Forest of Rossendale. 323 



labouring classes their employment, should never be permitted 

 amongst such a numerous population as we have, and no invention 

 in machinery, I conceive, has a greater tendency to do so than 

 Power-Looms." Comment is unnecessary. 



In the minds of many of the operatives the prejudices against 

 the power-loom were as strong as amongst the more short-sighted 

 employers of labour ; and these prejudices, stimulated by a season 

 of bad trade, led to the unjustifiable riots already described. So 

 tenaciously did many of the weavers cling to the old hand-loom, 

 that in order to compete with the more productive rival, the 

 " dandy loom " was introduced. This invention consisted of an 

 adaptation of two looms in such a way as to admit of their being 

 worked simultaneously by one person. The weaver sat betwixt 

 the two, and by an ingenious arrangement gave motion to both. 



A still further combination was attempted with success by 

 John Hargreaves, a weaver, residing at Trice Barn, Dean, who, 

 by an application of cords, pulleys, and levers, contrived to put 

 four hand-looms in motion, thus weaving four distinct pieces of 

 calico at one and the same time. These the inventor continued 

 to work for several years, and only abandoned their use when his 

 employers ceased to " put out " the warp and weft. 



The Luddite outbreaks of 1812, and the Plug Riots of 1842, in 

 both of which Eossendale participated and suffered to some extent, 

 are examples of popular delusions similar in their manifestations to 

 the Power-Loom Riots of 1826, though differing from the latter in 

 the objects intended to be accomphshed. The former, whilst 

 aiming at the destruction of machinery, partook more largely of the 

 political element. Both were ill-advised attempts on the part of 

 the distressed operatives to take the law into their own hands, and 

 both were consequent on a lengthened season of dull trade, low 

 wages and dear food. 



The Luddites were so designated after Ned Ludd, a man 

 reputed as an idiot, who in 1782 had broken two stocking-frames 



