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In 1778 Ann Wood’s eldest son Henry entered into partnership with his mother to continue the trade of hosiery manufacturing. The company traded as Ann Wood & Sons, with Thomas, the youngest son, joining the business in 1780. Ann passed away in 1813 at the age of 87. Her foresight and enterprise meant that the company was successful and continued to thrive under the skilful management of her sons, and eventually her grandsons. During the early 19th century the company was engaged in the manufacture of stockings, fancy hosiery and caps. The majority of the production was sold to the “Scottish market” due to a relationship that existed between Ann Wood & Sons and George Walker, a wool merchant and hosier of Glasgow, Scotland. In 1825, Robert Walker, the son of George Walker, arrived in Leicester. He was an ambitious and talented young man who spent his time traveling and broadening his hosiery skills. He had valuable experience of the Scottish hosiery trade and in 1840 Ann Wood & Sons had the foresight to employ him. His enthusiastic blending of two traditional knitwear industries greatly benefited the progress of the company and in 1842 he was appointed a partner. His most dramatic innovation was to break with the established cottage industry, and house machines and work people in a factory. In 1859 he addressed the huge demand for the company’s products by locating all his knitting machines in a steam powered factory. Above left: Rutland Street, Leicester. New Wolsey offices and warehouses built between 1864 and 1867 to accommodate growing business. |
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