Asked to name 3 mill villages in Northern Ireland, Sion Mills, Bessbrook and Upperlands would come to mind as the most obvious. Located in east Co. Derry, Upperlands is the home of William Clark & Sons, linen manufacturers.
The book sets the scene, both for Ireland in the 18th Century and that of the development of the linen industry in Ireland (and specifically in Upperlands), proceeding on to the different stages of development in Upperlands, through good times and bad. The author also manages to successfully weave local events into those of national or even international significance, such as the Boston Tea Party and the 1798 rebellion.
Well illustrated with diagrams, line drawings and photographs, this publication serves a useful purpose as a description of the process of linen manufacture as well as that of social history and includes a useful glossary for those of us whose primary interest in industrial heritage lies elsewhere.