A Hucknall History

Industrial Developments

Groom's Factory

Embroidering patterns on men's socks was a needle craft called chevroning. Many local housewives had took home chevron work to commonly earn an extra household income. Mrs Groom apparently turned to learning this trade aiming to supplement husbands low coal miner wages. Her enterprising endeavour came from showing off newer designed samples. Winning approval at Mansfield knitwear factory Seal and Turners began weekly tram journeys to swap over a large bag of finished goods. It paid 3s 6d per dozen.

Regularity of increased quantities enticed interest from other mothers. Daughter Irene told how dad then left the pit and turned their front room into a counter topped shelved area. He took charge over deliveries and payment on collecting finished work. Sale of a Huthwaite sited wooden hut afforded opportunity for business expansion. Childhood memories hadn't known previous factory use was made by hosiery manufacturer Davis E A & Co. Ltd.   Kelly's 1912 directory listed that otherwise unknown company. Year 1917 firstly maps Crossley Avenue address at far end a recently built Lime Avenue. Groom's therefore took over that sited factory unit.

Crossley Hosiery Co. Ltd.

What may prove to be a unique view of that original factory unit, is exposed beyond the Pepperdine family group home. Room to install six machines linking toes onto men's socks gains reward after showing samples to larger Leicester factories like Blackbird Mills and Corah Bros. Winning orders from other management inspections, would then clock up miles using an owned car.

Valuable orders from James Heath & Sons alternatively arrived by train. Mr Groom had shorter drive to a Sutton Town Station. That company produced fine silk stockings for footmen and staff of Royal households. Tasked with joining the back seam plus additional embroidery started to demand a bigger workroom.

The adjacent larger plot of land is where a used railway carriage stood as a home occupied by a Mr and Mrs Bostock. Desiring to move their home onto a Huthwaite Road site, may well be the one long remembered sited almost opposite the Travellers Rest. The purchase of that vacated land employed builder Mr Vardy to erect a suitably sized factory with garage fronting large garden.

Although village research offers little found reference, Kellys 1932 trade directory did identify a Crossley Hosiery limited company. With obvious address listing trade as hosiery manufacturers, title had seemingly spanned initial family business interests so far.

Mapped changes become evident by year 1934. Chosen coverage is just to offer far clearer comparable plans. Original site was identified as a Hosiery Factory, even more distinguishably titled than the vast CWS factory complex.

Moving from west end to east end along very short length Crossley Avenue, sees how the former site was soon after developed. Adding a few houses still stand today.

Huthwaite Urban District Council had proudly announced their 1935 housing scheme for aged couples, which consists of 24 bungalows in Beech Avenue, ... Surfacing that new roadway then familiarly sighted Groom's factory far end that little changed road.

H. C. Groom Limited

Family photo showing mum and dad joined by a junior partner Wilfred Parsons, claimed year 1931 when furthermore adding two Wass brothers as sleeping partners. An expanded company costly investing in a larger new factory, best suggests timely changes come under future business title H. C. Groom Limited.

Numerous past employees have all shared fond happy memory of times working for the very commonly referenced Grooms's. Referencing published memories after Miss Groom married best details corporate advancements. Chevroning continued keeping up regular work when deciding to branch out making blouses.

Employing a blouse designer managed to win Midland contracts to supply C&A, BHS and Littlewoods Catalogue. Wilf eventually gained interest from Marks & Spencer. Their contract demanded exclusive factory production. Risky transition period did manage to then ensure greater and prolonged regular employment. Fully utilising more machines needed to appoint a full time mechanic.

A second world war disrupted everyone's plans. Mr W Parsons joined the RAF. Husband Harry Hardstaff dutifully served with the army. Both safely returned, allowing Mr and Mrs Hardstaff to share parental responsibility raising their three sons. This Huthwaite factory had not been left idle. Fulfilling two war time contracts mainly supplied gas mask towelling for Boots Chemists. Another had claimed Beeston bra work for Everlastic. That Nottingham based company proves to have later significance.

Resuming full time work for Marks and Spencer credited Miss Ansell again for next designing their requested night dresses. A busy but very friendly environment was soon restored, before starting next few years production on lace trimmed tailored silk blouses.

Young gals clearly enjoyed the company. From small group picnics to larger factory garden parties, some even arranged weekend outings to Blackpool. Smell of savoury potato and onion cobs wafting from a canteen kitchen had favoured tasty lunch time meals.

Ladies pose during their circa 1959 lunch hour break outside the Sutton Road sweet shop next to Betts & Broughtons shoe factory. Stood back are June Wombwell, Eunice Gelstorpe, June Wright, Marlene Whetton. Front row right recalled name Ann Franks.

Meeting two former employees deserves particular mention, in sorrow from never getting around to spending more time with Mr & Mrs Cornwell after sharing her prized Huthwaite family memorabilia. Miss Betty Hancock was raised on Chesterfield Road, where it sited two conjoined railway carriages providing family home. Smiling at mention starting work at Grooms's is where she'd meet her husband. Mr Roy Cornwell was a trainee painter and decorator, who felt honoured when Mr Groom personally offered chance of self employed role in full charge of factory maintenance. Sharing sincerest gratitude for such a very rewarding opportunity just gives one other reason why folk enjoyed working for Grooms's.

Mrs Groom returned from a European summer vacation feeling very unwell. A month lay in a London hospital indicated it was serious. She died on 29th December 1961, aged 67 years old.

Sad as that would be, H C Groom Ltd remained busy in full time production. Christine Ellis was among those who felt pleased to be earning almost £4 for a 42 hour week in May 1962.

Mrs Stevenson was the 17 year old Miss Valerie White wearing dark jumper when 1962 photo was taken in the Grooms factory garden. She remembered their factory was then being run by daughter and son-in-law, Harry and Rene Hardstaff.

Despite still running a successful company employing so many appreciative young gals, Mr Groom surprised everyone when he desired to retire. The factory was sold June 1963.

Everlastic Limited

Buyers were the aforementioned Everlastic Ltd company. Their advertising for experienced machinists sought previous H C Groom Ltd employees, plus school leavers to work at their described Huthwaite Garden Factory. This Beeston based company started in year 1934. Several patents then come under initial assignee Harry Avery Raynor. Association with elasticated textiles generally covered manufacture of ladies foundation garments. From stockings, corsets and brassieres, they'd here add lingerie to women's clothing.

Lacking any local detailing is somewhat enlightened finding a Somercotes history relating their c1945 Everlastic factory opening with reference from Alfreton Urban District records. Later construction of a much larger Nix's Hill Somercotes factory suggests major company expansion towards timely gaining a Huthwaite interest. Noting concluding changes really helped understand a Courtaulds takeover. Workers may still fondly look back continuing to recognise this familiar Grooms's factory. But after about six years, it was the Everlastic company that's incorporated into Courtaulds vast textile industry. Their rebranding next titled this Northgate Group.

Northgate Group

Jayne Gregory recalled starting work at the known 1970 Northgate factory. Manufacturing baby wear, swim wear and parka coats had retained and updated the most lucrative M&S contract quantities by that earliest recognised year.

Attending a 1970s works dance is Eva and Ron Hill sat left. They relate when Dr K Hill's mum worked as the Northgate office secretary.   Preciser dated photos of one factory works garden party were taken by Margaret Hollingworth. Celebration then was for Queen Elizabeth II 1977 silver jubilee. Impending closure came shortly after.

Factory manager into circa 1978 was Frank Staton. Betty Ball was still quality supervisor when Julie Wragg started her first 1977 job. Insufficient work just left cleaning machines down. Moving on to Tudsburys soon after productively doubled Northgate wage. Rapid decline of all district hosiery and clothing manufacturing followed distributors turning to cheaper produced Chinese imports. Grouped scenes held and shared by Rob Thorley finally reveals some past workers who'd gathered for a 1995 Grooms reunion.

Victor & Young Limited

Changing December 1984 registration of a private limited company leads to a 1986 future named Victor and Young Ltd. Use of this Crossley Avenue factory thereafter addressed The Pattern House, Huthwaite, NG17 2NT. Producing textile sample book swatches filled niche demand from the likes of carpet and fabric suppliers. Employing maybe a dozen at least offered some alternative jobs.