Notes from the End Days

Hansard notes from a parliamentary debate, 11th December 1985. Representation from Matthew Parris MP (Derbyshire West) and Phillip Oppenheim MP (Amber Valley).

The discussion centres around English Sewing Ltd and their plans to take a government grant to move dyeing operations from Belper to Scotland. Throughout the debate, much is made of Derbyshire workers' loyalty to English Sewing and their good work ethic. The point is made that money for job creation in Scotland would result in more government money having to be spent on redundancy payments in Derbyshire. English Sewing Ltd are therefore held up as being underhand.

Parris states that having spoken to the MD of English Sewing, he remarked that the company would be moving to Scotland anyway, and were in fact considering transferring all textile operations away from the UK. This is despite receiving £300,000 in grants to modernise the Belper mill.

The UK textile industry was plummeting throughout the early 1980s. Production at East Mill ended in 1986. It seems that English Sewing Ltd carried on regardless - also demonstrated on late reel labels that state produced in the EU.


Spotted on ebay, a box indicating where in the EU production moved to.

If you'd like me to talk to your group about the English Sewing Cotton Company and you're based in North Derbyshire,  North Nottinghamshire or Sheffield area, you can find me on Facebook - search for SewSylko/Sarah Miller Walters. 


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