Hi Alan, I think "Dyer and bleacher" were related trades, meant basically dipping cloth in a bath of whatever to either whiten it from its natural dull shade, or colour it. He would have been employed, so far as I know, in a "bleacher's yard" or "croft"; I am not sure what else it might have been called. At one time bleaching was done, in Rochdale anyway I believe, on the banks of the river where the material could be spread out literally on the riverbanks to bleach and dry out. Otherwise in large areas where the cloth could be hung outside to "blowdry"! I have wondered if the American term "Bleachers" for tiered benches had anything to do with the frameworks it was once done on? So far as related trades go, "Cotton Spinner" was only related in that it was in the Textile industry, spinners literally spun the yarn and wound it onto bobbins, "ringtubes" etc. A Spinner minded a row of spinning frames, my Mum was one. I am not sure whether Bleachers were employed in actual Cotton mills, they weren't in the one I worked in in the Sixties, anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone? Ian Winterbottom ----- Original Message ----- From: "alan" <alan_e_wright@bigpond.com> To: <LANCSLIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 1:13 AM Subject: [LANCSLIFE] Bleachers and Cotton Spinners > Hi folks, > > I'm trying to track down an ancestor who gave his profession as a > "bleacher" (in Wigan, 1851 census). > > Can anyone help me out with information as to whether this was a > "stand-alone" occupation? Or is he more likely to have been employed in a > mill or other workplace? And, if so, what sort? > > Also, what are the likely related trades? Would "cotton spinner" be one? > > Many thanks for any ideas > Cheers > Alan > > > ==== LANCSLIFE Mailing List ==== > Contact the list admin with any problems, questions or concerns: > lancslife-admin@rootsweb.com > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.1 - Release Date: 13/06/2005 >