John Fielden of Todmorden, often referred to as “Honest John Fielden”(1784-1849) was one of the outstanding reformers of the early factory age, championing legislation to protect child workers. He believed that a ten-hour day was too long for children, but he supported 10 hours as a compromise acceptable to Parliament. It took from 1816 to 1847 for the Ten Hours Act to be passed , after a long hard struggle.
Brought up as a Quaker, Fielden had been taught at an early age to be concerned about the welfare of the people the Company employed. When the wages of factory workers began to fall in the 1820s, he advocated the introduction of a minimum wage. He believed workers on a decent wage would be good for the British economy as it would increase spending on manufactured goods. He also believed that low wages and long hours had a disastrous effect on the health of the workers. As an employer Fielden practised what he preached. He paid good wages to his reliable and loyal
workers and cared for those affected by disease (as in the smallpox epidemic of 1874) or those hurt in his mills.
The business was one of the largest textile businesses in the country and accumulated more capital in business than any other cotton firm in Britain before the cotton shortage caused by the American Civil War.
. Apart from being Todmorden's largest employers, the family also contributed to the town's development in many ways, perhaps primarily in their financing of the magnificent Todmorden Town Hall, opened in 1875.
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Did you or a relative work at the factory? Do you live in Todmorden? Leave us you thoughts.
Brought up as a Quaker, Fielden had been taught at an early age to be concerned about the welfare of the people the Company employed. When the wages of factory workers began to fall in the 1820s, he advocated the introduction of a minimum wage. He believed workers on a decent wage would be good for the British economy as it would increase spending on manufactured goods. He also believed that low wages and long hours had a disastrous effect on the health of the workers. As an employer Fielden practised what he preached. He paid good wages to his reliable and loyal
workers and cared for those affected by disease (as in the smallpox epidemic of 1874) or those hurt in his mills.
The business was one of the largest textile businesses in the country and accumulated more capital in business than any other cotton firm in Britain before the cotton shortage caused by the American Civil War.
. Apart from being Todmorden's largest employers, the family also contributed to the town's development in many ways, perhaps primarily in their financing of the magnificent Todmorden Town Hall, opened in 1875.
Vote for the Fielden Brothers collection today!
Did you or a relative work at the factory? Do you live in Todmorden? Leave us you thoughts.