Forest of Rossendale. 



291 



in this trade there are four, employing 360 hands, and paying in 

 weekly wages ;^4oo; whilst the Capital invested is close on 



;^20,000. 



Bringing the different departments of the trade together, we 

 have the following result : — 



Table showing the Extent of the Woollen Trade 

 IN Rossendale in 1893. 



About nineteen years ago a new industry, which may be mentioned 

 here (as it is closely allied to the woollen and felt), the Slipper 

 trade, was introduced into Rossendale. It is not only new to the 

 district, but it possesses original features in itself, and it ■was not 

 an importation from any other part of the country. It came 

 opportunely. The Cotton trade of Rossendale was suffering, and 

 is still suffering, owing to the competition with India, at one time 

 its best customer, where cotton goods of a similar class to those 

 made in Rossendale are now being largely produced. 



The Slipper trade is located chiefly at Waterfoot, in the very 

 heart of the Rossendale district, and the story that is told of its 

 origin is interesting. Mr. Samuel McLerie, now the oldest slipper 

 manufacturer in the trade in Rossendale, has been resident here 

 since 1859; and his sister, Mrs. Wylie, who had previously been 

 employed at the Busby Printworks, near Glasgow, came about 

 that time to reside at Waterfoot. It appears that the females 

 employed at the Busby works are accustomed to make a kind 



