Tangled Threads

Tangled Threads: For over two centuries, the towns of Kirriemuir and Forfar were powered by spinning, weaving, and textile production. From handwoven linen in cottages to industrial scale mills, the textile trade shaped every part of daily life.

In rural areas surrounding Forfar and Kirriemuir, small farmers cultivated flax, which their wives would spin. During the winter months, when agricultural work was limited, the farmers would weave these into cloth. These woven goods were brought to market towns for sale. This cottage industry was widespread until the advent of mechanised spinning and weaving which, over time, diminished the role of the home-based weaver.

As the towns transitioned from rural weaving communities into industrial centres, spinning and weaving became both a source of employment and a lens through which broader struggles – such as working-class rights, free trade, and industrial reform played out.

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