Crompton's cotton threads (1841)

Samuel Crompton revolutionised the cotton industry through his invention of the mule. Despite this, he died a pauper.These tiny scraps of cotton thread offer a glimpse into an extraordinary period in Manchester's history. Sent to Dr Samuel Crompton of Manchester in 1841, they were described by the sender, Henry Houldsworth, as the finest ever spun upon the mule. Crompton's grandfather had invented the spinning mule in 1779, a machine that kick-started the Lancashire cotton boom, enabling, for the first time, the mass production of high quality cotton yarn. The cotton threads were discovered by chance in 2008, amongst archive letters of Mary Greg, a collector who was herself a member of an influential Manchester cotton family. They were initially thought to have come from Crompton's original mule. However, further investigation suggests they were actually spun in 1841 and were sent to Crompton's grandson as evidence of the incredibly fine quality of yarn that could now be produced as a result of new developments to his grandfather's invention.

Samuel Crompton revolutionised the cotton industry through his invention of the mule. Despite this, he died a pauper.