Heathcoat, John, & Co Ltd

Sectors:

  • Mechanical engineering Agricultural, forestry & garden machinery, implements, etc, production
  • Textile production Industrial textiles production inc insulation, lagging & tyre cord
  • Textile production Lace production
  • Mechanical engineering Textile & wearing apparel making machinery production

Notes:

Traces origins to John Heathcoat, 1783-1861, a net/lace manufacturer who made revolutionary improvements to net/lace making machinery and derived income from its licencing. Established lace/net works at Loughborough which he moved to Tiverton, Devon, when attacked by Luddites in 1816. At Tiverton acquired a cotton mill and started lace and net production. Opened another works near Paris in 1818. From 1820s William Felkin acted as his agent in Nottingham. Alongside textiles, an agricultural machinery business was developed and spun off in 1970 into Lowman Manufacturing Ltd. In 1830s developed a crawler tractor for ploughing heavy land.1913 introduced an employee co-partnership scheme. 1923 registered as an unlimited company. Limited company 1948 and public company 1952. In early 19th century developed at Tiverton substantial housing for his workers. Continues as a manufacturer of high technology textiles

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