SOUND ARCHIVE

Living Linen Interview LL2_R00/31

Sound Recording : Magnetic Tape, Reel

Jenkins, C Wilson (Mr) (Primary maker)
Jenkins, C Wilson (Mr) (interviewee)

18/04/2000
18/04/2000

Sound Recording on Reel: Library Transcript: Transcript. Summary: Although Mr Wilson's family were not involved in the linen industry, he married Margo Wilson, whose family owned the Doagh Flax Spinning Co. They owned the mill at Doagh, Ballysillan Mill and Mallory Factory on the Castlereagh Road. Mallory was established as a rayon weaving unit. An unforeseen slump in the demand for rayon in the ?1950s, left the company without orders, and in debt due to their investment capital. There was no alternative but to go into receivership. Wilson Jenkins joined Barbours as a Trainee Manager in 194l. Barbour's insisted that their managers spent a couple of months in each department, getting to know the whole manufacturing operation, and attend the Belfast 'Tech before taking up a permanent position. Wilson attended the 'Tech one day and two nights per week. He had to pay his own fees and travelling expenses. Mr Jenkins spent time in a number of Linen Thread companies including Hayes of Seapatrick and Dunbar McMaster in Gilford. The Company placed a considerable emphasis on flax handling and grading. The training was supposed to last five years. The mill manager, Johnny Stevenson, died in 1945 and Wilson was appointed Assistant Manager in the spinning department after four years training. After a further two to three years he was made Senior Assistant Manager and given charge of the thread manufacturing section also. He ultimately became General Works and Technical Manager. This entailed analysing work methods and manufacturing efficiency. When Mr Jenkins joined Barbour's, power was derived from a steam engine. In a six-storey mill building this created a complex network of gears, shafts and drive-belts. At its height Hilden employed some 700 hands, most of whom were drawn from the immediate vicinity. The company also owned Hilden village which included 3-400 houses, a school and a playground. Retired workers and widows were permitted to remain in their homes even if no family member was employed in the mill. Only in latter years, when workers became difficult to secure, did the mills catchment areas expand significantly. Sir Milne Barbour took an active interest in the firm. Although often pre-occupied with his political career, he never failed to visit the mill on a Saturday morning, and made a point of walking around the works and talking to many of the employees. Barbours produced sewing threads, shoe threads, fishing lines and nets amongst other products. The firm also produced rot proof and flame retardant threads for more specialised purposes. Their business was hit hard by the development of synthetic fibres with more direct applications than the ubiquitous linen thread. Barbours nevertheless responded and Mr Jenkins was instrumental in developing the companies synthetic division. Barbours were constantly modernising and investing in order to keep ahead of the competition. Although part of the Linen Thread Co, Barbours bought all of their own flax and dealt with local orders and customers independently. In later years, from approximately 1970 onwards, orders and distribution were centralised in Wigan. The Company had an extensive network of overseas offices and agents. While the various constituent parts of the Linen Thread Co overlapped, Barbour's Hilden Mill was the only unit with a bleaching and dye works. The company had little problem with effluent discharge although they were known to have dyed swans black under the waterline! Mr Jenkins retired from the firm in 1976 after 35 years service.

HOYFM.R2000.69

National Museums NI