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The Handweavers' Plight
"The cotton weavers who reside principally in the neighbourhood of Bolton, Chorley, Wigan, Blackburn, Haslingden, Padiham, Burnley, Colne and Todmorden are by far the most wretched body in this part of the country.  The number of cotton weavers in the places above mentioned must exceed 60,000 and probably is near 100,000 and the utmost sum they can earn per week, on a fair average working diligently from six (am) till eight (pm), allowing out of that time an hour and a half for meals, is only 4 shillings (20p)*, even if the loom be their own, but if they have to hire the loom, they pay tenpence (4p) a week for it, and they must also buy shuttles etc, and keep the loom in repair.  Great numbers cannot earn two shillings and six pence, (12½p) three shillings (15p) or three shillings and sixpence (17½p) per week."

Extract from the Liverpool Commercial Chronicle, April 24th 1826

To put these prices into perspective, in1826 a pound of bread cost 2d (just less than 1p) and a pound of butter 1s (5p).

*In 1820 average earnings for handloom weavers were approximately 15s to 16s per week (75p to 80p).
In 1790 the wages were approximately 30s (£1.50) per week.
by 1826 Handloom weavers had seen their income decrease to 25% of the 1790 rates.

Article by Adrian Morris