2nd February, 2007
Matthew Markland, a Wigan Mercer
Matthew Markland was a Wigan mercer (textile dealer) who died in 1617. He lived in Market Square and conducted his business from there.
At the time of his death there were at least 25 kinds of cloth on his shelves, varying from sackcloth at 2.5p a yard to stammel (a rich red cloth) at 62.5p a yard. Most of his stock was manufactured in south Lancashire.
Markland distributed raw materials to weavers in outlying districts then collected the finished cloth at a later date.
This was a good arrangement for Markland and the other mercers as they could regulate the amount of cloth they commisioned to fit the demand from their customers.
It meant, however, that some handweavers were occasionally left without employment.
The hand weavers usually worked in the cellars of their own houses. Exterior stone steps led to the living area above.
Fustian
In the Wigan district fustian appears to have been extensively manufactured. This was a cheap, hard wearing cloth which was sold by Markland at 5p a yard. At this time it was made from a weft of cotton and a warp of linen or wool.
The flax for the linen originally came from the area around Rufford and Croston to the west of Wigan, although at a later time it was imported from Ireland. The cotton wool came from the Levant but as demand increased the U.S.A. became the main supplier.
In 1784 the Cloth Hall was built in Barrack Square, off Library Street, in the centre of Wigan. As its name suggests this was a centre for textile transactions.