Cotton Mill Worker - Colne, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 51.275 W 002° 10.869
30U E 553862 N 5967652
This 6 foot tall statue of a cotton mill walker stands outside Colne Railway Station in a garden area.
Waymark Code: WMPZJK
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/17/2015
Views: 2
The statue was commissioned by Colne in Bloom after they took over the management of the railway station.
At one time the main industry in Colne was cotton spinning and the town had a number of cotton mills. The statue named Milly, a pun on her occupation of mill worker, has a nearby notice board with a poem that describes a day in the life of Milly.
A day in my life
At the windows and doors the 'knocker up' raps
Time to go off to the mill when he taps
Hear the clatter of clogs all scurrying down
Cross the cobbles to the mills of each Lancashire town
Checking his watch is the boss at the gate
Of the mill where I work - so I must not be late
Damp weather outside - cloth will weave today
With the skylights all whitewashed to keep sun at bay
In the mill down the alleys, with plenty of steam
The looms start their clatter all set beam to beam
With a 'kiss on my shuttle' my tins full of weft
I watch over my looms to the right and to the left
I'm proud of my weaving, these skills I have got
When 'taking ends up' and my neat 'weaver's knot'
Armed with 'reed hooks' 'sharp scissors' and a 'scratching up comb'
As I work I'm soon covered with speckles of dawn
If I need a new 'warp' or my shuttle should trap
On call is my tackler, a real helpful chap
The noise it's so loud now I can't hear a thing
So as I weave each piece in my heart I will sing
Till 'the hooter' is sounding the end of work day
Picking sticks cease click clacking, all shuttles stop play
I'm so happy that I am a Lancashire Lass
Proud I weave cloth the world knows is first class
Irene Burns 2007
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