Four Loom Weaver (Roud 1460), probably derived from "The Poor Cotton Weaver" is a 19th-century English lament on starvation. One source also names it Jone o Grinfilt[1] though this title usually refers to different lyrics and score, which is about the naiveté of country folk. Actually, it is very similar to Jone o'Grinfilt Junior which can be found in John Harland's Ballads and Songs of Lancashire (1875 pp. 169–171). Jone o Grinfilt is believed to have been written by Joseph Lees of Glodwick, near Oldham in the 1790s.[2]
The earlier version, the Poor Cotton Weaver, was probably written before 1800, after the Napoleonic wars it was revived or re-written, due to economic hard times, when weavers were reduced to eating nettles. This could refer to the war itself any of the periodic economic downturns in the cotton industry. It was featured in Mary Barton published in 1848, then later referred to the Lancashire Cotton Famine of 1862. It is found on broadsides in Manchester up to the 1880s, it did not survive into the 20th century. In the folk revival it reappeared. The version by Ewan MacColl probably influenced the version by Silly Sisters and by Unto Ashes. Jez Lowe wrote his song "Nearer to Nettles", after an old woman approached his band's vocalist, who'd just sung The "Four-Loom Weaver", remarking she'd never been nearer to eating nettles at that time (late 80s/early 90s) than during any other period of her life.
A Four Loom weaver is power loom weaver using four Lancashire Looms in a Lancashire weaving shed. They probably would be Horrocks, or Howard & Bullough. The rewrite of four loom weaver refers to the years of the Lancashire Cotton Famine, when the weaver was totally dependent on his income from the millowner- unlike the handloom weaver who would probably have a vegetable patch and a few chickens. The Cotton Famine was caused by the cotton trade being interrupted by the American Civil War. The Lancashire man- three generations in the mill could not comprehend how the cotton stopped, and still had the quaint belief that the great man (PM perhaps) only needed to tell the shipowners to bring in some more cotton.
Many Lancashire folk, can give personal testimony of relative having worked in such a role.
My maternal grandmother was a four loom cotton weaver until the mill, where she worked, in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, was closed and relocated to India in the 1920s approx. Mill workers worked their way up to four looms which were rented from the mill. Four was the maximum so my nan told me, so a four loom weaver was an indication of the level of attainment in the industry. So I think the title is probably correct and not a corruption of a poor loom weaver.
Will Lever, Malpas, Cheshire
Power weavers would continue to tenter four looms until the mid-1930s operating at 220 picks a minute. The industry attempted to restructure using the 'more looms system' where the weavers were switched to tentering eight looms operating at 180 picks a minute. This caused industrial unrest,; and uneasy compromise of using six loom sets was reached. It was quietly put on hold, but with the Second World War curtailed freedoms most weaving sheds switched to eight. Queen Street Mill ran sets of eight, with a training alley of six and a pensioners alley of 12 loom sets for two elderly weavers to work together. Other mills such as Bancroft Shed ran ten-sets.[3]
Poor Cotton Weaveredit
The Norton version[4] gives an earlier set of words the Poor Cotton Weaver which refers to the hand loom weaving.
Old Billy O' Bent, he were telling us long
We mayn't had better times if I'd nobbut held m' tongue.
Well, I held m' tongue til I near lost m' breath,
And I feel in m' hear that I'II soon clem to death
Jone o'Grinfilt Junioredit
Aw'm a poor cotton-wayver as mony a one knaws
Aw've nowt t'ate in th' heawse, un' aw've worn eawt my cloas
^Gaskell, Elisabeth Cleghorn (2004) [first published 1848]. Mary Barton. Kessinger Publishing. p. 408. ISBN978-1-4191-3298-8.
^Erlewine, Michael. "Mr". allmusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
^Erlewine, Michael. "Mr". Allmusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
^Tabor, June. "Ms". Genius. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
^Ainscoe, Mike. "Mr". brightyoungthings. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
External linksedit
Lyrics and score
Performance by Maddy Prior and June Tabor in 2008
Jone o'Grinfilt Junior
January 01, 1970
four, loom, weaver, roud, 1460, probably, derived, from, poor, cotton, weaver, 19th, century, english, lament, starvation, source, also, names, jone, grinfilt, though, this, title, usually, refers, different, lyrics, score, which, about, naiveté, country, folk. Four Loom Weaver Roud 1460 probably derived from The Poor Cotton Weaver is a 19th century English lament on starvation One source also names it Jone o Grinfilt 1 though this title usually refers to different lyrics and score which is about the naivete of country folk Actually it is very similar to Jone o Grinfilt Junior which can be found in John Harland s Ballads and Songs of Lancashire 1875 pp 169 171 Jone o Grinfilt is believed to have been written by Joseph Lees of Glodwick near Oldham in the 1790s 2 The earlier version the Poor Cotton Weaver was probably written before 1800 after the Napoleonic wars it was revived or re written due to economic hard times when weavers were reduced to eating nettles This could refer to the war itself any of the periodic economic downturns in the cotton industry It was featured in Mary Barton published in 1848 then later referred to the Lancashire Cotton Famine of 1862 It is found on broadsides in Manchester up to the 1880s it did not survive into the 20th century In the folk revival it reappeared The version by Ewan MacColl probably influenced the version by Silly Sisters and by Unto Ashes Jez Lowe wrote his song Nearer to Nettles after an old woman approached his band s vocalist who d just sung The Four Loom Weaver remarking she d never been nearer to eating nettles at that time late 80s early 90s than during any other period of her life Contents 1 A Four Loom Weaver 2 Poor Cotton Weaver 3 Jone o Grinfilt Junior 4 Other versions 5 References 6 External linksA Four Loom Weaver editA Four Loom weaver is power loom weaver using four Lancashire Looms in a Lancashire weaving shed They probably would be Horrocks or Howard amp Bullough The rewrite of four loom weaver refers to the years of the Lancashire Cotton Famine when the weaver was totally dependent on his income from the millowner unlike the handloom weaver who would probably have a vegetable patch and a few chickens The Cotton Famine was caused by the cotton trade being interrupted by the American Civil War The Lancashire man three generations in the mill could not comprehend how the cotton stopped and still had the quaint belief that the great man PM perhaps only needed to tell the shipowners to bring in some more cotton Many Lancashire folk can give personal testimony of relative having worked in such a role My maternal grandmother was a four loom cotton weaver until the mill where she worked in Rawtenstall Lancashire was closed and relocated to India in the 1920s approx Mill workers worked their way up to four looms which were rented from the mill Four was the maximum so my nan told me so a four loom weaver was an indication of the level of attainment in the industry So I think the title is probably correct and not a corruption of a poor loom weaver Will Lever Malpas Cheshire Power weavers would continue to tenter four looms until the mid 1930s operating at 220 picks a minute The industry attempted to restructure using the more looms system where the weavers were switched to tentering eight looms operating at 180 picks a minute This caused industrial unrest and uneasy compromise of using six loom sets was reached It was quietly put on hold but with the Second World War curtailed freedoms most weaving sheds switched to eight Queen Street Mill ran sets of eight with a training alley of six and a pensioners alley of 12 loom sets for two elderly weavers to work together Other mills such as Bancroft Shed ran ten sets 3 Poor Cotton Weaver editThe Norton version 4 gives an earlier set of words the Poor Cotton Weaver which refers to the hand loom weaving Old Billy O Bent he were telling us long We mayn t had better times if I d nobbut held m tongue Well I held m tongue til I near lost m breath And I feel in m hear that I II soon clem to death dd dd Jone o Grinfilt Junior editAw m a poor cotton wayver as mony a one knaws Aw ve nowt t ate in th heawse un aw ve worn eawt my cloas yo u hardly gie sixpence fur o aw ve got on Meh clogs ur booath baws n un stockins aw ve none dd dd There is also a version called the Oldham Weaver in Mary Barton by Mrs Gaskell in 1848 5 Other versions editOldham Tinkers on Best O T Bunch 1974 and An Introduction To 2018 6 Karen Casey on Distant Shore 2003 7 June Tabor on Airs and Graces Not on the original 1976 version but one of 4 tracks added on the 2019 reissue 8 Stick in the Wheel on Bones EP 2014 9 References edit Archived copy Archived from the original on 18 July 2011 Retrieved 19 December 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link The G R Axon Collection of Broadsides Chetham s Library Retrieved 5 November 2020 Graham Stanley 2008 Bancroft The story of a Pennine weaving shed lulu com p 198 ISBN 9 781409 255789 Norton version Archived 10 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine Gaskell Elisabeth Cleghorn 2004 first published 1848 Mary Barton Kessinger Publishing p 408 ISBN 978 1 4191 3298 8 Erlewine Michael Mr allmusic RhythmOne Retrieved 10 November 2022 Erlewine Michael Mr Allmusic RhythmOne Retrieved 10 November 2022 Tabor June Ms Genius Retrieved 10 November 2022 Ainscoe Mike Mr brightyoungthings Retrieved 10 November 2022 External links editLyrics and score Performance by Maddy Prior and June Tabor in 2008 Jone o Grinfilt Junior Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Four Loom Weaver amp oldid 1199171375, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
