This film is part of Free
Employees Leaving Baxter's Jute Works, Dundee (1901)
Edwardian textile workers leave a Dundee mill.
Overview
By 1901, over 70% of Dundee's jute industry workforce was women. In this film, though, they appear to be in the minority, while the bulk of the workers on display are children. The adults largely ignore the camera, or just glance at it, but the children are overjoyed at its presence, moving back and forth in front of it and laughing. Some even climb a column in the background for a better view.
The jute works was built on the Dens Burn stream in Dundee in 1822 by father and son William and Edward Baxter. It was originally a flax mill, eventually moving over to jute as that material grew increasingly important to the economy of the city. The firm became part of a larger conglomerate in 1924, but continued to operate until finally closing in 1978.
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