James Hargreaves and the Spinning Jenny

and industry took place. The textile industry was greatly impacted by a number of new inventions such as the flying shuttle, the spinning frame and the cotton gin. But it was the invention of the Spinning Jenny by James Hargreaves that is credited with moving the textile industry from homes to factories. The move from a domestic, cottage-based industry to factories allowed the expansion of the Industrial Revolution from England throughout much of the world. James Hargreaves was a weaver in the village of Stanhill, near Blackburn, Lancashire. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, farming was the main occupation in the area, while the production of cloth from raw goods was carried out as a secondary activity within cottage industries. All work was done by individuals within the home, and entire families were involved. Men were often the weavers, while their wives and daughters spun the raw materials into threads or yarns. Young children assisted in cleaning and preparing the fibres. The process was time-consuming, and merchants wanting to meet the demand for textile goods were often frustrated by the huge gap between supply and demand. The expense involved in transporting raw materials to numerous locations, waiting for…