Description: A woodcut showing the destruction of Hine and Mundella's Hosiery Factory by fire on 1 February 1859. Hine and Mundella's factory was completed in September 1851 and was the first to use steam to power the stocking frame. It had the latest technology, wide, spacious workrooms, good working conditions and was brightly lit by gas. The company paid well and sought good workmen who could use their brains to improve the manufacturing process so brilliantly improved by Mundella, MP, industrialist and a pioneer of workers rights. The woodcut is taken from the 'Illustrated London News', 19 February 1859.