Woman at work in the roperie

Category

Library Item

Item no

36361

Title

Page from Leith Miscellany, volume IV, Woman at work in the roperie

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1983

Type

Reproduction

The South Leith Roperie merged with another in North Leith in 1750 to form the Edinburgh Roperie and Sailcloth company, which manufactured ropes of various kinds, especially for ships, fishing lines and nets, sailcloth which was an important part of their business before the advent of steam ships, and canvas. This company had over a thousand employees in 1914 and continued to operate at least until 1950 when it celebrated its bicentenary with the opening of a new weaving mill for synthetics, although it was acquired by British Ropes Ltd in 1925/6. British Ropes Ltd closed the factory in 1959.

The photo shows the roperie as it would have been in about 1900. By this time modern machinery allowed women to do more of the work as it was not so dependent on strength. In the past the roperie had the longest 'rope walk' in Europe, where the men walked backwards while spinning by hand.

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Related subjects

Manufacturing Industry > Manufacturing facilities > Factories

People > Adults > Women

People > Industry > Factory workers

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh