SOUND ARCHIVE

Living Linen Interview LL2_R00/40 2 of 2

Sound Recording : Magnetic Tape, Reel

Milling, Hugo (Mr) (Primary maker)
Milling, Hugo (Mr) (interviewee)

01/06/2000
01/06/2000

Sound Recording on Reel: Hugh Milling & Sons. Library Transcript: Transcript. Summary: Hugo's father, Hugh, entered the linen trade via Hugh G Larmor & Co. In 1933 he set up his own firm, working as a yarn and cloth merchant in Belfast. The company has had several name changes. At one stage it was known as Milling McCance. Hugh Milling was very friendly with a James McCance of McCance McFadden (flax and yarn merchants). After Mr McCance died Mr Milling took over and merged both the companies and the names. They later reverted to Hugh Milling & Sons. Hugo joined the firm in 1950. He was sent to Belgium where he learned how to handle and grade flax. Hugo also trained in Annesborough, Woodburn Weaving in Carrickfergus, Edenderry Spinning Co, Lille, and Greenmount & Boyne. These firms were carefully chosen: Hugo's father was a Director in Annesborough, Hugh Larmor was Chairman of Edenderry and Bob Houston (a Director at Greenmount) a family friend. Hugo was paid by his father throughout this training period. The firm was initially based at 14 Linenhall Street. They later relocated to their Clarence St warehouse, Linfield Industrial Estate and finally to Somersett's building on the Dublin Road. The combination of yarn and cloth was somewhat unusual. Most merchants combined flax and yarn, or specialised in cloth. The firm dealt in cotton, rayon and blends as well as pure linen - supplying customers as far afield as the Far East. The linen side of the business contracted as demand fell away. Blended yarns became increasingly important over the same period. Many customers gave a yarn or cloth performance specification and left it up to the merchants to recommend the most suitable blend. Commission spinners were needed for these specialist yarns. Edenderry and Doagh spun most of these and were willing to produce samples for the customer's approval. While this delayed production and delivery, the blend proportions were held by the spinner should a repeat order be placed. There was a minimum order of one ton or £1,000 in value on these specialist yarns, whereas ordinary yarns could be supplied, from stock, by the bundle. Hugh Milling bought yarns from most of the major mills including Herdman's, Hurst's, Greeves, York St, Jennymount and Edenderry. Occasionally the merchants bought and sold to one another. The firm dealt in both dry and wet spun yarns, with a lea ranging from 6 to 60. The coarser counts were mostly dry spun yarns. These were used for furnishing fabrics and canvases. If requested, Milling's could supply bleached and dyed yarn although they had no such processing facilities themselves. On the cloth side they specialised in interlinings, furnishings and utility rayons. The firm often brought their own yarns to the weaving factory. This was not a full commission weaving business, as the factory bought the yarns, wove the cloth and then sold it back. Millings expected to be invited to quote for yarns to factories that they bought cloth from. The firm generally dealt with converting departments. All of their cloth was sold loom state. As with the yarn trade, Millings stocked standard cloth types. Hugo regularly visited mills and factories looking to buy and sell. As the textile trade contracted the merchants lost their trade. Millings closed in 1980. Hugo had been running Thomas Somersett & Co. In 1976 he was asked to run their cotton Gentex factory in Athlone. After the weaving shed closed in 1984, Hugo bought out the factory and reverted to the merchanting business and the old name of Hugh Milling & Sons. The business survives to this day.

HOYFM.R2000.86

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