Director's residence of the former weaving mill Persy

These mansions belonged to the owners of the first factory in Aarschot in the 19th century. Around 1865, the brothers August and Severin Persy built a textile factory on the open meadows in what is now Fabriekstraat, between the former beguinage and the newly constructed railway station (1865). As it should be at the time, a few years later, in 1875, adjacent to the factory, they built three mansions in the new Statiestraat. For a long time, the walls around the spacious gardens would determine the appearance of this street and the street was popularly called the 'blind wall street'.

More than a hundred men, women and children found work in the factory. They made 'ticking' there. This is a sturdy, dense fabric that was traditionally woven in a striped cotton or linen twill. It was used for mattress and pillow covers and for towels. The products were sold under the name 'Percy-Charles'. There were fifty looms. An important part of the production was exported to England.

In 1890, one of the first hospitals in the district was founded by the Flemish Brothers' Union and the workers of the factory. However, the chairmanship of De Verbroedering was in the hands of the director August Percy.

The male workers were paid individually and could earn up to 15 francs a week. However, they were not allowed to attend the inspection of their work. The weekly wage was paid on Mondays, ostensibly to prevent the money from being spent on drinks. Around 1900, women received only 9 francs a week. Girls didn't earn anything when they learned to make bobbins. The working hours were also long, from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a two-hour meal break. The workers had to enter the factory through a narrow door, which meant that they lost time during the lunch break.

In 1897 a strike broke out in which 50 of the 70 men participated. It lasted only a few days. An article from De Volkswil, in which the poor working conditions were rudely denounced, was contested by the bosses, and with success. The weekly was ordered to pay 500 francs in damages and the publication of a correction.

In 1911, a major fire ravaged the factory. The warehouses went up in flames, but the factory where the looms were located was largely spared. However, it would take several weeks before they could return to work. Immediately, the socialist movement in Leuven and the Catholic Society of St. Vincent de Paul started registration lists to raise money for the affected workers.

Jan Rymenams