SOUND ARCHIVE

Living Linen Interview LL2_R00/14 2 of 2

Sound Recording : Magnetic Tape, Reel

Acheson, Peter N. (Mr) (Primary maker)
Acheson, Peter N. (Mr) (interviewee)

23/02/2000
23/02/2000

Sound Recording on Reel: Achesons. Library Transcript: Transcript. Summary: The firm of David Acheson Ltd (originally Acheson Smith) was founded about 1874 by Peter's great-grandfather. David's father (Peter's great-great-grandfather) had come to Castlecaulfield as a Presbyterian minister. The factory was constructed on the site of an old corn mill and although some of the buildings were retained, they purpose-built a single storey, glass-roofed weaving shed. The Acheson's of Portadown, who also ran a linen weaving factory, are second cousins of the Castlecaulfield Acheson's although there were no commercial links between the two companies. The Castlecaulfield branch of the family is also related to the Brown's of Donaghmore who owned a soap works and manufactured the internationally renowned 'Colleen brand soap'. Peter's father, also David, bought the soap works in the early 1950s until it closed in 1957 or '58. Peter Acheson spent one year in the factory before going to university. During this year he completed an abridged apprenticeship, spending a little time in the various departments, and attended Belfast 'Tech, where he followed a weaving course. David Acheson died in 1959 while Peter was still at university. He returned to Castlecaulfield the following year and went straight into management. His father's cousin, Vincent, was running the company. Peter Acheson was made a Director of the firm on his return from university. The factory manager was Jack Frizelle. Peter initially assisted the senior costing clerk - Wilfred Wright. He also spent some time with the firm's UK agents learning about sales. Achesons were linen manufacturers and finishers. They produced linen tea-towels, embroidery linens and rayon tablecloths. The firm did a sizeable trade with Australia and New Zealand and had a London office. Within the UK Acheson's major customers were Woolworths, Tescos and the John Lewis group. Agents were based in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Bristol. They also had a Dublin agent. Much of the firm's yarn was bought from Preston's - the yarn merchants, while the bleaching was carried out at Springvale and by Cowdy's. The firms tea-towels were mostly printed by Clendinnings of Lurgan, although Cowdy's at Loughgall were also used. John Roberts was the salesman with responsibility for the UK and Ireland. The overseas market was usually covered by Vincent Acheson, although Peter Acheson went on a couple of sales trips to Australia and New Zealand in the late 1960s. By this stage the firm was beginning to lose business to Eastern European producers, and in particular, Poland. This competition was mostly in the utilitarian end of the trade where price rather than quality was the major factor in determining sales. Consequently Achesons lost a large proportion of the tea-towel market. Acheson's was also a finishing firm. They had a mangle, a calender and a stitching plant. In 1946 the old steam engine was used to start a domestic laundry. They later put in a dry-cleaning plant. As well as domestic laundering, the firm secured work from the South Tyrone Hospital. Achesons then went into the linen hire business. They started weaving the narrow washroom roller towels for Industrial Linen Services. Eventually Achesons bought and distributed the towel dispensers, laundered the towels and supplied table and bed linens as well. Achesons built up a considerable business within the local hotel trade. Industrial Linen Services bought Achesons in 1966 after which it was sold to Ulster Weavers before finally closing in 1978 or '79.

HOYFM.R2000.44

National Museums NI