The company was founded by Nathaniel Corah, who first produced garments on a knitting frame on his farm. His grandson, Edwin Corah, chose this site for his factory, by the side of the canal. In fact, it was the first factory in Leicester to be built and designed for steam operation, around a central beam engine.
In 1865 Edwin Corah laid the foundation stone of Corah's St Margaret's works. The factory was the largest in Leicester at the time, with around a thousand people employed at the site. The site's 50 horsepower steam engine powered 50 rotary machines, 47 circulars, and 77 sewing machines. The factory also used 28 hand frames for high quality products.
St Margaret's works allowed the company to move from domestic to factory-based production. In 1855 the company had over 2,000 domestic workers and around 20 factory employees. By 1886 all of the company's employees were factory based. Improvements in technology allowed the company to maintain its output levels and cut its workforce...
St Margaret was a shepherdess, a most appropriate emblem for a major textile manufacturer.
St Margaret - the oldest registered trademark in Britain
One of Corah’s former apprentices, in their Engine House, a certain Mr Curry, used his skills in welding learned at Corahs, to set up a bicycle manufacturing business in a shop near the Clock tower. This was the first shop in a business that was to become the Dixons-Currys electrical retail giant of today. Descendants of the first Mr Curry still live in the city.
thats a little of the history out of the way, this place has eluded us for what seems like forever with little parts opening up just to give you a teaser, before they are locked down again
myself and Goldie finally managed to crack the original factory here are some of my shots i took over 200!!
main by Mattdonut, on Flickr
arches by Mattdonut, on Flickr
stairs by Mattdonut, on Flickr
window by Mattdonut, on Flickr
corah by Mattdonut, on Flickr
walkway by Mattdonut, on Flickr
cobwebs by Mattdonut, on Flickr
arch2 by Mattdonut, on Flickr
greendoor by Mattdonut, on Flickr
some more shots on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattdonut/sets/72157626133573031/
i think thats enough for now
In 1865 Edwin Corah laid the foundation stone of Corah's St Margaret's works. The factory was the largest in Leicester at the time, with around a thousand people employed at the site. The site's 50 horsepower steam engine powered 50 rotary machines, 47 circulars, and 77 sewing machines. The factory also used 28 hand frames for high quality products.
St Margaret's works allowed the company to move from domestic to factory-based production. In 1855 the company had over 2,000 domestic workers and around 20 factory employees. By 1886 all of the company's employees were factory based. Improvements in technology allowed the company to maintain its output levels and cut its workforce...
St Margaret was a shepherdess, a most appropriate emblem for a major textile manufacturer.
St Margaret - the oldest registered trademark in Britain
One of Corah’s former apprentices, in their Engine House, a certain Mr Curry, used his skills in welding learned at Corahs, to set up a bicycle manufacturing business in a shop near the Clock tower. This was the first shop in a business that was to become the Dixons-Currys electrical retail giant of today. Descendants of the first Mr Curry still live in the city.
thats a little of the history out of the way, this place has eluded us for what seems like forever with little parts opening up just to give you a teaser, before they are locked down again
myself and Goldie finally managed to crack the original factory here are some of my shots i took over 200!!
main by Mattdonut, on Flickr
arches by Mattdonut, on Flickr
stairs by Mattdonut, on Flickr
window by Mattdonut, on Flickr
corah by Mattdonut, on Flickr
walkway by Mattdonut, on Flickr
cobwebs by Mattdonut, on Flickr
arch2 by Mattdonut, on Flickr
greendoor by Mattdonut, on Flickr
some more shots on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattdonut/sets/72157626133573031/
i think thats enough for now
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