Foster's Mill

Album: various (1815)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Foster's Mill," also spelled "Fosters' Mill" and "Foster's Mill," is one of the songs discussed in Roy Palmer's monograph Poverty Knock a picture of industrial life in the 19th century through songs, ballads and contemporary accounts.

    Written in 2/4 time, this is another song inspired by the Luddite movement, and is a celebration of one of their outrages. The mill near Wakefield was owned by Mr. Foster, and on April 9, 1812, it was stormed by an armed crowd of around three hundred who smashed up the machinery and attempted to set the building on fire.

    The composer(s) of the song is unknown, and whoever wrote it probably didn't want his name attached to it in view of the fate suffered by some Luddites - which included hanging.

    A 21st century recording was made by Jim Potter at Barnsley, a town better known for a certain heavy metal band than for this type of folk music. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.