SOUND ARCHIVE

Living Linen Interview LL2_R00/21

Sound Recording : Magnetic Tape, Reel

Irwin, Thomas Henry (Mr) (Primary maker)
Irwin, Thomas Henry (Mr) (interviewee)

16/03/2000
16/03/2000

Sound Recording on Reel: Milltown Bleach Works. Library Transcript: Transcript. Summary: Tom Irwin's immediate family were farmers. Mr Irwin started work in Milltown Bleach Works in 1937 on his 19th birthday. Tom was interviewed by Mr Robert Hill, the then Managing Director. Robert Hill was succeeded by his son Ian Hill, and later still by Alan Crory. Mr Irwin knew Robert Hill through the church and, although no job was advertised, inquired if there were any situations vacant. Tom Irwin served a full apprenticeship in Milltown - starting in the Grey Room and following the cloth through the whole process, spending time in each department sequentially. Mr Irwin also attended Lurgan Technical College at this time. Although Milltown insisted that he went to the Tech, they did not pay his fees. Somewhat unusually Mr Irwin followed the full weaving course rather than a bleaching course. He decided to learn about the weaving, as many 'faults' or ‘problems' that showed up in the bleaching process could actually be traced back to the weaving of the cloth. The weaving course at Lurgan was taken by Jack McCollum who owned a hand-weaving factory in the town. After completing his apprenticeship Mr Irwin worked in the office for about five years. Milltown was opened in l925. Although the bleach works was owned by Spence Bryson and Johnston Allen they carried out commission work for other weaving companies. The partners ran the bleach works jointly. The firms were producing a similar range of goods and decided to enter into a joint venture. The two companies also ran the Brookfield and Edenderry mills in Belfast. Milltown was a very large and modern operation. They never used grassing (bleach greens), adopting a full chemical bleaching process from the very start. Their produce was every bit as good in terms of colour, consistency and strength as linen bleached by traditional methods. During WWII Milltown effectively doubled as an army laundry. Spence Bryson and Johnston Allen were producing handkerchief linens, sheets and tablecloths. Milltown was involved in joint ventures with Clendinnings the printers of Lurgan. Printing quality depended upon bleaching quality to a large degree. Due to the involvement of the Johnston family in Clendinnings much of the bleaching work was directed towards Milltown. The bleachworks also did a lot of commission work for cotton manufacturers from England. Mr Irwin was involved in securing orders for the company with these cotton producers. Mr Irwin was selling a service rather than a product. He stressed the quality of their bleaching and their ability to keep to tight deadlines as well as their keen pricing. Although these attempts to secure orders were successful, Milltown were at something of a disadvantage as they had to pay carriage both ways on all cloth shipments. Tom Irwin was promoted to the position of Production Manager - as such he was responsible for processing orders and ensuring that delivery dates were met. Although Mr Irwin worked in Milltown for 47 years the bleaching process changed little over that period. Tom did, however, notice that the amount of work coming through Milltown was contracting, especially from Johnston Allen. In the late 1970s Milltown installed a small dye works. This led to added difficulties for Mr Irwin as Production Manager. Mr Irwin does not feel that bleaching and dyeing should be carried out on the one site. Mr Irwin retired in l 983 from his one and only job! Johnston Allen closed a short time later and with the sale of the Spence Bryson group Milltown was not long in following.

HOYFM.R2000.53

National Museums NI