Thomas and Jane, Hand in Glove
Frank Mason
ISBN 9781916919396
Worcester in the nineteenth century – a time not so far gone but very different from our own. A time of change, of growth, of financial hardship; of striving for success. Hand in Glove is the story of the glove industry, now largely forgotten but once a major part of the city, employing thousands and leading the world.
One family fundamental to this were the Ratcliffes: Thomas; his wife, Jane; and their children. Thomas was at the heart of the glove industry, a skilled craftsman turned entrepreneur and businessman, a pillar of the community, whose previously untold life story here opens the door to a wider view of Victorian Worcester.
Others feature here – the gloveresses, the cutters, the skilled craftspeople without whom the industry would not have been successful. There is also the hitherto untold story of those Worcester people who left in search of a new life, heading for America, to the town of Gloversville.
The Glover’s Needle might be all that remains of this once thriving industry but this story brings it all back to life.
Reviews
The theme of this book is the gloving industry in Worcester in the nineteenth century, when Worcester made the world’s finest gloves.
The Thomas and Jane of the title grew up in this era, marrying and raising a family. Thomas moved from worker to business owner, and it is through them, or what we can know of them, that the story is recounted.
I enjoyed reading this well researched book and can commend it to anyone keen on exploring the not too distant past.
This is a fascinating book which builds a vivid picture of life in Victorian Worcester. At its heart is the glove trade, an industry in which the city played a leading role. Following the life of a Worcester family, it provides a rich insight into life in the period, exploring housing conditions, working life, the role of women and family, and the values of the era. A very interesting and informative read for anyone interested in local or social history!
I genuinely enjoyed the book and is a good reward for what must have been many hours of research.
If I were to review it, I would comment:
A well written and researched book about the growth of the glove making industry in Worcester. It details the processes used and evolution of the companies who eventually exported their goods worldwide. I was surprised to find the wide use of outworkers in the industry.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the first local history book I have read, and the different avenues explored to build a picture of life in Victorian Worcester.
There were so many stories and details I wasn’t expecting when beginning the book, but I ended up finishing the book in a weekend! Very enjoyable and a fabulous start to my reading list for the New Year.
This account of the glovemaking industry in Worcester in the 18th and 19th centuries draws on the life of one family. After detailed research, the author has produced a very readable and interesting book, describing the life of the city at the time. Residents of Worcester may be particularly interested in descriptions of the areas involved in glovemaking.