Dot Seddon – Sail Away – Near and Far
I moved to Cleveland (now in North Yorkshire) 50+ years ago, where there were no hints as to any textile production. Digging into the past, I found that by the early 18th C, linen weaving was well established in Cleveland and was a larger-scale enterprise than wool.
Between 1700 and 1830, the English flax-spinning industry grew, and by the mid-19th C ‘Cleveland Sailcloth’ was the canvas for sails. Whether it was for a local fishing coble’s ‘dipping lug’ sail, an Admiralty expedition (such as local lad Captain Cook’s ship, the Endeavour), or for warships, this canvas was noted for its strength, achieved by using extra-long flax.