I am currently researching a lady who was gloveress in the Great Torrington area in the latter half of the 19th century. This seems to be a family concern, as both her mother and sister were also employed in gloving - rather interestingly they cite themselves as working 'silk gloves', as opposed to kid, which I believe was the predominant material worked in north Devon.
I understand that Great Torrington had a thriving glove making community in the 19th century - 60% of women and children in the 1861 census being employed in this form of labour.
I am really keen to find someone who might have a knowledge of this glove making industry in relation to Great Torrington and could paint a picture of what it would have been like, day to day as a gloveress e.g. how much she would have been paid and exactly how the gloves were made etc.
It would be brilliant if you can think of anyone who might be able to speak with me on this matter. We are currently in contact with Torrington museum and Barnstaple museum in relation to this research, so any suggestions for alternative avenue of enquiry would be really helpful.
If you can help with this request, please could you contact Lisa at lisa.herdman@walltowall.co.uk
(It is to be assumed she already knows about HW Strong's 1889 Industries of North Devon - reprinted by David & Charles in 1971 - which contains probably the most exhaustive account of the industry in that period, even down to listing the individual factories).
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