The Irish Linen Industry

Linen has been made in Ireland since ancient times but mass production didn't really take off until the 1700s, beginning two centuries of world dominance in linen manufacture. By 1910 the export of linen goods from Belfast was more than all other countries combined, and it was only after the Second World War that intense competition from Far Eastern manufacturers sent the industry into decline. The book tells this story and features 53 beautiful photos of the many mills and bleaching fields that once lined the riverbanks, as well as full colour adverts from companies, such as Barbour's, who were once household names.