Vrchnostenský plátenický mandl v Koloredově a zájmy místeckých měšťanů (1766–1854)

Abstract

The paper is based on the archive of the Central Directorate of the Archbishops’ Estates, where onefinds position papers concerning land parcelling, leasing of processing facilities (mangles, fullingmachines, bleaching works), catering and other facilities (such as Jewish restaurants). Proto-industrialtextile production reigned supreme in Frýdek-Místek region by the end of the 18th century, butit was precisely because of this that a mangle in a new village was up against fierce competition.A fight broke out among the lessees of this originally ‘monopoly’ machine to counter efforts to set upa competitive facility right in the town of Místek, to beat off the competition on the Silesian side ofthe border, and to alleviate government pressures aiming to remove various barriers to doing business.The relationship between the town and the country is manifested on several levels: head-toheadcompetition, mutual dependence and necessary coexistence, because only people in the townwere wealthy enough to lease emphyteutically the seigneurial operations, and there were thrivingmarkets that attracted traders from afar.