Krasavino

Krasavino is located 23 kilometres off Veliky Ustyug. In 1851 a flax spinning factory producing scarves, napkins and table-cloths that became widely spread in Russia was established in Krasavino. Nowadays SEVERLYON is the biggest flax spinning and weaving factory of the Vologda Oblast manufacturing high-quality flax table-cloth, bed-linen and tea-towel linen.

The economic and political transformation of the early 19th century speeded development of the textile industry in Russia. Linen factories sprouted up in big cities. Flax fibre was in great demand all over the country. Buyers-up rushed to the areas seeding flax. An Arkhangelsk-born merchant named P.Lyurs was one of them. He settled down in Veliky Ustyug, bought valuable raw materials from peasants for a song and resold them to manufacturers. Flax-spinning industry turned out to be quite profitable and the merchant made up his mind to build a flax mill in the area that comprises modern day Krasavino.

In 1851 about a hundred people were employed at the mill. However, the things did not go well. Mr. Lyurs invested too much in the construction. He was no longer able to buy raw materials. Lyurs did not realize his ambition and sold the mill to Yakov Gribanov.

Under the new owner the things were improving. In 1864 Gribanov installed mechanical looms. Later he built a stoke-hole and purchased a steamer to transport goods. Executed with great skill, the articles produced by the Gribanov flax mill were notable for their hard-weaving fabric. They were sold not only in Russia, but throughout the whole world.

In 1947 the settlement of Krasavino was given the status of a town.

Now Krasavino is a small town with a population of 8,800 people. The working-age people account for 5,300.