3-011-505 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Cotton Famine: making up parcels of clothing at the industrial institution, Manchester, 1862. 'Our Artist has made a sketch of that portion of the building where the bales are received in Manchester which is devoted to the making up of the parcels of clothing to be distributed [to unemployed Lancashire textiles workers] in the town. The Earl of Ducie has placed at the disposal of the executive committee the entire of a new and commodious warehouse in New Cannon-street till June next, where the labour of sorting and packing engages twelve men. Each package not specially assigned by the donor is opened and sorted, and the results of each day's receipts are divided among the various relief committees in proportion to the number of operatives out of employment. From 80 to 100 packages are sent off daily', From "Illustrated London News", 1862.