|History|
1828 - Richard Field, born in 1804, the son of John Field, had also worked in the family textile business from a young age, but at 14 became apprentice to William Marsden at Greenside Mill. Richard Field, married Marsden’s daughter, Ruth, and took full control of the business, which he gradually changed from fancy weaving to shawl production.
1861 - His son, Samuel Field inherited the business. He had, like his cousins, attended Sheffield Wesleyan College to gain a generally superior and classical education. In 1861 he expanded the Greenside works.
1872 - Samuel Field employed, and later took into partnership, the designer, Thomas Gothard Bottrill, forming the company “Field and Bottrill”in 1872, concentrating on pile fabric and astrakhan production.
1873 Aug - Field & Bottrill register a design described as “Swatch of woollen fabric and tassels - scarf? ”
1889 An import duty imposed by the United States government badly affects the company.
1901 Samuel had no direct heir so he brought his nephew, Percy Richard Jackson, into the company and it was he who steered the company to safety, taking on a partner, Francis Child, in 1901 (although the name “Field and Bottrill” remained).
1922 – 1923 Graces guide shows images of fake fur sample fabrics from Field and Bottrill (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Field_and_Bottrill)
1967 – It was, however, taken over by the Keighley company, Haggas. John Haggas (Fur Fabrics Ltd)
My history of this site is patchy im not sure when the last owners took over the site but Dawson Fur Fabrics registered/incorporated in 1999 on companies house.
Bit of info on Dawsons - “We specialise in the manufacture of Fake Fur and Fleece Fabrics. Dawson - a new generation textile business, geared for the way the world operates today. ”
Pennine:
Dawson's 'Sliver Knitting' process is now recognised as a truly attractive alternative to fashion 'Fleece' and is rapidly expanding into new markets including soft furnishing and industrial polishing. Dawson has almost unrivalled expertise in this field, with a collective skill base built over generations. The advantages of sliver knitting include: Superb design flexibility. Broad range of effects, Complex pattern capabilities, Integration of a variety of fibres, Range of weights and widths, Highly competitive pricing
Circular:
Dawson's 'Circular' Knitting operation is geared for the rapid-response culture of the modern retailer, with vertical facilities of knitting, dyeing and finishing, and targeted bespoke development by in-house stylists. Our fleece and towelling collections are in demand all over the world, with end uses ranging from high fashion and leisurewear to sportswear, workwear and babywear. Situated in the heart of English Textile country, Dawson's Circular Division benefits from generations of expertise within a progressive and modern facility.
In Feb 2006 it was announced that the firm was closing with a loss of 70 jobs, The business was sold the following year after going into administration. There is paperwork from various companies Dawson Fabrics Ltd, Worldwide fabric ltd etc dated up to 2012. The Demolition paperwork states “The Site’s use as a mill has apparently declined over the years with the dying pit and settling pond to the east having been abandoned some time ago, now being overgrown by competitive vegetation and scrub. The more modern elements of the mill have been in use until 2015”
Info from Skelmanthorpe Historical society, Kirkless Curiosities, Huddersfield Mills & general googles.
|Explore|
Really decent solo explore, lots of interesting sections old and new, once I had seen most of the site there was one remaining building which I managed to find a way in and had a quick look about, silent. Noticing some new looking FLT I changed my memory cards, took some photos of the washing machines and walked down the building looking at the machinery when a large white wolf looking dog suddenly stood up from a pile of fabric and started barking, this set off 2 other dogs, realising I couldn't get out of reach from the dogs easily and being concerned about the noise and potential for mauling I turned and ran. The fear of 3 sets of teeth aided my climbing abilities, definitely one of my quickest departures. In hindsight I had heard the dogs on and off through the day I just assumed they were in a garden of a surrounding property
William Marsden founded the textile business at Skelmanthorpe’s Greenside Mills, around 1770 he built Greenside Mill.1828 - Richard Field, born in 1804, the son of John Field, had also worked in the family textile business from a young age, but at 14 became apprentice to William Marsden at Greenside Mill. Richard Field, married Marsden’s daughter, Ruth, and took full control of the business, which he gradually changed from fancy weaving to shawl production.
1861 - His son, Samuel Field inherited the business. He had, like his cousins, attended Sheffield Wesleyan College to gain a generally superior and classical education. In 1861 he expanded the Greenside works.
1872 - Samuel Field employed, and later took into partnership, the designer, Thomas Gothard Bottrill, forming the company “Field and Bottrill”in 1872, concentrating on pile fabric and astrakhan production.
1873 Aug - Field & Bottrill register a design described as “Swatch of woollen fabric and tassels - scarf? ”
1889 An import duty imposed by the United States government badly affects the company.
1901 Samuel had no direct heir so he brought his nephew, Percy Richard Jackson, into the company and it was he who steered the company to safety, taking on a partner, Francis Child, in 1901 (although the name “Field and Bottrill” remained).
1922 – 1923 Graces guide shows images of fake fur sample fabrics from Field and Bottrill (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Field_and_Bottrill)
1967 – It was, however, taken over by the Keighley company, Haggas. John Haggas (Fur Fabrics Ltd)
My history of this site is patchy im not sure when the last owners took over the site but Dawson Fur Fabrics registered/incorporated in 1999 on companies house.
Bit of info on Dawsons - “We specialise in the manufacture of Fake Fur and Fleece Fabrics. Dawson - a new generation textile business, geared for the way the world operates today. ”
Pennine:
Dawson's 'Sliver Knitting' process is now recognised as a truly attractive alternative to fashion 'Fleece' and is rapidly expanding into new markets including soft furnishing and industrial polishing. Dawson has almost unrivalled expertise in this field, with a collective skill base built over generations. The advantages of sliver knitting include: Superb design flexibility. Broad range of effects, Complex pattern capabilities, Integration of a variety of fibres, Range of weights and widths, Highly competitive pricing
Circular:
Dawson's 'Circular' Knitting operation is geared for the rapid-response culture of the modern retailer, with vertical facilities of knitting, dyeing and finishing, and targeted bespoke development by in-house stylists. Our fleece and towelling collections are in demand all over the world, with end uses ranging from high fashion and leisurewear to sportswear, workwear and babywear. Situated in the heart of English Textile country, Dawson's Circular Division benefits from generations of expertise within a progressive and modern facility.
In Feb 2006 it was announced that the firm was closing with a loss of 70 jobs, The business was sold the following year after going into administration. There is paperwork from various companies Dawson Fabrics Ltd, Worldwide fabric ltd etc dated up to 2012. The Demolition paperwork states “The Site’s use as a mill has apparently declined over the years with the dying pit and settling pond to the east having been abandoned some time ago, now being overgrown by competitive vegetation and scrub. The more modern elements of the mill have been in use until 2015”
Info from Skelmanthorpe Historical society, Kirkless Curiosities, Huddersfield Mills & general googles.
|Explore|
Really decent solo explore, lots of interesting sections old and new, once I had seen most of the site there was one remaining building which I managed to find a way in and had a quick look about, silent. Noticing some new looking FLT I changed my memory cards, took some photos of the washing machines and walked down the building looking at the machinery when a large white wolf looking dog suddenly stood up from a pile of fabric and started barking, this set off 2 other dogs, realising I couldn't get out of reach from the dogs easily and being concerned about the noise and potential for mauling I turned and ran. The fear of 3 sets of teeth aided my climbing abilities, definitely one of my quickest departures. In hindsight I had heard the dogs on and off through the day I just assumed they were in a garden of a surrounding property
