Tools & manufacturing · 1769

Water frame

Rollers and water power spin strong cotton thread continuously.

Richard Arkwright patented the water frame in 1769. Because it needed a water wheel, it moved spinning out of homes and into mills.

Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 2

The dashed line marks when it first worked.

Patents awarded in England, 1700-1851 Latest: 455 patents per year (1851) Source: Our World in Data

Output of key industries in England, 1270-1870 Latest: Coal: 3.77k index (1700=100) (1870) Source: Our World in Data

GDP per capita in England/UK since 1000 Latest: 38.4k int.-$ (2011) (2022) Source: Our World in Data