FAMOUS FEATHERS    

Timothy Feather (The Last Handloom Weaver)

Click on thumbnails for full size pictures

Tim standing outside his house in Buckley Green, Stanbury.

Timothy sitting outside his house enjoying his pipe

In the "Chamer".

At the handloom

Buckley Green Sept 2007. Kindly supplied by Margaret Barrett.

The text on the picture states; "Tim Feather Born Jan 20th 1825"

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Tim standing outside his house in Buckley Green, Stanbury.

The sepia pictures are from postcards purchased in Haworth, acknowledged as kindly being supplied by the Bradford Art Galleries and Museum. The black & white picture is from a printed article (source unknown), reproduced herewith;

"Owld Tim Feather", as locals knew him, lived in nearby Stanbury. Born sometime in 1825, Timmy was the last hand loom weaver in the district, making Twill cotton. Martha Heaton recalls a Saturday picnic with her mother to Stanbury one holiday time. On reminding Timmy or their distant relationship, their mother extracted this invitation from him; "Coam-oan up charmer and I'll we-ave the a pick o' two for thee-ase lasses". Martha recalls watching him in the upstairs room pulling and pushing away at the loom. It has been estimated by Whitely Turner, in "A Springtime Saunter around Bronteland", that he would have pressed the treadle 540 million times in his working life time. Martha's mother bought a length of cotton - it was "sevenpence awpenny a yard" (until the rising price of warp increased it to 8d) - and she made a new top for Martha's Sunday petticoat, along with nightcaps for father. When Timmy died in 1910 it marked the end of an era.

Note - "Chamer" is dialect for chamber, the upstairs room he used for weaving.

The following census information (other than 1901) is kindly researched and supplied by Joan Madsen, many thanks Joan.

1901 Census
Timothy Feather age 75 born Yorkshire Stanbury, County Yorks W.R. parish of Stanbury occupation Hand Loom Weaver, single and living alone at Buckley Green Bottom (no number).

Next household; James Feather (head) Widower aged 47 occupation Farmer. James Feather (father) widower aged 90 occupation retired farmer and hand loom weaver. Robert Feather (son) single aged 17 occupation farmer's son.

Previous household; Margaret Feather (head) Widow aged 69 occupation farmer (born Gisburn). Mary Anne Feather (single daughter) aged 32 occupation farmer's daughter. Spencer Feather (single son) aged 28 occupation quarryman. James Whitaker (grand son) aged 5.   All others born Stanbury.

1881 Census
Timothy Feather (b.1825) age 56 unmarried hand loom weaver head of household is William Feather brother.     William Feather (1819) age 62 unmarried twister at a worsted mill. Dwelling: 1 Buckley Green Haworth.

Next household; James Feather head married male age 71 farmer of 9 acres. Betty Feather wife married female age 66. Ann Feather dau. unmarried 42 dressmaker. James Feather son unmarried male 25 weaver in a worsted mill. All born Haworth, Yorks Eng. Dwelling 2 Buckley Green.   Census place Haworth. FHL film 1342039. PRO reference RG11. Piece/folio 4353/6. page 6.

1851 Census
Buckley Green (no number).  James Feather head m. 41 hand loom weaver (stuff).  Betty Feather wife 36 hand loom weaver.  William do unmarried son 16 hand loom weaver.   John Feather son 14 woolcomber.    Ann Feather daughter 12 bobbin winder. Hannah Feather daughter 9.   Thomas Feather son 7.   Sarah Feather daughter 4.   Mary Feather daughter 1.   Timothy Feather brother unmarried 25 hand loom weaver.   All born Haworth.  FHL film 087479

1841 Census
Stanbury, Bucklies Green Bottom.   James Feather 30 stuff weaver (age 30-34).   Betty Feather 25 (age 25-29).   Timothy Feather 15.   William Feather 6.   John Feather 4.   Ann Feather 2.   Hannah Feather 2 weeks.   FHL film 464255

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Web Site Updated 28/01/2008