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Weavers of profit: terminating building societies in Lancashire, 1780–1840

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2009

Rosine Hart
Rosine Hart
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e-mail: rosine@hart9067.fsnet.co.uk
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Abstract

Numerous handloom weavers' cottages in Lancashire were constructed by terminating building societies. Given their numbers, it is evident that the role of such societies in the regional socio-economic context has been understated. Identifying their membership reveals that these were not self-help schemes to enable artisans to own their own homes, but rather that they offered opportunities for those with surplus income to invest in tenanted properties at a time when the skills of the handloom weaver were at a premium. This provision was vital to Lancashire's burgeoning economy, and offered subscribers an additional source of income.

Résumés

Beaucoup de maisons de tisserands en Lancashire furent construites par sociétés de crédit immobilier terminantes. Etant donné leur nombre, il est évident que le rôle de telles sociétés dans le contexte socio-économique a été minimisé. En identifiant leurs adhérents, on révèle que ces sociétés n'étaient pas des projets d'auto-assistance pour permettre aux artisans d'acquérir leurs propres maisons, mais plutôt qu'elles offraient aux artisans ayant un excédant de revenus des opportunités d'investissement dans des propriétés de location à une époque où les techniques des tisserands étaient recherchées. Ce financement était vital pour l'économie bourgeonnante du Lancashire, et offrait aux souscripteurs une source supplémentaire de revenu.

Abstrakte

Die Häuschen zahlreicher Handweber in Lancashire wurden mithilfe von terminierenden Bausparkassen (terminating building societies) errichtet. Angesichts ihrer Anzahl ist es augenscheinlich, dass die Rolle derartiger Bausparkassen im regionalen sozialökonomischen Kontext unterbewertet wurde. Wenn man sich ihre Mitgliederschaft einmal genauer betrachtet, so wird deutlich, dass es sich dabei nicht um Selbsthilfegruppen handelte, die Kunsthandwerkern dabei helfen sollten, Hauseigentümer zu werden, sondern darum, dass diese Gesellschaften Personen, die über ein überschüssiges Einkommen verfügten, ermöglichten, dieses Geld in Mietsimmobilien zu investieren, und zwar zu einem Zeitpunkt, als das handwerkliche Können des Handwebers hoch im Kurs stand. Dieser Sachverhalt war für die im Keim befindliche Wirtschaft Lancashires von maßgeblicher Bedeutung und stellte eine zusätzliche Einkommensquelle für die Beteilgten dar.

Resúmenes

La sociedades de crédito hipotecario terminandas (terminating building societies) construyeron numerosas casitas de campo de tejedores de telares manuales de Lancashire. Teniendo en cuenta sus números, es evidente que el papel de tales sociedades en el contexto socio-económico de la región ha sido subestimado. Identificar que eran socios de las mismas revela que estos no eran esquemas de autoayuda para hacer posible que los artesanos adquiriesen propiedad de sus casas, sino más bien que ofrecía oportunidades para que los que tenían ingresos extra pudieran invertirlos en viviendas de inquilinos en un momento en el que las destrezas de los tejedores de telar manual estaban en alza. Esta prestación fue vital para la economía en auge de Lancashire, y ofreció a los abonados una fuente extra de ingresos.

Type
Articles
Information
Financial History Review , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , April 2009 , pp. 27 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Banking and Financial History e.V. 2009

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