In Search of a Glemsford Family

What Lancaster Told Us

There used to be two matting factories in the Lancaster area in the 19th century. One was actually in the town, just across the bridge (over the River Lune) from Skerton, and it produced coconut matting into the 20th century. The factory was owned by William John Sly and was based at Albion Mills, Bulk, Lancaster.

It is only a short walk from the addresses in Skerton to the Albion Mills and it is likely to be there that the Suffolk people worked.

The other one was based in the Low Mill at Halton, about 2 miles up-river from Skerton, but on the same side of the river.
Your escapees from Suffolk could have worked at either establishment.
They may have travelled around the coast by ship as the coastal trade was very active and probably more comfortable than by road then. Lancaster was a port, albeit in decline, but ships were still active in the coastal trade.

Railways also were cheap and extensive (and probably more reliable.)

We are very grateful to the Lancaster and District Family History Society (www.lfhg.org), and to Pat Harrison in particular, for this information.

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Savage family
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© Tracey Foulds, Sandra Poole and Stephen Clarke
September 5 2005
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