A Hucknall History

Industrial Developments

The Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited

Formation of a Leicester Co-operative Hosiery Manufacturing Society was result of a troublesome 1875 buy out of a smaller co-operative hosiery society. Appointing a historically influential George Newell as General Manager, moved then on from a small cottage using old hand frames, to finally expand into setting up their 1890 Cranbourne Street Mills. Powered machinery increased production until marking their successful year in 1901. That also dates when they approached CWS Bank looking to fund a factory extension. Instead, back came a rather opportunistic counter proposal from the vast Wholesale Society. Rising profits suggested this was a timely chance to acquire their own hosiery business, although it triggered another bigger Union opposition.

Offering £29,000 for the Cranbourne Street factory, complete with machinery, fixtures and a healthy balance sheet, CWS had furthermore promised to keep all employees working for at least 12 months, adding chance they'd become bank investors with guaranteed interest rate. The deal mutually agreed by Leicester Mill employers ultimately needed the seal of approval by the workers union. Recommendation through a Hosiery Society committee came at a much later arranged meeting dated 8th November. Hearing for the first time about their proposed takeover, its members quickly erupted!   Despite angry and prolonged opposition, protestors only suffered the consequences of severely dropped sales, until forced into accepting those original terms.

1st July 1903 marked the CWS eventually taking full possession their first hosiery factory in Leicester. After a further problematic startup requiring reappointment of a third manager, the Cranbourne Street business did eventually show a slight profit. Production swiftly rose from 1905 into 1907, only to again claim reaching the factories limitation in size and poor layout. It made an acceptable excuse based on the former Leicester companies known need for an extension. Nonetheless, its troublesome past could well be regarded as another good reason why the CWS had not only quickly sought out a suitable relocation, but already agreed a deal.

Quite possibly again unbeknown to the workers, the Leicester CWS factory had been destined for closure. Shown last sketched 1907, it did reopen March 1909 with conversion and modernising as one of CWS Printing and Box Making Works.

According to the societies own 1913 history, they agreed to purchase a 4¼ acre site in Hucknall Huthwaite for the cost of £719 in December 1906. This may reveal some corporate spin selling, when able to compare our local press announcing the new building had been commenced some months earlier. Initial plot size also differs after the local Unwin Land Society attracted the CWS with offer of one free acre of land. Talks earlier that year started negotiating an initial 2½ acre site, but took into account more land for future building expansion, all barely delaying choice for Hucknall Huthwaite taking over mass manufacture of CWS hosiery.

The allocated plot overlooking Roolley Bottoms was sited just behind and atop Sutton Road, affording easy access to that village highway along North Street. Manchester architect Mr F E Harris designed this vast L shaped structure. Building contractor Mr J Dickinson of Derby oversaw construction. Notts Free Press did promote 1907 structural completion when doors opened inviting a new years workforce.

Premises formed and almost filled one side a loftily named High Street incorporating the large main trade entrance nearest warehouse stocks. Imposing office doors cornered the factory descent down North Street.

Comparing relational size with most other national CWS factories, this actually presented one of their modest additions. But amid this quiter area, an impressively large two storey frontage could have initially set some kind of Huthwaite record as the biggest single brick structure.

Measuring 50ft deep with generous room height for lighting through tall windows, premises formed a right angle extending 350ft by 230ft. Upper floor housed five machinery departments all handling separate manufacturing processes, fully powered from an inner engine-house. Ground floor rooms were for finishing and packing variety of garments ready for end warehouse distribution. Corner doors grandly opened to impressively inivte businessmen into centralised offices.

Despite obvious magnitude introducing this new factory complex, the CWS didn't seem to hold any known ceremonious opening.

Two early 1908 postcard scenes managed to superbly capture the completed building off still unmade roadways lit by a gas lamp. Youngsters posed in doorway suggest one unknown cameraman only attracted some neighbourly attention, whereas the CWS didn't historically acknowledge taking offical record covering another opening date.