Lancashire Lantern

Arkwright House and the invention of the water frame

 

Living in Lancashire, Arkwright was only too aware of the efforts being made to improve the spinning and weaving processes in the textile industry. In 1750 the whole cotton industry was based on the domestic system, wives and daughters did the carding and spinning, fathers and sons the weaving. The invention of the flying shuttle speeded up weaving, leaving spinners struggling to provide yarn fast enough.

In 1761 the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Commerce and Manufactures offered a reward for a successful spinning machine. In 1767 James Hargreaves invented the Spinning Jenny, a machine which could handle up to 80 spindles, but which was still worked by hand. Arkwright became interested in developing his own spinning machine and engaged the help of John Kay, a clockmaker from Warrington. 

He moved back to Preston and rented a room in the house of the headmaster of Preston Grammar School in Stoneygate. The house is now known as Arkwright House.

Here, in 1768, with the help of Kay, he developed his spinning machine, which became known as the Water Frame (it was later operated by water power). 

The image shows an extract from Arkwright's patent for a water frame spinning machine.
(Click the image to enlarge)

 

 

He received financial backing from John Smalley, a publican and paint merchant of Preston, and David Thornley, a Liverpool merchant. 

He patented the machine in 1769.

The image shows an extract from Arkwright's patent for a water frame spinning machine.

(Click the image to enlarge)

 

 

 

Arkwright House in Stoneygate, Preston, was built in 1728 as the residence of the headmaster of Preston Grammar School. 

It was named Arkwright House after Richard Arkwright developed his spinning machine there in 1768. 

It later became a public house, the Arkwright Arms, and in the 1890s it was bought by Temperance reformers who used it as a lodging house.

By 1950 it had been transformed into workshops, but was allowed to sink into disrepair.

 

Restoration work began in 1978 and the house was reopened by Princess Alexandra in 1980. It is now the headquarters of Preston and South Ribble Age Concern.