Ancient history

When were textile mills invented?

The invention of textile mills can be traced back to the late 18th century. In 1769, Richard Arkwright developed the water frame, a spinning machine powered by water. This was followed by James Hargreaves' invention of the spinning jenny in 1764 and Samuel Crompton's development of the mule jenny in 1779. These three inventions revolutionised the textile industry, leading to the rise of the factory system and the eventual development of textile mills. The first textile mill was established in England in 1785 by Richard Arkwright.