Dyer

The DYERS' of Frome were exactly what their surname suggests - dyers of cloth - the cloth that during the 17th
century brought great prosperity to the town. This prosperity and growth brought with it a need for a large number
of skilled workers, weavers and dyers in particular as more and more colours were introduced to the cloth. This in
turn led to a demand for new housing for these workers and their families.

To provide this accomodation the Trinity area of Frome was built, a quaint medley of narrow, cobbled streets and
alleyways clinging to the steep hills.The River Frome winding through the lower part of the town providing the water
for dye houses and finishing mills. The mills stood at the top of the hills above the houses. From Freshford
upwards and along the valley to Frome there were cloth mills where the cloth woven in the weavers homes was
finished.

We do not know when our particular branch of the DYER family arrived in Frome. They were there in the late 18th
century. Records for the 19th century show there were a large number of people with that name in the town.

There was a connection between the cloth trade and religious dissent and the DYER family was no exception. The
family attended the Badcox Lane Baptist Church where some became ministers.

Frome continued to prosper until the onset of the Industrial Revolution when the town proved to be reluctant to
bring in modern equipment preferring to stick to the old ways of production. The resulting loss of trade brought
with it a severe decline to the town and great poverty among the workers. The result was that many families were
forced to pack up and find employment eleswhere.

Our DYERS' said their goodbyes and set off for London, settling in the northern suburbs of Kentish Town and
Camden. They left their dyeing and weaving skills behind and found employment as pianoforte makers, a skill for
which that part of London was then known.

They were never to return to their beloved Somerset.

Lorraine Hatt 2001