looms

Dublin Leader - Saturday 19 March 1932. Outside the date range, but Rialto Serge was also being advertised (albeit with a less stylish advert) much earlier (1907).

John Spooner Excellent! So Cork Street. At least if they were on Cork Street at the end of the 19th century, when this would have been taken...

National Library of Ireland on The Commons But wait, the Dublin Leader on Saturday 18 April 1908 had an article which could have been entitled "Everything you wanted to know about the City Woollen Mills in the early 20th century." It says that the mills were in Weavers' Square 1903-1906ish, and after that in Cork Street.

Five years ago Mr. McKnight started the City Woollen Mills in Weavers' Square, the centre of a district. abounding in historic industrial associations. We are glad to say that his enterprise met from the outset with the support it deserved, and within three years new premises were erected in Cork Street, and a large quantity of additional machinery installed to meet the steadily increasing demand. The business has kept on growing, and recently another wing had to be added to the factory in which several new looms will shortly be in full working order with, of course, their complement of additional workers. On Thursday last a number of visitors had an opportunity of seeing this busy Irish industry at work. The factory has been erected on the most approved modern plan for carrying on textile work. It is one storey throughout, of spacious dimensions, well lighted and ventilated, provided with the most up-to-date safeguards against accidents to employees. The gas and electricity for motive and lighting purposes are made on the premises, and it is only right to mention that the coal used comes not from Wales, but Castleenmer. In securing the ground for a site the the management were apparently determined not to allow want of space to cripple expansion, as nearly a couple of acres are to the good as a site for future developments. In addition to the plainer goods at first attempted, the City Woollen Mills now make the daintiest dress goods for ladies, super-cheviots, fine fancy worsted suitings and a high-class serge. The west of England is where the finest quality of English cloth is made, and it is encouraging to see that the Dublin firm has customers amongst the wholesale houses there.

BTW, my great-great grandfather WIllam Spearman sold Royal Devonshire Serge in Plymouth, which I think counts as the west of England, until about 1910. And had wonderful illustrated adverts in the press.

Reminds me of a Chinese sweatshop I had visited sewing up merchandise for all the big name brands.

John McKnight of City Woollen Mills was quoted in an article somewhere. John Potter McKnight, 54, woollen manufacturer, in the 1911 census : www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Rathmine... . I think that's him - there's also a John McKnight, merchant tailor.

No obvious matches in 1901, although one John McKnight appears at first glance to be involved with the wool trade. His profession is given as "Knitter in a shipyard" ! ?. I was so disappointed to look at the household return and see that "Knitter" is a mis-transcription of 'Rivetter".

"Skibbereen 2624 WL" bottom left corner... ??

"Convent of Mercy Schools Skibbereen." credited to Lawrence. catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000323892

The convent on the 25" map. The building marked School there is still standing, and renovated as offices: streetview Edit: wrong School! See the beachcomber's comment below for the correct one.

The teaser from the BNA index for Freeman's Journal on 9th October 1893: "LiNEN WEAVING AT THE CONVENT OF MERCY, SKIBBEREEN. It will be in the recollection of our readers that in 1889 the nuns of the Convent of Mercy, Skibbereen, first made the experiment of introducing the art of linen weaving by hand looms into the .."

School was closed 2003. Buildings still there.. R595 maps.app.goo.gl/i2hbR6uhCGp37LUi7

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Vintage Background People, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Really like the children peeping at the photographer on the right background! :))

beautiful vintage

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Science, Technology, History, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

I do know, beautiful