The Lancashire Weavers' Uprising of 1826 was a significant labour protest during the early Industrial Revolution in England. It occurred in response to widespread economic hardship, falling wages, and the introduction of power looms, which threatened traditional handloom weavers' livelihoods. Unrest peaked in April 1826, when thousands of workers in Lancashire rioted, attacking mills and destroying machinery in towns such as Blackburn and Burnley. The government responded by deploying troops to suppress the uprising. Though quickly quelled, the revolt highlighted growing tensions between industrial progress and workers’ rights, and it underscored the harsh social impact of rapid mechanisation in textile manufacturing.
This stunning tea towel is based on a banner designed by James Fox for the Weavers Uprising Bicentennial Committee. (visit: www.weavers-uprising.org.uk)
