Calton weavers

[2] In the early 19th century, many of the weavers emigrated to Canada, settling in Carleton Place and other communities in eastern Ontario, where they continued their trade.

[3] In 1705, Walkinshaw of Barrowfield bought some pastureland from the community of Glasgow, then known by the name of Blackfauld, on which he started to establish a weaving village.

[8] The technology of weaving improved throughout eighteenth century, while remaining accessible to the master weaver working in his home.

There was steady demand from Britain's North American and Caribbean colonists and slave plantations, protected from European competition.

The Calton book club was educational in intent, reflecting the aspirations of skilled workers just above the common laborer on the social scale.

The magistrates required that all lodging houses were licensed, and laid down sanitary regulations that were rigidly enforced.

[12] During the period between 1760 and 1830 the Lowland Clearances reduced demand for farm labour, forcing families to the cities to find work, usually in the mills.

The flying shuttle halved the time to weave a piece, although it was not introduced to Scotland until the end of the 18th century.

The dispute grew bitter, with the strikers cutting the webs from the looms of weavers who continued to work at the old rate, and making bonfires in the street from the contents of warehouses.

A Factories Inquiry Commission of 1833 found that children working in the mills were often too tired to eat and, when woken in the morning, unable to dress themselves.

A report on the state of the burgh of Calton presented by a magistrate to the British Association described high levels of pilfering, including the bowl weft system generally carried on by weavers and winders.

The city expanded further and the textile mills, clothing factories and dyeworks enlarged together with carpet-making and leather works.

The city also diversified into heavy industries like shipbuilding, locomotive construction and other engineering that could thrive on nearby supplies of coal and iron ore.

[25] They were granted some help with their passage and free land in the Rideau Valley, a strategically important part of Upper Canada where the government was anxious to settle loyal Scots.

[3] There are many Scottish place names such as Perth, Glengarry, Lanark and Renfrew along the Rideau and in the small lake area north of Kingston.

[28] The Calton weavers massacre of 1787 is commemorated in a panel by Scottish artist Ken Currie in the People's Palace, Glasgow commissioned on the 200th anniversary of the event.

The Scottish folksinger Nancy Whiskey took her name from the song,[30] and it has been recorded by many other artists[citation needed][31] including Ewan MacColl.

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem released a version of "Nancy Whisky" on their seventh album for Columbia Records, Isn't It Grand Boys (1966).