Crossley's Carpets, the carpet manufacturing industry founded by John Crossley.
Around 1824, they moved into Waterhouse's Mill at Dean Clough.
In the 1830s, he had obtained the patents for producing printed tapestries and velvets using Jacquard looms – a technique invented by Richard Whytock.
John Crossley was subsequently joined by his sons, John Crossley, Joseph Crossley, and Francis Crossley, to found the company of John Crossley & Sons.
Around 1844, they introduced the production of tapestry carpets.
Around 1851, they patented their method of manufacturing carpets by steam powered power-looms developed by George Collier and Francis, and licensed other manufacturers to use the patents. This increased production 12-fold and brought down the cost of the finished product, making the Dean Clough mills the largest carpet factory in the world, and the largest commercial concern in Britain.
Around 1856, they acquired the tapestry weaving patent of Widnell of Edinburgh.
In November 1864, the brothers converted their partnership into a joint stock company – one of the first in the country to do so. The capital was £1,650,000, in shares of £10 each, the firm retaining 80% of the shares. This gave the workers an opportunity to share in the company's fortunes.
On 4th August 1868, the directors carried out a poll of their workpeople on the question of closing their works at 1:00 pm on Saturdays. The matter of half-day closing was discussed or implemented at other factories. Tickets for voting were distributed and the ballot took place in the evening. There was a majority of 2,307 in favour of the change and the proposal was introduced the following week.
On 20th August 1868, the Company's New Bank Mills / Garden Street Mill, Halifax was gutted by fire with damage estimated at £5,000.
In 1891, the company's shares were divided into ordinary and preference.
In addition to Dean Clough, they had premises at Hebble Mills, Salterhebble and Shay Lane Mill.
In 1900, the Company employed about 5000 men, women and children, by 1977 this had dropped to around 1700 men and women. In the early part of the 20th century, it was common for parents who worked at the factory to put their children's names down for employment with the Company when they left school at age 14.
In 1933, the Company introduced the Duravell process, manufacturing a blend of nylon and viscose rayon, which led to increasing production for textiles for use in cars.
During World War II, the Company produced webbing for military equipment.
Crossley's Carpets have been fitted in many prestigious locations including Concorde and the QE2.
In 1953, the Company merged with Carpet Trades Limited of Kidderminster.
In 1969, the Company merged with other companies to become Carpets International Limited.
The business closed in 1982, a victim of cheaper imported carpets
See Carpet mosaics / Croslee Yarns Limited / Crossley lifeboat / Crossley's Carpets Works Band / Crossley's Sports Ground / George Collier / Get Weaving / John Cooker / Joseph Cockin Hoatson / New Bank Primitive Methodist Church / Ovenden Worsted Company / Shay Lane Mill / Tapestry carpets / Thomas Simpson & Sons Limited / William Lochhead
Page Ref: MMC1453
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