Page 8 - The Long Crendon Connection

Redditch Heritage The Long Crendon Connection

The History Of Needles

The early history of needles is shrouded in obscurity. Stone Age people used bone awls to pierce
skins for thronging, and later an eye was developed in the awl to hold the thread and draw it
through the hole as that was made. In the Bronze and Iron Ages metal needles appeared and
different forms were evolved for various tasks and many of these, as well as those of the Medieval
period, have survived practically unchanged.
Despite the apparent unsuitability of iron needles, for they rusted quickly and were brittle, fine
needles must have been available for embroidery such as the Bayeux Tapestry and the later
splendid copes and vestments of Opus Anglicanum. Very little is known about needle making in
Medieval England. Probably local blacksmiths or whitesmiths (workers in tin) supplied the needs
of their neighbourhoods, for there is no evidence of guild organisation even in London, though
we can surmise that there was a group of needle makers in the City by the beginning of the 16th
century, since there was a Needlers’ Lane then.

Towards the close of the Middle Ages the manufacture of strong steel developed particularly in
centres like Toledo and Nuremberg. From this steel fine wire could be drawn producing stronger
and more flexible needles. The supply of these for the English market seems to have been
dominated at first by German merchants until 1563 when the Importation Act attempted to check
this trade.

Even in Tudor times it is difficult to establish what was actually happening. It is probable that
foreign craftsmen settled as needle makers here to fulfil the demand for these improved needles,
two names that appear at this time were Christopher King and Elias Kraus, the latter apparently
from Aachen. Small groups established themselves in the provinces as well, for example in
Chichester, in Long Crendon and in the English Midlands, around Studley and Redditch.

By the late 16th and early 17th centuries needle making was carried out in various areas of
London. Many workshops were to be found in the buildings on London Bridge and around the
bridgeheads, others were on the outskirts of the City, particularly Whitechapel, but the craft was
still not organised on a guild basis.
Nevertheless, it was a rule of the City that all who wished to trade or manufacture within its limits
had to be Freemen of the City and one qualification for that was the freedom of a livery company,
so we find needle makers joining many companies including the Blacksmiths, the Drapers, the
Merchant Taylors, the Dyers, the Tallow Chandlers and the Ironmongers, in order to gain the
Freedom of the City. However, this was not entirely satisfactory for they were in a minority in
these Companies and it was impossible to control the quality of workmanship or materials, to
restrict the number of apprentices or the importation of needles from abroad.
After various attempts to regulate matters through the Blacksmiths had failed, one John Hobcroft
and his fellow needle makers banded together, collected enough money, and petitioned the Lord
Mayor and the Court of Alderman that they might form a company of their own.
This was when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector, and it was he who granted the Letters Patent
of 10 November 1656 which incorporated (ie created) the Needle makers. This Company and the
Framework Knitters, are the only two City Companies to have a Cromwellian foundation.

The Byelaws or Ordinances which set out the detailed regulations were not approved until 8 May
1658 but they still named as Master and Wardens the men so noted in the Letters Patent: John
Hobcroft, Matthew Chantrell and John Potter.
In 1660 the monarchy was restored and the Needle makers prudently sought new instruments
of incorporation. Charles II granted Letters Patent on 9 February 1664 and the new Byelaws were
approved by the Court of Aldermen on 20 June of the same year. The Master now named was
Matthew Chantrell, the Wardens John Shipman and William Watts. These instruments of 1664
still govern the Company. Both of the original Charters are held in the Guildhall Library where
they may be inspected.

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