Red Brick Building

Sheepskin coats were fashionable at the time and people seemed to like them. But what really seemed to kill it off was people started wearing wax jackets and anoraks. They did go out of fashion because they were heavy and they weren’t waterproof – they got superseded with other things. Unfortunately I think that’s what finished it off really.
[Wendy M, Morlands]

Things got a bit slack, people weren’t buying sheepskin coats, it was going out of fashion. Eventually the management could see what was happening and started laying people off. There were a thousand people working here at one time, and it got dwindled down so there were only three hundred of us left.
[Roger, Morlands]

Many Hands
Photo: John Fleming
Many Hands
Photo: John Fleming

It was quite a frightening time for a lot of people. The factory closed down in stages. It was a very sad day when it all closed down.
[Rosemary, Morlands]

They made us redundant at Morlands
They said they didn't want us no more.
We gave them our best, got flung out the nest,
And now we've been thrown out the door.
Stand in the dole queue on Monday,
To sign on the dotted white line,
With the hope a job we'll find
But we do not know what kind,
And now we're out of the door.
[Wendy F, Morlands]

It was a horrible night but we all enjoyed it and that song. We still think about it now.
[Wendy F, Morlands]

Wendy Fouracres, Judith Kenniston and friends, sang the song dressed up as birds
Photo: Judith Kenniston
Wendy Fouracres, Judith Kenniston and friends, sang the song dressed up as birds
Photo: Judith Kenniston

I always remember when they did go bust, I was in Germany. I was down in the Alps and I was taken out to lunch by the customer. I explained to him what had happened and they were very, very sympathetic – I’ll always remember that.
[John, Morlands]

It sort of started to run down over there. I think it all started to close up, all the tannery bit and everything.
[Fran, Morlands and Baily’s]