Lancashire’s cotton spinning and weaving heritage is a source of national pride, as it is an industry that contributed to the North of England becoming the powerhouse for the nation’s expansion and prosperity from the dawn of the industrial revolution.
The County’s vast textile mills and weaving sheds brought with them unprecedented urban growth, shaping the familiar Lancashire mill towns we see today.
The grid pattern of terraced workers’ houses and north-light weaving sheds remain evident in the industrial landscape of Pennine Lancashire, where three-quarters of the County’s surviving textile mills lie.
1920
Schofield and Preston moved into Manor Mill and 1000 looms operated to weave cotton cloth.
1959
The mill closed after a steady decline, but it reopened the following year.
1960
Manor Mill was once again in production as Dawes and Company Nelson Ltd. The company continued successfully for many years providing employment in the town as one of many textile mills in the area.
1970's
Continuing investments by Dawes ensured the Mill was a major employer in the town.
1996
During the late 1990s major investment was undertaken by Sanderson’s Fabrics.
Over £2 million pounds was invested on a modern weaving shed, fully air conditioned. Housing 8 new Dornier Rapier looms with Bonas Jacquards and 8 new Picanol Gamma Dobby looms.
6 full time designers were employed designing new jacquard and dobby ranges for their pattern books which sold across the world.
2001
Charles Brocki took over the Mill, buying it from Gamma Holdings Trading as Dawes and Company Nelson Ltd. Charles had been the Sales Director at Dawes.
2005
Business declined in the early years of the new millennium and the company was about to close, the workers were given 90 days’ notice.
Stephen Shepherd who was a local Production Manager at another local Mill, bought the business from Charles Brocki, and kept the original workforce without a break in employment. The name of the business was changed slightly to S Dawes Weaving Ltd.
2014
S Dawes moved from Manor Mill to larger modern premises in Greenhill Mill in Colne, all the staff moved with the business.
We were delighted to find new premises that would allow us to expand and grow the business whilst still allowing us to stay in the east Lancashire area where our heritage lies.
2016
After successfully turning the business around, increasing the workforce, investing in new machinery and the latest design technology software, and increasing sales and profit margins by focusing on high end jacquard fabrics, we were the recipients of the Pendle Business Awards Manufacturer of the Year in 2016.
2020
We are continuing our successful business, whilst taking our responsibility for our environmental impact very seriously.
The demand for low environmental impact products has led us to source materials which are grown sustainably and wherever possible we use recycled raw materials.
We have developed fabrics which are 100% recycled, woven with yarns made from old clothing and plastics including recycled plastic bottles.
2021
Further major investment to keep up with the demand for quality linen fabrics saw the purchase of 2 new Picanol Optimax looms and 3 Dornier Dobby looms.
2022
Weaving for the future, we continue to weave some of our long-standing traditional designs which are still in demand as we are one of the only mills in the UK that can weave these beautiful tapestries.
We also have the talented designer to create the latest innovative fabrics that a modern eco-friendly world requires and we will continue to do all we can to reduce our impact on the natural world.
The journey doesn't end here...
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