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MANUFACTURES. 
ner’s way, or the manufacturing of sheep skins into 
leather. 
Bromsgrove does something in the wool-combing and 
spinning way, from long wool; the yarn goes to the 
stocking weavers of Leicestershire. The town con¬ 
tains about 500 houses, and 3000 inhabitants, and the 
whole parish of 14,000 acres, about 3000 more; the 
other manufactures are, linen for wear, for table linen, 
and sheets, finished and whitened; also needles, made 
both here and at Redditch. Nailers for small nails, 
tacks, lath nails, tenter hooks, &c. made all over the 
Most of the towns contain tanner’s yards, where 
hides are tanned into leather, and there are curriers 
•who dress it, and prepare it for use. In Dudley, and 
its neighbourhood, is a considerable manufacture of 
nails; also, according to Mr. Pomeroy, of needles and 
fish-hooks. Glass utensils are also manufactured here 
in great perfection. 
Kidderminster has a manufacture of carpets; also of 
stuffs of worsted, and of silk and worsted. Dr. Nash 
relates, that in 1772, there were in this place 250 car¬ 
pet looms, each employing a man and a boy ; and 1700 
silk and worsted looms, each employing one weaver; 
that 5000 people, men, women, and children, were then 
employed in the town and neighbourhood in spin¬ 
ning and preparing yarn. Kidderminster carpets 
excel in the brilliancy and durability of their co¬ 
lours, towards which, the fitness of the waters of 
Stour is said to contribute, in scouring and striking 
the colour. 
At present the carpet trade remains undiminished ; 
but that of stuffs has often fluctuated, on account of 
the 
