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
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!
This is an easy read, as the author has an engaging style. I read it over two days. It is particularly interesting to those who live in Worcester as the author explains the derivation of the names of streets and areas connected to the glove industry and includes many interesting photographs.