Report - Kangol hat/clothing factory, Cleator Moor, Cumbria - November 2008

[horrgakx]

I visited the old Kangol factory with a friend SWORKS as it was open - why not! :)

This set of pictures, though it looks like the demise of another British industry, is actually a look behind the scenes at a sucess story.

Kangol started making hats and was founded in 1938. This beautiful sandstone building was used as the Kangol headquarters for a number of years until they relocated over a gradual period from about 1998.

The pictures are hosted on http://Flickr.com and the complete set (with some different writeup) is here;
http://flickr.com/photos/horrgakx/sets/72157609140220189/

This is the front of the original building, built in 1938.

Two views of the factory floor;

And a view from one side of the factory to the other.

From the top of the stairs...

... to the bottom.

A room

Same room from a different angle

Kitchen

The old BT TJF - the phones from all over the site are terminated here. And with the wires at the bottom chopped, it is forever terminated.

Great textures in this room

Some fabric samples

A way out

Roof vents

Kanga Loo. Geddit?? Kanga-Loo... oh never mind.

Product packaging

A final look back at the site;