As a company, it all began for Berisfords back in
1858, with Charles Berisford and his brothers
Francis and William. The John Clowes book ‘Ribbons
and Bows’ recalls that Charles was only 28 when he
founded the company, but his association with the
textile industry started at the tender age of nine.
Working in a mill, he was so small he had to stand
on a stool to reach his bench.
Gaining an education at Sunday school and later at nightschool he was eventually considered an educated man with a sound commercial knowledge.
By 1858, Charles realised his dream of founding a company of his own. The brothers leased part of Victoria Mill, on Foundry Bank. By 1872, they were able to buy the entire factory. Success for Berisfords continued and by the time of Charles’s death, in 1898, the company had offices in London, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol.
With the turn of the 20th century, Charles’s son Harry headed the business, assisted by his younger brothers Philip and Ernest. Philip moved to London in 1902, to manage the company’s offices there. He stayed there until he retired in 1924.
Trade was poor during the First World War, although railway orders and demand for uniform braids kept things going. As employees returned from the war, they found things had improved.
Hours of work were better and weavers no longer had to provide their own glue, scissors and candles. Progress continued in the 1930s, as work on converting mills from steam to electricity got underway.
Harry Berisford died in 1936 and Ernest became head of the company but was the last to carry on the company name.
Part 4 >
Gaining an education at Sunday school and later at nightschool he was eventually considered an educated man with a sound commercial knowledge.
By 1858, Charles realised his dream of founding a company of his own. The brothers leased part of Victoria Mill, on Foundry Bank. By 1872, they were able to buy the entire factory. Success for Berisfords continued and by the time of Charles’s death, in 1898, the company had offices in London, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol.
With the turn of the 20th century, Charles’s son Harry headed the business, assisted by his younger brothers Philip and Ernest. Philip moved to London in 1902, to manage the company’s offices there. He stayed there until he retired in 1924.
Trade was poor during the First World War, although railway orders and demand for uniform braids kept things going. As employees returned from the war, they found things had improved.
Hours of work were better and weavers no longer had to provide their own glue, scissors and candles. Progress continued in the 1930s, as work on converting mills from steam to electricity got underway.
Harry Berisford died in 1936 and Ernest became head of the company but was the last to carry on the company name.
Part 4 >
