Belfast's Linen Industry — World Around Us History (NI)

Key facts

1. 1 Why Belfast? Belfast became the world's largest linen-manufacturing city in the 19th century because of: water power from the Rivers Lagan and Farset; the damp climate (ideal for spinning linen without the thread breaking); access to flax grown in Co. Louth and Armagh; and cheap labour.
2. 2 The wet spinning process Invented in 1825 by James Kay (modified for Belfast by Thomas Mulholland). Flax fibres are spun while immersed in hot water — fine linen thread can be produced mechanically for the first time. Transformed the industry.
3. 3 The mill girls Women and girls (some as young as 8-10) made up most of the linen mill workforce. The mills were hot, humid, and noisy. 'Doffers' — girls who replaced full bobbins — started at the youngest age. Deafness and respiratory disease were common.
4. 4 'Linenopolis' Belfast's nickname at the peak of the linen era (mid-19th century). The largest linen city in the world — 100,000 workers. The linen industry built much of Victorian Belfast.
5. 5 Decline Cotton and synthetic fabrics replaced linen in the 20th century. The last major Belfast linen mill closed in the 1990s.
6. 6 Legacy The Linen Quarter in Belfast city centre preserves Victorian mill buildings. The Irish Linen Centre in Lisburn tells the full story. Belfast's linen was used for the first aeroplanes — the Wright Brothers' Flyer used Irish linen wing fabric.