Starting
with a handful of employees, Homeknit
soon began recruiting apprentices
and prided itself as a caring and
paternalistic firm, pioneering equal
pay for equal work. Apprentices
would start at the age of 14 and
would be provided with their food,
lodging and a wage. For that, they
worked a five-day week from 8am
to 6pm, plus Saturday mornings.
In
1914 it moved to larger premises
on the corner of Pier Avenue and
Station Road - where the telephone
exchange is now - and began to automate
production. By 1921 it boasted the
latest Swiss technology.
At
its height, Homeknit employed about
100 people, many from surrounding
villages. It made underwear for
the troops, bonnets for local school
girls, stylish knitwear for Knightsbridge
stores and, later, even silk jumpers
for the royal princesses.
In spite of Homeknit's
apparently enlightened employment
policy, not all its employees were
impressed, as you'll hear if you
click on the audio extracts! right.
Homeknit
closed in the early 1960s. Right,
the workforce in the 1930s. (P2446)
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Fordux
Bedding Manufacture
Fordux Mills took
over the Smith
& Girling flour mill on
the corner of Field Stile Road and
the High Street, after the latter
had closed down in 1918. Fordux
started primarily as a flock mill
and diversified into making high-quality
mattresses, divans, pillows and
other accessories which were supplied
to leading bed manufacturers.
Its best known
customer was Slumberland which took
a stake in the business after the
Second War. When the factory closed
in 1974 the building was converted
into flats.
Use the links
below to explore the history of
Southwold’s other industries.
Brewing
Iron
founding
Milling
Public
Utilities (Gas, water, electricity)
Rope
making
Salt
manufacture
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