Cops and Bobbins
17 November 2007 - 2 February 2008

Pattern Book from Wallshaw Mills, circa 1830

Cops and Bobbins looks at the history of the textile industry in Oldham and Saddleworth through items from Gallery Oldham's Social History and Art Collections.

Birth of a Milltown, the first stage of the exhibition, examines the rapid growth of Oldham during the early 19th Century.

A Golden Age of Mill Building uses architectural drawings from Oldham Local Studies and Archives to illustrate the blossoming industry between 1890 and 1920.

Decline and Fall traces the post World War II decline of the textile industry and features stories from those affected.

The exhibition looks beyond Oldham to the worldwide impact of the textile industry. From the 19th Century when Oldham consumed vast quantities of cotton grown by American slaves, to the 20th Century when immigrants moved here to work in the mills as the industry declined.

On show at the same time is Cotton Mills in the Landscape, a display at Oldham Local Studies and Archives (in front of Gallery Oldham).

Exhibition Launch: Millscapes, Cops and Bobbins

Saturday 17 November, 12noon - 4pm

Refreshments served from 12noon.

12noon - 1pm: Mill songs from the popular Oldham Tinkers.

1pm: Exhibitions to be opened by Edmund Gartside. Edmund was Chairman of his family's textile firm, the Royton based Shiloh group of companies, for 38 years. He represented the industry in negotiations with the Government and EEC Commission.

1:30pm and 2:30pm: Guided tours of Cops and Bobbins by Sean Baggaley.

1:30pm and 2:30pm: Guided tours of Millscapes by Stephen Whittle.

2pm and 3:15pm: Guided tours of the Talking About Slavery trail by Dinah Winch. The trail is part of the Revealing Histories, Remembering Slavery project.

1-4pm: Free family craft activities

Throughout the afternoon: Come and meet a Victorian mill owner, as played by our actor!

10am - 4pm: Presentation of photographs showing cotton mills in the landscape at Oldham Local Studies and Archives, 84 Union Street (in front of Gallery Oldham).

All events are free and there is no need to book.

Free exhibition talk: Wednesday 12 December, 1pm.

Image: Pattern Book from Wallshaw Mills c.1830.