What was Spinning Jenny?

The spinning of cotton into threads for weaving into cloth had traditionally taken place in the homes of textile workers - known as 'cottage industries'. But the 18th century saw the emergence of the 'Industrial Revolution', the great age of steam, canals and factories that changed the face of the British economy forever. read more

The spinning jenny is a multi-spindle spinning frame, and was one of the key developments in the industrialization of weaving during the early Industrial Revolution. It was invented in 1764 by James Hargreaves in Stanhill, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire in England. read more

Spinning Jenny James Hargreaves was a weaver living in the village of Stanhill in Lancashire. It is claimed that one day his daughter Jenny, accidentally knocked over over the family spinning wheel. read more

Spinning jenny, Early multiple-spindle machine for spinning wool or cotton. The hand-powered spinning jenny was patented by James Hargreaves in 1770. The development of the spinning wheel into the spinning jenny was a significant factor in the industrialization of the textile industry, though its product was inferior to that of R. Arkwright’s water frame. read more