Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Fothergill & Harvey Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Fothergill, Thomas
  • Harvey, Alexander
  • Harvey, Alexander G C
  • Harvey, Ernst
  • Courtaulds, Ltd
  • Sladen Wood Mill
  • Rock Nook Mill

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, North West, England
  • Rochdale, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, North West, England

Sectors:

  • Textile production Cotton textiles production inc spinning & weaving
  • Chemical production Man made & artificial fibre production

Notes:

Traces origins to 1847 when established by Thomas Fothergill and Alexander Harvey. Operated as cloth and yarn merchants at Manchester and from 1859 developed a cotton spinning and weaving business at Sladen Wood Mill, Littleborough, near Rochdale. 1886 built Rock Nook Mill nearby. Later led by Alexander Gordon Cummins Harvey, 1858-1922, and his brother, Ernst; the former was prominent in local and national - as an MP - politics. Early on made specialist fabrics, eg khaki drill for servicemen's uniforms. From 1940s diversified into synthetic fabrics. 1987 acquired by Courtaulds. Continues as a leading manufacturer of woven and knitted high performance industrial textiles

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