Weavers

Weaving was a staple industry in Scotland during the 19th Century, with most of the output produced by handloom weavers working from home. By Victorian times the output of weavers was as impressive as it was diverse. Quality tweeds were produced in the Borders and elsewhere, cottons came from the West of Scotland, damask and other fine linens from Dunfermline, patterned shawls from Paisley and jute products from Dundee. Although the work of spinners and weavers was closely linked, there were often serious disagreements between them, arising mainly from the superiority felt by many weavers over their spinning counterparts.

Tartan, as we know it today, was not produced on a commercial scale until the resurgence of all things Scottish following the famous visit of George IV to Edinburgh in 1822. Prior to that, the production of standardised patterns was largely restricted to the needs of the Scottish Regiments. Invariably, handloom weaving was carried out by women in their own cottages, with assistance from their children. As with spinning, the coming of the Industrial Revolution had a profound effect on the industry; the cottages giving way to huge weaving sheds filled with power looms.

Places to visit
Many museums and visitor attractions around Scotland contain looms and examples of the material produced. They're all worth a visit by genealogists with a connection to the industry, but the following are especially noteworthy:

The World Heritage Village at New Lanark
A restored cotton village and a masterpiece of social and industrial planning.
www.newlanark.org

Verdant Works, Dundee
If your forebears came from Dundee it is highly likely they had a connection to the jute industry. In which case, a visit to the working mill at Verdant Works would prove endlessly fascinating.
www.verdantworks.com

Dunfermline Museum
In a town famous for its fine linens, this museum includes a loom on which its famed product was once produced.

Galashiels Museum
To this day, the Borders is world famous for its fine wools and tweeds. The museum at Galashiels includes a traditional working wool loom run by a water turbine.

Weavers Cottage, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire
Run by the National Trust for Scotland, this Weaver's Cottage offers a unique glimpse into the lives of a home-based weaver.
www.nms.ac.uk/museumofrurallifehomepage.aspx