Woollen Manufacture Act 1809

The Woollen Manufacture Act 1809 (49 Geo. 3. c. 109) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that repealed enactments relating to the manufacture of wool in the United Kingdom. The act deregulated the wool industry, heralding the transition from workshops to mills.

Background The committee appointed to consider of the state of the woollen manufacture of England reported on 19 May 1808, resolving to repeal various old acts relating to the manufacture of wool in the United Kingdom.

Passage Leave to bring in the Woollen Manufactures Bill to the House of Commons was granted to the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, George Rose , William Wilberforce and Lord Viscount Milton on 13 April 1809. The bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 14 April 1809, presented by the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, George Rose . The bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 2 May 1809 and was committed to a committee of the whole house, which met on 9 May 1809 and 19 May 1809 and reported on 25 May 1809, with amendments. The amended bill had its third reading in the House of Commons on 31 May 1809 and passed, with amendments.

The bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 1 June 1809. The bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 6 June 1809 and was committed to a committee of the whole house, which met and reported on 7 June 1809, without amendments. The bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on 13 June 1809 and passed, without amendments.

The bill was granted royal assent on 15 June 1809.

Provisions Section 1 of the act repealed 32 enactments, listed in that section. CitationShort titleTitleExtent of repeal2 Edw. 3. c. 14Measure, etc. of Cloths ImportedA certain Act made in the Second Year of King Edward the Third, intituled, The Measure and Assize of [Cloths of Ray] and of Colour.The whole act.13 Ric. 2. Stat. 1. c. 11ClothsAnother Act made in the Thirteenth Year of King Richard the Second, intituled, The Cloths of certain Counties tacked and folded, Shall not be put to Sale before they be opened.The whole act.17 Ric. 2. c. 2ClothsAnother Act made in the Seventeenth Year of King Richard the Second, intituled, Every Person may make Cloth of what Length and Breadth he will.The whole act.11 Hen. 6. c. 9ClothsAnother Act made in the. Eleventh Year of King Henry the Sixth, intituled, of what Length and Breadth Cloths called Streits shall be.The whole act.7 Edw. 4. c. 2Cloths (Devon) Act 1467Another Act made in the Seventh Year of King Edward the Fourth, intituled, For Cloths made in the Hundreds of Lifton, Tavistock, and Rowburgh, in Devonshire.The whole act.1 Ric. 3. c. 8Cloths Act 1483Another Act made in the First Year of King Richard the Third, intituled, The Length and Breadth of Cloths, and the Order of dying them and Wools, the Ability of the Aulneger, and what Cloths he may feal.The whole act.5 Hen. 8. c. 2Cloths Act 1513Another Act made in the Fifth Year of King Henry the Eighth, intituled, An Act for the true making of Cloths in Devon called White Straits.The whole act.6 Hen. 8. c. 8Cloths Act 1514Another Act made in the Sixth Year of King Henry the Eighth, intituled, An Act concerning the making of certain Woollen Cloths in the County of Devon.The whole act.6 Hen. 8. c. 9Cloths (No. 2) Act 1514Another Act made in the Sixth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled, An Act to avoid Deceits in making of Woollen Cloths.The whole act.25 Hen. 8. c. 18Cloths Act 1533Another Act made in the Twenty- fifth Year of King Henry the Eighth, intituled, An Act for Clothiers in Worcestershire.The whole act.27 Hen. 8. c. 12Woollen Cloths Act 1535Another Act made in the Twenty-seventh Year of King Henry the Eighth, intituled, The Act for the true making of Cloth.The whole act.33 Hen. 8. c. 3Welsh Cloths Act 1541Another Act made in the Thirty-third Year of King Henry the Eighth, intituled, The Bill for folding of Cloths, in North Wales.The whole act.3 & 4 Edw. 6. c. 2Woollen Cloths Act 1549Another Act made in the Third and Fourth Years of King Edward the Sixth, intituled An Act for the true making of Woollen Cloths.The whole act.5 & 6 Edw. 6. c. 6Woollen Cloth Act 1551Another Act made in the Fifth and Sixth Years of King Edward the Sixth, intituled, An Act for the true making of Woollen Cloth.The whole act.5 & 6 Edw. 6. c. 22Gig Mills Act 1551Another Act made in the Fifth and Sixth Years of King Edward the Sixth, intituled, An Act for putting down of Gig Mills.The whole act.1 Mar. Sess. 3. c. 7Cloth Making Act 1554Another Act made in the First Year of Queen Mary, intituled, An Act touching Cloth making in Corporate Towns and Market Towns.The whole act.2 & 3 Ph. & M. c. 11Weavers Act 1555Another Act made in the Second and Third Years of King Philip and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act touching Weavers.The whole act.2 & 3 Ph. & M. c. 12Cloths Act 1555Another Act made in the Second and Third Years of King Philip and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act for the fealing and viewing of Clothes commonly called Bridgewaters.The whole act.4 & 5 Ph. & M. c. 5Woollen Cloths Act 1557Another Act made in the Fourth and Fifth Year of King Philip and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act touching the making of Woollen Cloths.The whole act.1 Eliz. 1. c. 14Woollen Cloths Act 1558Another Act made in the First Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act for the continuing the making of Woollen Clothes in divers Towns in the County of Essex.The whole act.23 Eliz. 1. c. 9Dyeing of Cloth Act 1580Another Act made in the Twenty- third Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act for abolishing of certain deceitful Stuff used in dying of Cloth. &c.The whole act.27 Eliz. 1. c. 17Cloths Act 1584 Act made in the Twenty-seventh Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act touching the Breadth of White Woollen Clothes made within the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, Somerset, and Oxon, &cThe whole act.27 Eliz. 1. c. 18Cloths (No. 2) Act 1584Another Act made in the Twenty-seventh Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act concerning the making of Woollen Clothes in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall, called Plain White Straight and Pinned White Straight.The whole act.35 Eliz. 1. c. 9Cloths Act 1592An Act made in the Thirty- fifth Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Alt touching the Breadth of Plunkets, Azures and Blues, and other coloured Clothes made within the Counties of Somerset and elsewhere of like making.The whole act.35 Eliz. 1. c. 10Cloth Act 1592 Act made in the Thirty-fifth Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act for the Reformation of sundry Abuses in Clothes, called Devonshire Kerties or Dozens, according to a Proclamation of the Thirty fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady the Queen that now is.The whole act.39 Eliz. 1. c. 20Cloth Act 1597Another Act made in the Thirty-ninth Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act against the deceitful stretching and tentering of Northern Cloth.The whole act.43 Eliz. 1. c. 10Woollen Cloth Act 1601Another Act passed in the Forty-third Year of Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act for the true making and working of Woollen Clothes.The whole act.4 Jas. 1. c. 2Woollen Cloths Act 1606Another Act made in the Fourth Year of King James the First, intituled, An Act for the true making of Woollen Cloth.The whole act.21 Jas. 1. c. 12Woollen Cloths Act 1623Another Act in made the Twenty-first Year of King James the First, intituled. An Act for Continuance of a former Act made in the Fourth Year of the King's Majesty's Reign of England, &c. intituled, An Act for the true making Woollen Cloths, and for some Additions and Alterations in and to the same.The whole act.7 Ann. c. 13Woollen Cloth Act 1708Another Act made in the Seventh Year of Queen Anne, intituled, An Act for the better ascertaining the Lengths and Breadths of Woollen Cloth made in the County of York.The whole act.10 Ann. c. 26 10 Ann. c. 16Woollen Manufacture Act 1711Another Act made in the Tenth Year of Queen Anne, intituled, An Act for regulating, improving, and encouraging the Woollen Manufacture of mixt or medley Broad Cloth, and for the better Payment of the Poor employed therein.The whole act.1 Geo. 1. St. 2. c. 15Woollen Manufacture Act 1714Another Act made in the First Year of the Reign of King George the First intituled, An Act to make an Act of the Tenth Year of Her late Majesty, intituled, An Act for regulating, improving, and encouraging of the Woollen Manufacture of mixt or medley Broad Cloth, and for the better Payment of the Poor employed therein, more effectual for the Benefit of Trade in general; and also to render more effectual an Act of the Seventh Year of Her said Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for the better ascertaining the Lengths and Breadth of Woollen Cloth made in the County of York.The whole act. Section 2 of the act repealed 6 enactments, listed in that section.