Coventry Society member, Peter James, tells us what happened after the failure of the silk weaving industry and celebrates the only Elastic Inn in the country! Peter writes……
The signing of the Cobden Treaty in 1859 removed the tariffs on French and Swiss imported silk ribbons. The Americans also put a 50% duty on English manufactured goods. This caused the collapse of the silk weaving industry in Coventry.
However it was not the end of weaving in Coventry. Lord Leigh and other local businessmen financed the building of a woollen mill to produce serge and worsted material. Leigh Mills opened in 1863 and continued trading until the 1960s.
Thomas Stevens a former apprentice at Pears and Franklin was 26 years old. In 1854 he set up on his own to produce multi colour silk pictures and bookmarks in fine detail with a 3D effect. By 1862 he had 9 bookmark designs but by the 1880s the company could offer 800 bookmark and picture designs.
In 1846 the Cash Brothers set up in West Orchard and after the slump in 1860 they focused on producing woven badges, name tapes and clothing labels. The company had moved from West Orchard in 1857 to some three storey cottages in Kingfield next to the canal.
An elastic weaving industry also evolved in Coventry and the surrounding area.
Elastic webbing was used in shoe gussets, corsets, undergarments, braces, straps for racehorse chandlery etc. Rufus Jones was one of the earliest companies to commence production. They were based in Attleborough Nuneaton and the business eventually moved into a purpose-built factory there in 1910.
The skills and expertise of silk weavers were successfully transferred to the elastic web weaving business. Some existing looms and equipment were adapted for their new usage.
Elastic Web Makers listed in a Coventry Trade Directory
Estd.
Bates & Dalton South Street 1880
T.B. Bethel & Co. Foleshill 1875
Dubock Jones Wellington Street 1870
W. Monk Vernon Street 1878
G.A.Pridmore & Co. Foleshill Mills 1859
G.A.Pridmore based at Foleshill Mills on Lockhurst Lane operated there from 1859. By 1884 they were experiencing problems and finished trading. This notice appeared in the London Gazette on 12th February 1884 :-
In 1862 the Reverend Sidney Widdrington vicar of St. Michaels helped set up the Coventry Elastic Weaving Company in a cottage factory in Red Lane. Elijah Strong lived in Red Lane and is an example of an elastic weaver who was formerly a ribbon weaver. By the 1881 Census he is described as an elastic weaver. He and his father had both been silk ribbon weavers.
By 1864 the business in Red Lane had been successful and moved into larger premises with over 50 looms at the junction of Cox Street and Ford Street. The site was previously owned by John Day a silk ribbon weaver who had been disliked in the weaving community for employing women and children. The tasks had previously been performed by skilled artisans. In 1882 the company was having problems as it tried to reduce its wage bill. There was a related article in the St. James Gazette in London on 2nd February 1882. The company continued trading until 1904.
In 1871 a business called Ale and Porter Stores opened opposite the weaving company at 2-4 Ford Street. By 1872 it had become The Vaults and soon after in 1874 The Elastic Inn. By this time the pub had become a popular meeting place for the elastic weavers. It remained open until 2012 when the property was converted to provide student accommodation.
The Elastic Inn – The Only One in the Country
Thanks to David Fry for supplying an article and photograph,