Texile printing company, known to have been active between c1795-1904, based at the Loveclough Printworks in Crawshawbooth, Rawtenstall. The company became part of the Calico Printers Association in 1899. Following a fire at the Loveclough works, the company moved to Birch Vale printworks in 1904. The company made printed calicos and muslins, as well as weave-patterned and printed silks and delaines.
Thornliebank Co Ltd was one of a number of British textile printing companies which amalgamated in 1899 to form the Calico Printers Association. The Thornliebank textile works was established by Robert Osburn in 1779. When Osburn went bankrupt in 1789, John Crum bought the business for his sons Alexander and James. The new company, Alexander & James Crum & Co, manufactured muslin and printed linens at Thornliebank. The company expanded to become one of the leading Scottish printworks, employing over 1,500 people. Alexander Crum's sons, John and Walter, took on the management of the business in 1819, changing the company name to John & Walter Crum & Co. Walter Crum had studied chemistry at Glasgow University, before continuing his studies with James Thomson, an accomplished chemist and pioneer of scientific industry based at Primrose Works in Clitheroe, Lancashire. On joining the family firm, Walter Crum represented the company's interests abroad, travelling to Syria, Turkey, France and Germany. He returned to his studies at Glasgow University in 1818, and published his first scientific paper, "Indigo", in 1823. Walter Crum later put his scientific theories into practice at Thornliebank, building a laboratory on the site and continuing his research into dyeing. His interest in the dyeing process influenced the direction of the company, with the introduction of new colours and improvements in printing techniques. Walter Crum took sole control of the company in 1858. Under his direction, the best machinery available was installed at Thornliebank, followed by improvements to water purity and flow, and improvement of workforce conditions. Walter Crum was succeded in the management of the company by his son Alexander, who took over the business on his father's death in 1867. Alexander and his brother William converted the business into a private, limited company in 1886, renaming it Thornliebank Co Ltd. The printworks continued operating until 1930, but from 1899 was part of the Calico Printers Association. From 1901, the company also had a design studio, with space for five designers, in the Calico Printers Association headquarters on Portland Street, Manchester.
Date
1795-1923
Scope and ContentNine pattern books of printed cottons, including books from the following Calico Printers Association collections: Rossendale Collection (printed cottons, English velvets, prints and delaines, printed cottons and fancies); Thornliebank Collection; DK Collection (cottons).
The Thornliebank Collection and the Rossendale Collection were groupings of bound volumes of fabric samples from each company used by the designers for reference purposes.
Extent9 volumes
Archival historyDonated by the Calico Printers' Association to the North Western Museum of Science & Industry.
Both Thornliebank Co Ltd of Glasgow, and the Rossendale Printing Co had design studios at the Calico Printers' Assocation head office. When Thornliebank Works finally closed in October 1930, the design studio in Manchester was also wound up and the pattern books transferred to the Calico Printers' Association.
Thornliebank Co Ltd was one of a number of British textile printing companies which amalgamated in 1899 to form the Calico Printers Association. The Thornliebank textile works was established by Robert Osburn in 1779. When Osburn went bankrupt in 1789, John Crum bought the business for his sons Alexander and James. The new company, Alexander & James Crum & Co, manufactured muslin and printed linens at Thornliebank. The company expanded to become one of the leading Scottish printworks, employing over 1,500 people. Alexander Crum's sons, John and Walter, took on the management of the business in 1819, changing the company name to John & Walter Crum & Co. Walter Crum had studied chemistry at Glasgow University, before continuing his studies with James Thomson, an accomplished chemist and pioneer of scientific industry based at Primrose Works in Clitheroe, Lancashire. On joining the family firm, Walter Crum represented the company's interests abroad, travelling to Syria, Turkey, France and Germany. He returned to his studies at Glasgow University in 1818, and published his first scientific paper, "Indigo", in 1823. Walter Crum later put his scientific theories into practice at Thornliebank, building a laboratory on the site and continuing his research into dyeing. His interest in the dyeing process influenced the direction of the company, with the introduction of new colours and improvements in printing techniques. Walter Crum took sole control of the company in 1858. Under his direction, the best machinery available was installed at Thornliebank, followed by improvements to water purity and flow, and improvement of workforce conditions. Walter Crum was succeded in the management of the company by his son Alexander, who took over the business on his father's death in 1867. Alexander and his brother William converted the business into a private, limited company in 1886, renaming it Thornliebank Co Ltd. The printworks continued operating until 1930, but from 1899 was part of the Calico Printers Association. From 1901, the company also had a design studio, with space for five designers, in the Calico Printers Association headquarters on Portland Street, Manchester.
The Calico Printers' Association Ltd was established in Manchester through the amalgamation of 46 textile printing companies and 13 textile merchants in 1899, in reaction to increased competition within the textile printing market and a decline in quality of goods and profit margins for manufacturers and wholesalers. The amalgamation was an attempt to preserve the tradition and standing of calico printing and to produce textiles of a high standard at reasonable prices. At the time of its inception, the company accounted for 80% of the printed cloth produced in Britain. The company's first chairman was F F Grafton, and the headquarters were located on Charlotte Street, Manchester. The company moved to more suitable premises in Mosley Street, Manchester, and in 1912 built the St James' Buildings on Oxford Street, Manchester. The company also had premises on Princess Street, Manchester, where designers from some of the individual producers represented by the Calico Printers' Association had design studios.
As well as representing manufacturers of printed cloth, the Calico Printers' Association engaged in research and development of textiles, including the development of polyethylene terephthalate in 1941, manufactured as Terylene by ICI and now known as PET.
By the 1950s, the company had expanded its operations to include spinning, weaving, merchanting, finishing, making-up, and wholesale and retail distribution of textiles, textile engineering, and the manufacture and distribution of chemicals.
The company merged with the English Sewing Cotton Company in 1968, and became part of a new organisation, English Calico Ltd.
Texile printing company, known to have been active between c1795-1904, based at the Loveclough Printworks in Crawshawbooth, Rawtenstall. The company became part of the Calico Printers Association in 1899. Following a fire at the Loveclough works, the company moved to Birch Vale printworks in 1904. The company made printed calicos and muslins, as well as weave-patterned and printed silks and delaines.
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