old Lancashire looms (driven by unguarded belts and kicking up fabric dust) you would understand why many, including me, see no glory at all in it. And what I witnessed was the more 'modern' era so thankfully I never had to see the child labour or the criminal 'fines' inflicted on workers but I did see stuff that would now see owners jailed for health and safety reasons (and I don't mean namby pamby healthy and safety but real danger to life and limb).

Pride? Glory? Museums like this should only be there to say 'this should never happen again'.

The thing is, at the time you are talking about with child labour, 1 minute late and locked out etc., it was the norm for all working folk yet people took great pride in what they achieved despite earning a pittance for very hard, dangerous graft. Burnley folk were regarded as some of the hardest working, diligent and prideful people in Lancashire by many outsiders - read Cotton is King to see this mentioned a couple of times! If cotton weaving was not your thing their were choices available in engineering works, breweries, transport, labouring, farming, construction, mining, railways, gasworks, shops and so on but every one of those involved being almost almost slave labour where the owners grew fat and wealthy on the blood, sweat and tears of vastly underpaid workers!

Office workers suffered the same demands for working hard and being on time. Clerks had to stand all day and their handwriting had to be absolutely correct at all times or they could be punished and even dismissed. Book-keeping ledgers had to be spot on as profit margins were easily undone by a small error or misplaced digit!

[houseboy]

The thing is, at the time you are talking about with child labour, 1 minute late and locked out etc., it was the norm for all working folk yet people took great pride in what they achieved despite earning a pittance for very hard, dangerous graft. Burnley folk were regarded as some of the hardest working, diligent and prideful people in Lancashire by many outsiders - read Cotton is King to see this mentioned a couple of times! If cotton weaving was not your thing their were choices available in engineering works, breweries, transport, labouring, farming, construction, mining, railways, gasworks, shops and so on but every one of those involved being almost almost slave labour where the owners grew fat and wealthy on the blood, sweat and tears of vastly underpaid workers!

Office workers suffered the same demands for working hard and being on time. Clerks had to stand all day and their handwriting had to be absolutely correct at all times or they could be punished and even dismissed. Book-keeping ledgers had to be spot on as profit margins were easily undone by a small error or misplaced digit!

Absolutely agree with all of this bud. Things were different then without a doubt. Do you think though that the 'pride' thing (which you are correct about) was a result of brainwashing into thinking that they 'should be' proud? It's a bit like when war is declared and suddenly everyone becomes 'proud' of the nation and men queue up to fight, regardless of whether your nation is in the right or not. I don't know if this is the case but I can't help but wonder when people are so enthusiatic about things that really they shouldn't be.

[Cryssys]

On a different note, I remember climbing over the walls when I was a kid to fish in the mill pond . It was stuffed with small carp!

[bfcmik]

Absolutely agree with all of this bud. Things were different then without a doubt. Do you think though that the 'pride' thing (which you are correct about) was a result of brainwashing into thinking that they 'should be' proud? It's a bit like when war is declared and suddenly everyone becomes 'proud' of the nation and men queue up to fight, regardless of whether your nation is in the right or not. I don't know if this is the case but I can't help but wonder when people are so enthusiatic about things that really they shouldn't be.

It may well have been brain-washing but, like following a football team, I think it is engrained in people to feel ownership of the things we do or take as 'ours' and from that comes our feelings of pride in whatever it is. Often, we escape from the drudgery of our humdrum working lives by taking pride in the achievements we make at our job or things that others of our community do.

Why else would we feel proud of BFC for having beaten Spurs, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea etc. during our current spell in the Premier League. Why else would we still feel proud of our club's ongoing 23 match unbeaten run in the Championship, or for being the English Champions back in 1921 and 1960, or for taking thousands to York and many other esoteric feats.

[turfytopper]

Not sure what Queen Street Mill is but I assume it's some kind of museum gloryfying the cotton industry? Why? The cotton industry was built not on glory but the blood sweat and tears of vastly underpaid workers who were 'fined' for being late and accidentally breaking/losing any equipment. Children died under the looms because they had to sweep them as they were running. Shed workers wound up deaf from the noise, not to mention seriously ill from cotton dust. Mill owners grew fat and wealthy on the back of what was almost slave labour and many workers lived in houses belonging to the mill owner so if sacked would also lose their home.

I worked for quite a while as a younger guy in that industry in various departments (loom sweeper/warehouseman/cropper amongst other things) and if you have ever heard the sheer din of a shed full of old Lancashire looms (driven by unguarded belts and kicking up fabric dust) you would understand why many, including me, see no glory at all in it. And what I witnessed was the more 'modern' era so thankfully I never had to see the child labour or the criminal 'fines' inflicted on workers but I did see stuff that would now see owners jailed for health and safety reasons (and I don't mean namby pamby healthy and safety but real danger to life and limb).

Pride? Glory? Museums like this should only be there to say 'this should never happen again'.

Problem is.... Who made the shirt your (likely) to be wearing now? What about their conditions? Probably worse than when cotton was king in Lancashire.

[houseboy]

Problem is.... Who made the shirt your (likely) to be wearing now? What about their conditions? Probably worse than when cotton was king in Lancashire.

Haven't got a shirt.....had it ripped off my back with creditors.

[houseboy]

It may well have been brain-washing but, like following a football team, I think it is engrained in people to feel ownership of the things we do or take as 'ours' and from that comes our feelings of pride in whatever it is. Often, we escape from the drudgery of our humdrum working lives by taking pride in the achievements we make at our job or things that others of our community do.

Why else would we feel proud of BFC for having beaten Spurs, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea etc. during our current spell in the Premier League. Why else would we still feel proud of our club's ongoing 23 match unbeaten run in the Championship, or for being the English Champions back in 1921 and 1960, or for taking thousands to York and many other esoteric feats.

I think that kind of pride comes from doing something out of choice that we (hopefully) enjoy and can relate to. Being proud of a life of drudgery is a whole other thing and is something that is somehow mystifying. I still think the fear factor was involved a lot. It might also come down to lack of education in many ways, people didn't realise that there could be a whole other life (although opportunity was limited then). People were 'educated' to do what their fathers and grandfathers (and mothers) did before them and they were never given the opportunity to aspire to anything else. Even at school they were educated to not speak back to their 'betters' and I think that is what kept people fairly content. They were kept in ignorance to a large degree and I suppose that is what I meant by brainwashing. Being kept in ignorance is just as bad as being lied to.

[tim_noone]

Problem is.... Who made the shirt your (likely) to be wearing now? What about their conditions? Probably worse than when cotton was king in Lancashire.

I think they made those horrendous swimming trunks that were handed out at north street and central Baths!!