Yeovil in Victorian Times – The Glove-making Capital of the World.

Watch this video from BBC’s The One Show. Glove making in Yeovil

What is the nickname of Yeovil Town Football Club?When Yeovil was “the glove-making capital of the World”, in early Victorian times, how many pairs of gloves were made in one year?How many pairs of gloves would rich Victorian gentlemen expect to wear in one day?What particularly stinky part of the glove-making process were young boys employed to do?Where is there a factory founded in 1847 that still makes gloves today?

LO: To understand the importance of glove manufacturing in Victorian YeovilIn 1840, three years after Queen Victoria came to the throne, there were 36 glove manufacturers in Yeovil.

By 1856, about 55,000 pairs of gloves were being made in Yeovil per week.

Whilst there were glove-making factories, much of the work, especially the needlework and embroidery, was done by women and girls in their own homes.

Most people working in the glove trade had little money and their living conditions were poor.

Glove cutters (men) in factories could earn 25-30 shillings per week (equivalent to about £100-£120 in today’s money). Women working at home would earn 4-6 shillings (about £16-£24). Girls and boys under fourteen would earn between 1 shilling and 2s 6d (£4-10) per week.

By the 1890s, when Yeovil’s population had grown to around 13,500, it is estimated that between 70% and 80% of people in the town were involved in the leather or gloving industries.

A Glover’s TaleIn 1842, the Children’s Employment Commission published a report on the working conditions of children in the leather and gloving industries in Yeovil.

Martha Oastler, aged 10“Began to 'glovey' about three years ago;" she learned in six months, then worked for 6d a-week, then for 1s and “now working for what I can earn.” She usually begins at about 7 o'clock, and goes on till 9, with time out for breakfast, dinner, and tea, altogether about two hours. She gets a “pat” sometimes for not working; lives near, and has plenty of time for sleep; gives her “earning” to her mother. She cannot quite finish two pair of gloves a-day; she can read easy words; goes to church Sunday-school, but to no other. (Yeovil, February 16, 1841.)

For how many hours each day did Martha work?What do you think “She gets a pat” means?

A Glover’s TaleElizabeth Andrew, aged 10 She “lives with her sister-in-law,” having lost her mother. Says she learned “first about-of-eight years of age,” and “went for six months for nothing.” She “comes now" about-of-nine o'clock in the morning; goes home to dinner and tea and works till 10pm, when she is generally very tired and goes to bed. She gives her money to her brother, and if she does not earn her money her “brother's wife used to beat her.” She gets 1s a-week. Goes to a Sunday-school, but is only now learning to read. (Yeovil, February 16, 1841)

Emily Bragg, aged 9Began at seven years old to work for six months for nothing, wasthen six months at 6d a-week, and has kept at this price. (Yeovil, February 16, 1841)

There were 12 pence (12d) to a shilling. How much would 6d a week be in today’s money?

A Glover’s Tale

Elizabeth Mills, aged 10“Is one of Yeovil:” has worked at “seaming ” in the engine; but at first learned “sewing” in the usual way. “Used to begin before breakfast” and “work till dark in summer,” and by candlelight in winter. She can read and write. (Yeovil, February 17, 1841)

Thomas Andrews, aged 13“Has worked with his father, who is a 'leather-parer' since about nine years old.” He was employed from 4 in the morning till 6 in the evening, with time for breakfast, dinner, and tea. He has “known other boys of nine get 2s 6d a-week for the same work.” He cannot read or write, “but is now learning.” (Yeovil, February 17, 1841.)

At roughly what time would Elizabeth stop work in the middle of Summer?Why do you think some words and phrases are in speech marks?

Late at Night A Glover Sings - ActivityCarefully draw around your hand and use that as a template to design a pair of gloves for a rich Victorian lady or gentleman.

Write some words or phrases around your design to show the thoughts and feelings of a child of your age working in the glove-making industry in Yeovil in 1841.

Glovers’ Town Revisited

The Ewens and Johnson Glove Factory opened in Yeovil in 1872.

What ‘clues’ tell us that this is a much later, twentieth century, photograph of that factory?