Building record 2878/75/1 - Corset Factory, Rothwell Road

Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) corset factory. A two-storey, ten bay, red brick factory with a north-light roof built in 1905 and additional range built in 1936. The parapet carries the words 'Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited Corset Factory'. Architectuarally the factory is plain and unadorned and has seen some alterations. Still in use and in good condition. Now owned by 'Fantasie' Stirling Brands Ltd and used as a warehouse/factory.

{1} Co-operative Wholesale Society Corset Factory. Still in use and in good condition. Now owned by 'Fantasie' Stirling Brands Ltd. And used as a warehouse/factory. Offices next door were built by CWS post 1926 [7193/10]. An extension to factory post 1926 was in keeping with the style but no attempt was made to match it. It is possible that this may have been the only Corset Factory owned by the Co-operative movement on a national basis as the Jubilee publication states "The Co-operative Society have their Corset Factory established here".

{2} Extensive factory buildings dating from 1905 built for CWS as a corset and lingerie factory. On a total of four floors arranged to accommodate the slope of the ground up Federation Avenue. Now occupied by Fantasie Textiles.

{6} Corset factory building, brick built corner site of 10 bays and 2 storeys with white bricks depicting the words "Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited Corset Factory". Brick built extension of 3 storeys diminishing to 2 storeys of 12 bays.

{5} The Desborough Industrial Co-operative Society purchased 400 acres of land in 1898 with the help of a loan from the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd. To provide work for local women and girls. A "fine new factory" was built and started the manufacture of corsets on 3rd July 1905, incorporating the existing Desborough Corset Manufacturing Society. The CWS. Ceased production in August 1990.

{6} Originally CWS corset manufacturing had taken place in Broughton, Lancashire but was moved into the purpose build factory at Desborough in 1905. Corest making was already established in Desborough and the CWS took over the exisiting business.

The raw materials were brought into the factory and stored on the ground floor where they were passed into the cutting room where the material was cut using hand or electric band knives. Stitching, by ranks of electric sewing machines, and finishing were done on the upper floor before being returned to the ground floor for packing and despatch. Power was supplied from a detached engine and Boiler house. Two stream engines provided the factory with electric power.

<1> Ballinger, J, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Desborough (Industrial), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100502.

<2> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, NIAG Industrial Gazetteer, (draft part checked) (Draft). SNN101121.

<3> Mason C., 1995, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49160.

<4> Perkins P., 1995?, IRIS Recording Form, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104882.

<5> Redfern P., The Story of The CWS Being the Jubilee History of The CWS Ltd. 1863-1913, (unchecked) (Article). SNN2603.

<6> ENGISH HERITAGE, English Heritage Listing File (Report). SNN111579.

Record last edited

Aug 31 2023 4:00PM