Woollen Manufacture Act 1810
The Woollen Manufacture Act 1810 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that repealed enactments relating to the manufacture of wool in the United Kingdom.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 [Select Select committee (United Kingdom)|committee (United Kingdom)|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relating to the manufacture of wool in the United Kingdom.In 1809, the Woollen Manufacture Act 1809 was passed, which repealed almost 40 enactments related to the manufacture of wool in the United Kingdom.
Passage
A petition to repeal various older acts of parliament relating to the manufacture of wool was presented on 26 February 1810. The Cloths Act 1483, the Exportation Act 1513, the Exportation Act 1535 and the Exportation Act 1541 were read and committed to a committee of the whole house on 28 May 1810, which resolved to repeal the acts.Leave to bring in the Wool Bill to the House of Commons was granted to Davies Giddy, the Secretary to the Treasury Richard Wharton, William Wilberforce, Lord Viscount Milton and the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, George Rose on 28 May 1810. The bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 31 May 1810, presented by the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, George Rose. The bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 1 June 1810 and was committed to a committee of the whole house, which met on X and X and reported on 2 May 1810, without amendments. The bill had its third reading in the House of Commons on 5 June 1810 and passed, without amendments.
The bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 6 June 1810. The bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 8 June 1810 and was committed to a committee of the whole house, which met and reported on 9 June 1810, without amendments. The bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on 13 June 1810 and passed, without amendments.
The bill was granted royal assent on 15 June 1810.
Repealed enactments
Section 1 of the act repealed 4 enactments, listed in that section, and indemnified any person liable to any penalties under those acts.| Citation | Short title | Title | Extent of repeal |
| 1 Ric. 3. c. 8 | Cloths Act 1483 | An Act made in the First Year of the Reign of His Majesty 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 seal. | The whole act. |
| 5 Hen. 8. c. 3 | Exportation Act 1513 | An Act passed in the Fifth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King Henry the Eighth, intituled, An Act that White Wool and Cloths of Five Marks and under may be carried over the Sea unshorn. | The whole act. |
| 27 Hen. 8. c. 13 | Exportation Act 1535 | An Act passed in the Twenty seventh. Year of the Reign of His said Majesty King Henry the Eighth, intituled, For Cloths Whites of iv. li. and not above, and coloured Cloths of iii. li. and not above, to be carried over the Sea unbarbed and unshorn. | The whole act. |
| 33 Hen. 8. c. 19 | Exportation Act 1541 | An Act made in the Thirty third Year of the Reign of His said Majesty King Henry the Eighth, intituled, An Exposition of a certain Statute concerning the shipping of Cloths. | The whole act. |
Legacy
The repeals in this act were confirmed by section 10 of the Repeal of Acts Concerning Importation Act 1822.The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1872 (No. 2).