The old Nuneaton firm of Wood Brothers (Nuneaton) Ltd was first established in business in Broad Street, then Aston Road and later in Avenue Road. They were hosiery manufacturers and traded from 1935-1970.
We can see here the staff having their photo taken for the Coronation celebrations in 1937. The gentleman standing on the extreme right in the dark suit is Charles Wood (1900- ), founder of the business. He originally worked down the pit, but like other members of his family was mechanically minded and worked part time at Bott’s the Hosiery manufacturer in Hinckley where he repaired the machinery. The gentleman seated on the left is Harry Wood, who I think was Charles’s father. He was brought out of retirement to act as boiler man for the new venture.
The two men right at the very back are Ernest Wood on the left and Donald Hurmann, a German businessman, who was the company’s accountant and became a partner in the firm.
Among the ladies we can identify:
Jessie Cannon
Frances Jacques
Norah Wood
Mollie Wale (nee Seabrook)
Madge Jarvis
Joan Wilson
Ella Drakeley
Evelyn Wilson
Ennice Smith
Kath Morris
In the early days the women members of staff acted as standards for the sizes of ladies underwear manufactured. Frances Jacques was outsize; women’s extra, Edith Wood; women’s Jessie Cannon; and small women’s Mabel Wood. They also made men’s undergarments. In 1940 the factory was requisitioned by the government for munitions work. Much of the hosiery equipment was mothballed, some of the men were called up and the other staff took jobs at Swanns of Leicester. After the war the business was re-activated, not at Aston Road, but on the new Caldwell Estate in Avenue Road. The Aston Road site was sold to Connors, the cardboard box manufacturers. After the war the company greatly expanded into Tee Shirts, Jumpers and cardigans. At their peak they employed 460 people. Unfortunately Charles and Mabel had no children so when he came to retire in 1970 he sold the business as a going concern to Richard Roberts of Leicester.
My thanks go to Janet Swales who kindly supplied the notes and the picture.
