A Lady of Cotton, Paperback

In 1789 Hannah Lightbody, a well-educated and intelligent young woman of means, married Samuel Greg and found herself at the center of his cotton empire in the industrial heart of England. It was a man's world, in which women like Hannah were barred from politics, had few rights, and were expected to be little more than good, dutiful wives. Struggling to apply herself to household management, Hannah instead turned her attention to the well-being of the cotton mill workers under her husband's control. Over the next four decades she fought to improve the education, health, and welfare of cotton girls and pauper apprentices at the mill. Her legacy helped turn the northwest into the pioneering heart of reform in Britain. Here, the story of Hannah's remarkable life is told for the first time.

About author(s):David Sekers was the National Trust's Director of the Regions until retiring in 2001. He has been writing about Quarry Bank, Styal since 1978, specializing in the famous Greg family. His edition of The Diary of Hannah Lightbody 1786-9 was published as a supplement to the Journal of Enlightenment and Dissent in 2008. He is the author of Popular Staffordshire Pottery and The Potteries.