The development of cloth industry in the noble households of the Middle Volga region in second half of XIX century

Introduction. The development of the cloth industry in the noble farms of the Middle Volga region in second half of XIX centuries occurred under the conditions of active reform of the agricultural sector of the country’s economy, which predetermined significant difficulties for the local nobility, which received significant preferences in the implementation of commercial and industrial business in the pre-reform period. Materials and Methods. Statistical, problem-chronological, historical-systemic and comparative-historical methods allowed us to trace the changes that occurred during the study period in the cloth industry of the noble industry. Results. As a result of the study, the degree of prevalence of this industry and its share in the overall industry structure of each province of the studied region, as well as the reasons for the popularity of cloth production among the local nobility, were analyzed. The volumes of production based on the official statistics are shown. The factors that predetermined the crisis state of the industry after the abolition of serfdom are indicated. The main directions of development of this industry in the post-reform period are investigated. The factors of reducing the number of cloth factories in the noble estates and the reasons for their massive transition to the merchant estate are considered. On the example of one of the largest factories, the general structure of the woolen production of the corresponding period is investigated. A large number of specific examples of noble cloth factories are given, indicating their owners, the equipment available, the number of workers and the volume of production. Discussion and Conclusions. The conclusion is drawn about the transitional state of the noble cloth industry, which, despite the crisis phenomena of the second half of the 19th century, continued to play an important role in the economy of the noble households of this region.