The first power loom , a mechanized loom powered by a driveshaft , was designed in 1784 by Edmund Cartwright and first built in 1785 , later to be perfected by William Horrocks . The first power loom , a mechanized loom powered by a line shaft , was designed in 1784 by Edmund Cartwright and first built in 1785 , it was refined over the next 47 years until a design by Kenworthy and Bullough , made the operation completely automatic . This was known as the Lancashire Loom .