Cheshire Antiquities
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Jedidiah Strutt (1726-1797) was one of the key figures of the early Industrial Revolution in England, particularly known for his innovations in hosiery manufacture and his development of water-powered cotton mills.
He was born in South Normanton near Alfreton in Derbyshire into a farming family in 1726. In 1740 he became an apprentice wheelwright in Findern. In 1754 he inherited a small stock of animals from an uncle and married Elizabeth Woolatt in 1755 in Derbyshire. He moved to Blackwell where he had inherited a farm from one of his uncles and, in addition developed a business carrying coal from Denby to Belper and Derby.
Strutt's brother-in-law, William Woolatt, employed one Mr. Roper of Locko who had produced an idea for an attachment to the stocking frame to knit ribbed stockings. He had made one or two specimens which he showed to his friends, though he lacked the interest (and the capital) to develop his idea. Woolatt conferred with Strutt, who sold a horse and paid Roper £5 for his invention. Strutt and Woolatt turned the device into a viable machine and took out a patent in 1759. Their machine became known as the Derby Rib machine, and the stockings it produced quickly became popular. Cotton was cheaper than silk and more comfortable than wool but demand was far exceeding supply. Previously, ribbed stockings had to be hand-knitted, making them expensive. His "Derby Rib" attachment revolutionized the industry and laid the foundation for his fortune. He patented this invention and formed a partnership with his brother-in-law William Woollat to manufacture ribbed stockings.
Strutt's business acumen led him to expand beyond hosiery. In 1771, he entered into partnership with Richard Arkwright, helping to fund Arkwright's first water-powered cotton spinning mill at Cromford. This partnership was crucial in the early development of the factory system, as it provided Arkwright with needed capital and business expertise. After learning from the Cromford operation, Strutt began developing his own mills. He built his first cotton mill at Belper in 1776-78, followed by more mills in Belper and Milford. These mills were among the largest and most technologically advanced of their time. The development of these mills transformed Belper from a small nail-making town into a significant industrial center. Strutt was known for his methodical approach to business and manufacturing. He kept detailed records and implemented systematic management practices that were ahead of their time. Like his contemporary Samuel Greg, he built housing for his workers and took an interest in their welfare, though this was partly motivated by the need to attract and retain a stable workforce.
His success in business was matched by his interest in social improvement. He supported the development of education in the communities where his mills operated and was known for his Unitarian religious beliefs, which influenced his approach to business and social responsibility. Strutt's industrial empire was carried on by his children after his death in 1797. His son William proved particularly capable, and the family business continued to prosper well into the 19th century. The Strutt mills remained important examples of Industrial Revolution architecture and engineering, and several still stand today as heritage sites. The Strutt family's influence extended beyond manufacturing. They were important figures in Derbyshire society and politics, and their wealth helped fund various civic improvements. The family was also instrumental in bringing the North Midland Railway through Belper, further enhancing the town's industrial importance.
Jedidiah Strutt's legacy lies not just in his technical innovations and business success, but in his role in developing the factory system that would come to characterize the Industrial Revolution. His mills at Belper and Milford, along with Arkwright's at Cromford, formed part of what would later be designated as the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, recognizing their significance in industrial history.Strutt represents a typical figure of the Industrial Revolution - someone who combined technical innovation with business skill to create new forms of manufacturing organization. While he came from a relatively humble background, his success made him one of the leading industrialists of his time, and his influence on the development of the factory system was significant. Today, his legacy can still be seen in the preserved mills and workers' housing in Belper and Milford, which provide important insights into the early development of industrial society. The Strutt mills were among the most advanced of their time and helped establish many of the principles of factory production that would become standard during the Industrial Revolution.
While Strutt is mainly recognized for his work in the development of the stocking frame and his textile business, he was also associated with Unitarianism, a religious movement that rejects the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity. At the time, Unitarianism was gaining momentum in England. Strutt’s faith influenced his charitable works, including his involvement in supporting Unitarian causes and maintaining close relationships with other prominent Unitarians. He was known to have attended the Unitarian church which he had built in betweem 1788 and 17899 in Belper, a town in Derbyshire where he lived. Additionally, his support for Unitarianism extended to his financial contributions to Unitarian institutions, helping promote the values and teachings of the movement. Strutt’s association with Unitarianism reflected the broader trend of dissenting religious movements during the period, which included figures like Joseph Priestley, a prominent Unitarian minister and theologian, with whom Strutt likely shared some intellectual and religious affinities.
Jedediah died in Derby in 1797 and is buried in the Unitarian Chapel in Field Row, Belper. His final home, Friar Gate House, Derby, is marked with a blue plaque. The house was designed by his son, William Strutt.
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