Silk Dyer and Scourer

[Lady Penelope]

Hi,

Again. not sure if I'm in the right place so please advise if not.

My 2 x gr grandfather was a Silk Dyer and Scourer in Birmingham in the early 1800's. Basically I know what the job was - the scourer part appears to have been when they removed gum, debris etc left by the silk worms.

I would very much like to research the subject further but unfortunately don't seem to be able to make a start as I tried to find information from Central Library and the internet and could find nothing historical to do with the Midlands.

He died at 46 and the coroner's verdict was a 'Visitation from God', which appears to be an all encompassing cop-out. He had eight children and all the girls lived to a good age while the boys died, mainly in infancy, only one living to his 20's. I wondered if this may be something to do with his trade or chemicals used in it.

Any help, ideas or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

 

[ladylinda]

There is a free ebook called The Family Dyer and Scourer (first published 1817) by William Tucker,
and whilst not being specifically about the Midlands industry, gives an insight to the processes and items used.

 

[mikejee]

In various directories are listed the following up to the 1858 directory. Only ones specialising in silk would presumably be of interest, but have included them all. It should be remembered that at this time the date on the directory is only a guide, and the information might be several years old:

1815
Allen William,: silk dyer, Dudley-street
Cripps and Co. silk dyers Great Charles-street
Gittoe Wm. silk dyer, Little Charles-street
Parrott Joseph, silk dyer, Newhall-street

1818
Allen William, silk dyer, Dudley-street
Cripps and Co. silk dyers Great Charles-street
Parrott Joseph, silk dyer, Newhall-street

1823
Jones Sarah, silk dyer, Deritend
Marshall, {late Parrot) silk dyer, 15, Newhall-street
Nimmo John, silk, cotton and cloth dyer and presser, 120, Gt.Charles-street

1830
Marshall William, silk dyer 15 Newhall St
Nimmo John, silk, cotton, and cloth dyer and presscr, 121, Great Charles-st

1833
Bennett Alexander, silk, woollen, and cotton dyer, scourer, and cleaner, 34,
Union-street
Jones Sarah, silk dyer, 47, Deritend
Nimmo John, silk, cotton, and cloth dyer and presser, 121, Gt. Charles-st.
Wrighton Sarah, silk dyer, 28, Navigation-st

1839
Birch Charles. Silk dyer. Prospect row
Campbell Donald, silk, cotton and woollen dyer, 68, Constitution hill
Hartwright William, silk dyer, 52, Gosta green
Heathcote William, silk dyer, 17, Upper Temple street
McLintock Eliza, silk dyer, 29, Newton street
Wadsworth Ann, silk dyer, Lichfield street

1841
Hartwripht William, silk dyer, 52 Aston st
Hcathcote William Cecil, silk dyer, 88 New st
McLintock Robert, silk dyer, 29 Newton st
Reeves James. silk dver. Bath row

1845
Gillibrand, Thomas, silk dyer,et 85 Great Charles st
Heathcote Wilton Cecil, silk, cloth & furniture dyer, 36 . Colmore Row
Holland & Son, silk, cotton & woollen dyers, 11 Moat row, Smithfield & 106 New st

1849
Holland & Son, silk, cotton & woollen dyers, 11 Moat row

1855
Alldridge Richard, furrier & silk dyer, 43 Steelhouse lane
Holland Robert, silk dyer, 173 Broad street, Islington
Rogers Alfred, silk & woollen dyer, 13 George street
Wilkes John, silk dyer, 220 New John street west

1858
Birch Joseph, silk dyer, 55, Lichfield st
Holland Jas., silk dyer, 10, Moat lane
Holland John., silk and woollen dyer, 39, Broad at, Islington, and 77, Pershore at
McGrane John, silk dyer, 114, Lichfield st
McLintock Robert., silk and fancy dyer, 29, Newton st
Quin Hannah, silk and worsted dyer, 13, Suffolk st
Thurstan Sarah, silk dyer,, 175, Bromsgrove st
Watson and Co., dyers of silk, etc., 8, Holloway Head (John Watson owner, home 8 Holloway Head)
Wilkes Henry., silk and moreen dyer, 64, Pershore st; home , 80, Vyse st

 

[Lady Penelope]

Thank you both so much for the information. My ancestor was the William Hartwright mentioned in the directories. I shall certainly look at the e-book. Great and thanks again!

 

[Lady Penelope]

Hi Ladylinda, I downloaded the e-book you found for me and spent an hour or so immersed in it. I was fascinated by the ingredients mentioned, some of which seemed more connected to alchemy than dyeing. I specially liked the expression 'fast and fugitive colours'.

Many ingredients were natural from plants, lichens and trees, but some recipes called for bullocks galls, brimstone, chamber lye,and nitric and sulphuric acids among other things. Another of interest called for 60 (yes 60) gallons of stale urine. No wonder people died young.

 

[ladylinda]

I too got immersed in it (the book not the stale stuff!!) and I didn't think it would remotely interest me!
It was fascinating