Jack

The Luddites

Click on their faces to hear their words (requires Realplayer: please be patient while it downloads)

"I wish I could go to school. Father says that he needs me at home to do the winding, or he wouldn't have enough bobbins. On Sunday I go to Sunday school with my brother, Jack, but I wish I could go to school every day like other children."

"I think it's those cut-ups we should stop — if we're gonna break frames, let's make it wide frames. Those Hosiers are putting us out of business by making those inferior stockings."

"My Dora's been taken ill and she can't do any seaming. It cost me a shilling to get old Mary Banks to do it for us last week. I an't had anything but an onion to eat since yesterday morning."

"I hate it when I have to melt the lead over the fire. The ladle is heavy and I'm frightened I'll drop it. The lead is hot and it spits. I'm always scared when I pour it into mould to make the needles."

"It's those truck payments that are killing us. They gave me a baby dress and we don't even have a baby. There's no way to flog it, and the pawnbroker don't even give us more than a penny or two!"

Harriet

James

Sam

Ned

Benjy

Sarah

Mary

"Two pence per hour, that's all I get as a Runner. I spend hours and hours slogging my guts over sewing patterns on stockings and 10 shillings is all I earn in a week. And when two-thirds of it is paid in the tackiest clothing....what would you do?"

"I don't know why we have to meet here in the cave. It's cold sitting on these thralls. We're sitting here in a pub cellar and I don't even have enough money for an ale!"

Web

Warp

Weft

For providing the voices I would like to thank Alexandra Whitehead, Vince Haywood, Graeme Marshall, Mandy Keep, Marie-Louise Hall, Andrew Cooper, Dale Lancaster and Aidan Whitehead

"Well he's never been a violent man. He wouldn't harm a fly. But he works all the hours of daylight - and more - and every day of the week, and our kids are still going hungry."