Report on the Condition of Framework Knitters 1845

In the early nineteenth century the demand for goods produced by framework knitters began to decline rapidly. With this decline in demand, the wages of the knitters also fell. This was accompanied by a dramatic fall in their standard of living. There was also concern that once caught in this poverty trap that the knitter could only buy food and other necessities from certain shops in the village (the Truck System). This kept the prices artificially high increasing the poverty of the workers. In 1843/44 a government enquiry was launched and its results were published in the “Report on the Condition of Framework Knitters” in 1845. Many of the interviews have been transcribed and the views of the workers leap off the pages. The interviews of the framework knitters interviewed in Saddington can be seen on these pages.