Weavers

[Currie]

Hello Alison,

“The last Govan Weaver. From a photo in the possession of Wm. Barr, Esq.” It looks like it’s come out of a turn of the century magazine. It would be nice if they’d given him a name. It’s a bit like the last of the Mohicans. There is still a Govan Weavers’ Society but they don’t seem to do a lot of that nowadays.

The photo’s been taken inside but the floor covering looks a bit rough. He’s wearing an apron and his dress fashion looks a lot older than when the photo was likely taken.

I suspect the kid in the stroller is a studio prop, it looks completely out of place, although on second thoughts they look like they are related.

I had a look around but couldn’t find a clue as to the photo’s origins.

All the best
Alan

[littlealison]

Hi Alan.
It's an odd and intriguing photo, isn't it. Trouble is we have no date, and yes, I think it is staged as before the date of the photo. I have tried to imagine it as a cartoon, and I think that is what is intended. It's just that it is unexpected as a photo!

'Look at what the Glasgow weavers have come to, pushing a baby like a woman!'
(Which of course no weaver would have....shades of hearing about the depression in Dundee and the wives working to keep the family, much resented by the men.....)

A pity my William Barr (uncle of my ggrandfather's 2nd wife) wouldnt have been an Esq.
Lot of Barrs in Glasgow.

Do you think a turn of the century (1900 I suppose you mean) magazine could have faked an older photo? I have a few photos from the 1850s and 60s and this is where it seems to fit.
Anyway thanks for your thoughts on this. I wonder if anyone on here has seen the exhibition?
cheers, Alison

[littlealison]

I found this picture again on 'The Glasgow Story', and learned a bit more....

http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.ph ... earch%3D99

“Willie Forker” - William Farquhar, the last weaver to work in Govan, with a baby in a pram.
Farquhar (known affectionately as "Willie Forker") was an eccentric who habitually wore three aprons and a red vest. He was also the burgh's bell man, the equivalent of an English town crier. The boy in the pram is James Brown who grew up to become Govan's chief electrician.

So - was it just that he was an eccentric, or did weavers (men) push buggies?

[littlealison]

Back again with a little more....
This man is in the 1861 Glasgow census. I guessed him as aged 60, found him as 'cotton weaver' born Govan 1796. In 1871 he's a retired weaver. He doesn't appear in 1881.

I can't find James Brown the electrician in the Glasgow Directories. Just trying to date the picture a little closer....but I wasn't far out at 1860.....can anyone find James Brown?

[SarahND]

In the 1891 census there is a James Brown, age 36, born Glasgow, an "Elective Engineer" (Ancestry transcription) living at 328 Dumbarton Road, Govan

Cheers,
Sarah

[icebreakerglasgow]

The last Govan weaver in photograph is Rab Denton. I don't have a date. Bill Pritchard, Govan Reminiscence group

[StewL]

Hello Bill

Hope you find this a good site, and obviously comment and provided information on relevant topics =D>