The UK cotton industry reached its peak in 1913 with Oldham boasting more spindles than any other town in the world, a feat celebrated at a special upcoming exhibition starting July 21.
Gallery Oldham will host the event ‘Spindleoplois: When Cotton was King,’ showcasing artefacts, paintings, drawings and cartoons of the booming industry before World War One.
A hundred years ago, the cotton industry dominated Oldham’s economy but the event aims to show how big a role it played in world history.
“The size of the industry in Oldham was simply astonishing,” said Terry Wyke, co-curator of the exhibition.
“Over the previous one hundred years it had grown to become the most important cotton spinning towns not just in the Manchester region but in the world.
“In 1913 a quarter of the country’s raw cotton imports were processed in Oldham and over 30,000 people were directly employed in its mills.
“It deserved its nickname of Spindleopolis.”
The 320 mills containing 16.7million spindles span more cotton in Oldham than the entire industries of France or Germany, producing 10% of the entire world’s produce.
Such was Oldham’s importance a century ago it received its maiden visit of a reigning monarch when King George V came to town.
“Oldham did not only spin cotton, It was also the country’s leading town for manufacturing textile machinery,” added Mr Wyke.
“In 1913 there was no major cotton town in the world that did not have textile machinery that had been made in Oldham.
“Platts was the leading firm, and it was Platts that King George V and Queen Mary were taken around when they visited Oldham in 1913.
“They made the usual polite remarks about the town but like every visitor they must have been startled by the almost entire absence of grand buildings and open spaces.”
On display will be the cartoons of local man Sam Fitton, which featured in the union newspaper called the Cotton Factory Times, giving an insight into the everyday lives of Oldham residents at the time.
While being an economic powerhouse the town was also successful in the sporting arena with Oldham Athletic finishing fourth in the First Division and reaching the FA Cup semi-final.
Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Neighbourhoods, said: “This exhibition celebrates an important period in our history, when Oldham led the world in cotton production.
“This exhibition is a great opportunity to learn more about life in Oldham 100 years ago and I would encourage people to take the opportunity to visit it.”
‘Spindleopolis: When Cotton was King’ runs from July 21 until November 30 with a special launch event on July 24 at 1:15pm while Sam Fitton’s cartons can be viewed here.
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