In 1832 the East India Company suspended their orders, but Mr. Robberds continued to export camlets from Norwich and Yorkshire to China in exchange for tea, as follows:—
| Year | Norwich | Yorkshire |
| 1841 | 420 pieces | 215 pieces |
| 1842 | 2,760 ,, | 200 ,, |
| 1843 | 6,610 ,, | 5,181 ,, |
| 1844 | 13,170 ,, | 7,928 ,, |
He also continued to make camlets for wholesale merchants in London till 1848, when he failed in consequence of losses, but afterwards joined a partner in Halifax, and continued to produce large quantities of camlets; but Norwich lost all the trade.
Besides the camlets supplied to the East India Company, goods of the same kind were made for private orders by all the manufacturers. During the years 1830, 1831, and 1832, according to ledgers yet remaining, one firm made about 7,000 pieces for private orders, and from 1833 to 1837 inclusive, nearly 9,000 pieces. In 1833 and 1834, mohair camlets were made by the same house to the extent of 6,000 pieces, being 22,000 pieces in four years. Supposing a dozen other houses to have produced a like quantity, the total would have been 66,000 pieces yearly. Messrs. Booth and Theobald, in Muspole Street, were large manufacturers of worsted goods, and at one time employed about 1,000 hands, men, women, and children, in the production of worsted goods, including camlets, for the East India Company. Mr. John Francis, of St. George’s, also made a variety of worsted goods and other fabrics, employing a large number of hands at one time. Messrs. Worth and Carter, in St. George’s Middle Street, and Joseph Oxley and Sons, in St. Augustine’s, produced large quantities of broad bombazines, which were gradually superseded by paramattas, to which the ladies gave the preference. Both fabrics were made of worsted and silk; the only difference was that they were differently dressed, the paramattas being dressed flat by hot pressing, which gave a greater flexibility to the cloth. Messrs. Wright and Son, formerly on Elm Hill, at one time employed about 1500 hand-loom weavers in the manufacture of plain and fancy fabrics, mostly mixed.
Messrs. Grout and Co. began the manufacture of crapes in a small way in Patteson’s Yard, in Magdalen Street. John Grout was then the principal partner, but after the mills were built in Lower Westwick Street, having realized a fortune, he retired from business. George Grout also retired before 1840. Messrs. Martin and Company became the proprietors of the mills, and after Mr. Martin died, the firm comprised Messrs. Brown, Robison, and Hall, who now carry on a large trade in crapes, areophanes, and gauzes. The machinery in use is of the most improved construction; and in these very extensive works may be seen most of the processes connected with the manufacture of silk goods. The silk is imported chiefly from China and some from India, but a portion is also obtained from Italy. The demand for crapes used in mourning has, however, a good deal diminished.
The Albion Mills, in King Street, were erected in 1836 and 1837, for the spinning of worsted yarns, in consequence of the great demand in Norwich and the difficulty found by manufacturers in obtaining the yarns which they required for their trade. Mr. George Jay, owner of the mills, erected new machinery. And after the trade in worsted yarns declined, he imported mohair from Asia Minor, and commenced the spinning of mohair yarns. He continued this business for some years, while mohair goods were in demand. He added a new wing to the factory and put in another steam engine, both the engines being of seventy-horse power.
During the present century, large Mills have been built in this city for the spinning of silk, woollen, and mohair yarns, and also for weaving those yarns into all kinds of fabrics. In the year 1833, a company was organised for those manufactures. A large capital of £40,000 was raised, and ultimately two factories were built, one in St. Edmund’s and one in St. James’. The former became a factory for spinning yarns, and the latter for weaving goods. In St. James’ factory two coupled engines of 100-horse power were put up to drive the machinery. There the city manufacturers hired the large rooms and power, and put in the machinery, for the production of fabrics.
The site of the factory comprises 1a. 2r. 18p., with a frontage of 460 feet to the river. Above the basement are six long floors. There have been sixty-five frames in the mills for spinning yarns, and 500 looms for weaving fabrics; but the number of looms has been reduced to 300, and they are not always at work. After the erection of the mills, weaving sheds were built adjoining. The floors are now occupied as follows;—No. 1. Messrs. Skelton and Co; No. 2. Messrs. Towler, Rowling, and Allen, who also hire two of the weaving sheds; No. 3. Messrs. Willett, Nephew, and Co.; No. 4. Messrs. Skelton and Co.: Nos. 5 and 6. Mr. Park, for spinning woollen yarns. Women and girls are chiefly employed in this factory. About 1000 have been at work at a time, when trade has been good; but of late, not half the number have been engaged. The average earnings have been about 7s. weekly.
In 1838, trade was in a very dull declining state, and some differences arose between masters and men, in consequence of a proposed reduction in the rate of payment. This was resisted by the men, who appealed to Colonel Harvey to mediate between them, which he consented to do. A meeting was held, and the delegates who had been sent on the part of the weavers to the north to inquire into the state of the camlet trade, reported that they had seen no camlets at all to compare with those in Norwich. The north had, however, got the trade. The question remained unsettled; but on August 27th, that year, several camlet weavers applied to the magistrates for protection from the violence of those on strike. Mr. Robberds was willing to give out work, but would not do so unless his men were protected. The application was granted, and a strong body of police was sent to the premises of Mr. Robberds, where the weavers received their work, and they were protected in conveying it to their homes. On the Tuesday following, the house of a man named Wells was broken open and his work cut out of the loom. The city was much disturbed by these differences, which ultimately produced great injury to its trade.