I asked my mother about the origin of "bleach field" as she had worked many years at The Luncarty bleach works, Perthshire, Scotland. At one time, linen, which is brown when first woven was stretched out over a grass field and was whitened by the action of the sun/or some combination of sun and grass. In 1752 the process was industrialized when the works was established and lime was used as a bleaching agent. Lately more powerful and toxic chemicals were used. The works closed last year after 244 years.