Skinny Silk Scarf inspired by Hackworth’s Plug Wheel

On the opening day of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the railway that triggered the start of the railway revolution across the world, the railway men all wore blue ribbons in their button hole and those in control of the train wore a blue sash over the right shoulder fastened in a knot under the left arm. That is why we have chosen blues for this stunning scarf. Timothy Hackworth was the engineer and locomotive supervisor for the Stockton & Darlington Railway from 1825. He designed this type of wheel which went on to be used on the Royal George (1827) and on nearly every other engine on the Stockton & Darlington Railway and other railways for many years. It was cast iron with wrought iron tyres shrunk on. Hackworth was the first to apply the wrought iron tyre to a wheel. The wheels were made up in parts as there were no lathes in the Shildon workshops where Hackworth worked, large enough to turn up the rims when fixed upon the axle. The centre part or ‘boss’ was machined true, and the outer rim trued by the centre and made tight by wooden plugs and iron wedges. They were dotted with curious plug holes (hence the name plug wheel) to ensure sound castings and reduce unnecessary weight, and in practice were found extremely efficient. (Source Timothy Hackworth and the Locomotive by Robert Young 1923).

The silk scarf is printed and hand stitched in Macclesfield. Did you know that Macclesfield is the historic home of the silk trade in the UK? We all know that the silk road started in China but who knew it finished in Macclesfield? In fact, Macclesfield became the biggest producer of finished silk goods in the world in the 18th century. We are happy to help sustain a little part of that tradition! If you are visiting Macclesfield be sure to go to the Silk  Museum and wear your Hackworth Plug Wheel silk scarf and celebrate two different aspects of the British industrial heritage.