Cotton Crisis

With the closure of the cotton mills, the rich become poor and the poor even poorer

Sally Grimes is a mill girl, the eldest of a family of six surviving children. When the mills stop work completely, they have nothing left to live on. The family decide to emigrate to America where the mills are looking for workers.

Ruth Hodgson's father has a confectionery business, but the workers are not buying luxuries and his business is in ruins. He is given the job of supervising the soup kitchen, but when he falls ill, it is up to Ruth to persuade the relief committee that she is capable of taking on the work in his place.
Caroline Haworth is the daughter of a local mill owner. She volunteers at the soup kitchen but they are running out of money. The only solution is accepting a loan from the wealthy Dutton family, but it comes with strings attached.

Can the three woman from different classes come together in difficult times?

A captivating Victorian Saga filled with love, female resilience and friendship for listeners of Dilly Court and Mollie Walton.

Libby Ashworth was born and raised in Lancashire and comes from many generations of mill workers. It was while researching her family history that she realised there were so many stories about ordinary working people that she wanted to tell.

© 2026 Libby Ashworth (P) 2026 DK Audio