William Walker Hosiery Factory
For many years, a large factory stood on the corner of Station Street and what was then Factory Road but is now a continuation of Portland Street. At the time of the Second World War, this was a hosiery factory, William Walker and Sons. Walkers were listed as hosiery manufacturers in the list of shops in Station Street that I have from 1942. They were also listed in the 1928 and 1941 Kelly’s Directories trading as “Reklaw”. They appear on the 1912 list compiled by Barbara Parkin. The factory is listed as Walkers Factory Stockings on Jacques’ List of Station Street retailers circa 1920-1940.
Spring Factory
The factory was later taken over by Kirkby Seating Company who specialised in making sprung upholstered car seats and this explains why locally it was known as the “Spring Factory“.
Opening of the Spring Factory
I am not entirely sure when the Spring Factory opened at this location.
In a discussion on the Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group, Joan Ware noted that her sister had been told that the “Walkers Spring Factory” made seats for aeroplanes during the Second World War. However, I wonder if it was still Walker’s at this point? Joan also noted that her sister recalled that the factory was used, in the 1950s, to store fruit and vegetables imported from the Commonwealth. Apparently, Joan’s sister saw her first banana here “going over the Pond Hole past Walkers building the doors were open“. She could not recall how long it was a warehouse.
Arthur Timms, in the book “Kirkby: A People’s History” by Kirkby Volunteer Centre (p55) notes that he was working at the Spring Factory in 1948. The My Trail website notes that this factory operated into the 1960s. The website notes that, in later years. the factory belonged to the Lace Webb Seating Company.
The Spring Factory Closed at This Location
I am also not entirely sure when the Spring Factory closed at this location although, as noted above, according to the My Trail website, this was in the mid-sixties. When it did close, the business re-located to a factory on Queen’s Street off Lindley’s Lane. It appears to have closed there in 1967.
I am not sure which factory closure Michael Richardson was referring to when he noted that “when the Spring factory closed, a mass of springs were dumped into a sand quarry that was between the Tesco on Low Moor road and the existing football ground at the rear of Marlborough Rd. The quarry was subsequently filled in and is now a small industrial site. It was a lovely sand quarry, with a pond at the bottom and I can remember sand martins nesting in the quarry.“
Managing and Working for the Spring Factory
In a comment on Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group, Carol Harrison noted that her father, Eric Harrison, had been manager of the spring factory for several years including in 1961. She did not recall which of the two factory locations he managed.
Arthur Timms recalled his experiences of working at the Spring Factory in the book “Kirkby: A People’s History” by Kirkby Volunteer Centre (p55). He notes that this was in 1948. He was employed assembling the springs and framework in car seats. For this work, he was paid per seat, 5d for a front seat and 9d for a back seat. He noted that, as a young lad, he did not take work that seriously so only made about 24 seats per day. However, he recalled a married man, with a family to support, completing about 40 seats per day. He also noted that most of the employees were women.
Built in the 1860s?
Based on an article at the time of its demolition, the date the factory was built was not known but it was thought to be the 1860s as the land for it had been purchased in 1853.
The first of the two photographs above appears in the book “Kirkby & District from Old Photographs” by Frank Ashley, Sylvia Sinfield and Gerald Lee (p104) and, with a description of working there, in the Kirkby Volunteer Centre book “Kirkby A People’s History“ (p55).
Other Photographs
Recollecting William Walker and His Factory
The factory is described by Mark Ashfield in “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey” (p23). He noted the saying “get trained at Walker’s…you could get a job anywhere in the hosiery trade.”
Edith Searson, in her book(let) “I Also Remember” recalled both the factory and the owner. Of the factory, she said “it was a dark red-brick building and looked somewhat awesome; it had a large chimney, and on the building the words ‘William Walker and Sons Ltd., Hosiers‘ were painted. She recalled that William Walker lived in Nottingham and he came each day by train arriving at 9.05am. However, the article above notes that, at some point, William Walker lived next-door to the factory at 1 Station Street.
William Walker
I have found it more difficult than I expected to find biographical details of William Walker. This is partly because the name is common and because he may have moved around a bit, e.g. between Kirkby and Nottingham. Based on the 1891 census, his parents were Sam and Amelia Walker. His father was also a hosiery manufacturer. During World War 1, William Walker received an exemption from military service from Kirkby Tribunal.
Dental Workshop?
I am grateful to Richard Cooper for commenting on Facebook that he thought Hubert White had a dental workshop here in the fifties and early sixties before re-locating to 21 Station Street. Hubert and his family lived at 14 Station Street.
Kirkby Motor Services and Lindley’s Autocentre
Until at least 2022, this was where Kirkby Motor Services offered MOTs, services, tyres and repairs. Based on Google, it had been there since at least 2008. However, apparently in January 2022, it was taken over by Lindley’s Autocentres. It was re-branded as Lindley’s sometime between 2023 and 2024.
Some Confusion
In trying to look into the history of this business, I can confess to being confused at times. This is because there have been a number of car-related businesses in this area and they have operated at a number of different sites. Those include the current KMS site, where Swit Swoo is now, the old station buildings and on the corner of Urban Road and Lindley’s Lane. I have tried, where possible, to describe businesses and activities in the correct location.
A Car Park?
There may have been a period, perhaps in the 1970s, after the factory was demolished, when the area was used as a car park.
Kirkby Car Sales
I am not exactly sure if this refers to the same place but, in the 1969 directory, there was an advert for Kirkby Car Sales on Station Street.
Back to the Car Park
If Kirkby Car Sales was here, does that mean that any use of the site as a car park was before 1969? Or, could it mean that what appears to be a car park on the aerial photo was actually a site for car sales?
Started Across the Road
According to Frank Towns, KMS was previously known as Alan Holmes and this business “started over the road in the old railway crossing house“. This confused me a bit as, initially, I thought “over the road” referred to the other side of Station Street. However, I now think he may have been referring to over Portland Street/Factory Road and that the “old railway crossing house” might be a reference to the old station building.
A Car Sales Business
Edith Searson in her book(let) “I Also Remember”, written in the 1980s, notes that there was a car sales business on the site of the former Walker’s factory. She says, “the factory was demolished a number of years ago, and at the present time there is a car sales business with a good sized car park“.
Swit Swoo
After the garage, there is a shop, Swit Swoo fashion boutique. This appears to be in a fairly modern building, perhaps confirmed by this being numbered as 1B Station Street. Swit Swoo opened in 2019. I am grateful to Christine Evans for pointing out that the building was not new then. It had been part of the motor services building.
Recommendations
Soon after it opened, Helen Marriott commented on the Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group that she had called in. She reported that, “the customer service was excellent and really great clothes, at a good price“. Christina Rowe posted on Annesley OC Heritage Extra Facebook page. She said that Swit Swoo was a lovely ladies’ shop with clothes, shoes, handbags etc. at very reasonable prices.
In a post in May 2024, Christine Evans commented, “if you have never been in you’re missing out big time. Jody Wyld the owner will be celebrating the shop’s 5th birthday on the 8th of June. The boutique is full of beautiful ladies clothes from sizes 10 up to 22/24 and also sells some stunning costume jewellery and handbags, purses and a few items of footwear. She does a weekly live on a Friday at 3.30pm which can be viewed from her Facebook page. She has vouchers that can be purchased as gifts too so ideal if you’re stuck for ideas on what to buy someone. Check out her Facebook page for more photos of the latest stock and opening times etc.” The post generated many comments expressing similar views.
Kirkby Car Spares and Accessories
Prior to the opening of Swit Swoo, Kirkby Car Spares and Accessories were based here. According to Frank Towns, this was run by “a guy called Mick” for many years. Alwyn Bowskill recalled buying car spares here. Alan Burgess recalled going in the car parts place here. Kate Smith reckoned she could remember going in their with her father. Christine Evans noted that it was “rammed to the rafters with everything you could want for repairs“.
