On of the few good points about having a line of relatives, whom changes Christian names, is that it tends to make you do very good general research. This is another of those blind alleys I went along searching for my family, until I managed to fit the pieces together. The story of Calladine’s Shetland Shaw Factory, and its founder William (1836) must start with his father, also a William, and for the purpose of clarity, called William Sn from now on.

I have copied the information from an out of date publication - J. H. Beardsmore's, History of Hucknall Torkard, 1983, Curios press, Hucknall, and from conversations with Williams descendants.

The events happen in a small town called Hucknall, which is situated on the River Leen, seven miles north-west of Nottingham.
The Hucknall of today was originally known as Hucknall Torkard until 1916. The chief occupations of its inhabitants were framework knitting, coal mining, agriculture, and cigar-making. The chief celebrity was of course George Gordon Byron, the sixth Lord Byron and infamous poet, philosopher and self styled revolutionary. He was buried at St Mary Magdalene church Hucknall Torkard on 16th July 1824.

That is about the time that William (sn) enters the scene. He was born 1803, in Melbourne Derbyshire, and died 1886 in Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham. He married MARY BUCK September 16, 1826 in Hucknall Torkard St Mary. She was born 1807 in Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham.

The River Leem at the close of the 18th century had more cotton and flour mills along its banks than any other similar course of water in the country, 70 acres of reservoirs were constructed, to turn waterwheels, the Largest at Papplewick (44 feet in diameter) which was the main employer in 1821. By 1840, most had been dismantled, and steam power had enabled the mills to move closer to Liverpool. This could have the reason he moved here from Derbyshire in the first place, but William was a farmer, as was Mary’s father, Francis Buck. William Calladine joined the [Hucknal Baptist] society in 1827; along with Rubens Cale and Jonathan Wakefeild.... there were then 16 members on the roll. He crops up in the White's 1832 Directory of Nottinghamshire - at the Co-operative store in the town.

Calladine, Wm. Cop-opv. Store Hucknall Torkard

The co-operative movement was founded in 1828, in Balls yard in West Street. When the society moved in 1840 to South Street, William Calladine became the manager. He continued in the office as the stores opened in the market place corner of the high street.

Beardsmore's, p34 writes that William Senior was present at the burial of Ada (lady Lovelace) Nov 1852, and copied the inscription on the urn containing Lord Bryon's intestines and heart. We have this information because somebody stole the gold fittings from her coffin, and he later testified that the urn was still there when the vault was sealed.

We know exactly where he lived, because of an account written in 1900 (p95 ibid) ‘About the year 1870 another Byron devotee named Morley, widow of an American solicitor, came to live in Hucknall in apartments at the late William Calladine's cottage, which adjoined the Churchyard wall’. The 1881 Census is the only one I have had time to record so far, but in it, we find the family as stated..

Church Square, Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham, RG11 3335 / 12 22
William CALLADINE Head M Male 78 Melbourne, Derby, Farmer 10 Acres (1803)
Mary CALLADINE Wife M Female 74 Hucknall Torkard (1808)
Elizabeth CALLADINE Daur In Law W Female 44 Loughboro, Leicester, Dressmaker (1837)
Elizabeth CALLADINE Grand Daur U Female 16 Henfield, Middlesex, General Servt (1865)
Clara CALLADINE Grand Daur U Female 14 Henfield, Middlesex, Lace Mender (1867)
John CALLADINE Grand Son U Male 11 Hucknall Torkard Scholar (1870)
Fanny M. CALLADINE Grand Daur Female 7 Hucknall Torkard Scholar (1874)

William Jr by this time (his son) has set up manufacture of his famous Shetland Shaws. His obituary as recorded by Beadsmore (p47) reads; "William Calladine (1886 aged 83) was the first member of his family migrating hither from Melbourne, Derbyshire, early in the 19th century. He was manager of a Co-operative store in 1840, a Chartist, an ardent Baptist, and politician. He was tenant of the old Wighay Windmill and farmed a little land."

The Children of WILLIAM CALLADINE and MARY BUCK are:
WILLIAM CALLADINE, b. October 15, 1836, Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham. m Louisa ?
CHARLES CALLADINE, b. October 13, 1828, Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham. m ALICE DOBB November 21, 1853
JOHN CALLADINE, b. 1844, Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham. m ANNIE K. ELLIS

There may be more because I have not yet identified Elizabeth (1865) the daughter in law on the census return?