Leeds news on today's date (Oct 1) in 1844, 1855 and 1870.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 01 Oct, 2012 12:19 pm

The following are from John Mayhall's 'Annals of Yorkshire':-October 1 1844. "The new factory act having commenced operation this day, about 3,000 factory workers in Leeds, mostly females struck work on account of the supposed obnoxiousness of some of its provisions."October 1 1855. "Amongst the attractions at the Leeds Royal Gardens, this day, was a grand Baby Show, prizes being awarded to the possessors of the finest babies."I wonder how a fine baby was judged? October 1 1870. "The Hunslet lending branch of the Leeds Free Library was opened this day."Also on October 1 1870. "The North-Eastern Railway directors ordered the Leeds and Wetherby branch to be staked out."

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Tue 02 Oct, 2012 12:18 am

Apparently the "obnoxious provisions" were the necessity of having regular breaks when machines must be stopped.

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Tue 02 Oct, 2012 12:21 am

And it finished in a few days, though another strike started in a silk mill

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 02 Oct, 2012 12:37 am

Thanks chemimike for those news items, which are most interesting.