1852 - 1952

"If we tried to sink the past beneath our feet,
Be sure the future would not stand."

JOHN BINNS, THE FOUNDER

John Binns, the founder of the firm, was born in 1810 at Cowling, a
small village beneath the moorland hills of the Pennines on the Yorkshire
side, two miles from the Lancashire border. Ills family were farmers and
hand-loom weavers and, during the decade before the business was
founded, had lived through the "Hungry Forties". Yet, in spite of the
daunting difficulties of those hard times, John Binns was to prove
himself deserving amongst his fellows and worthy of recognition equal to
that which Cowling men accord to more widely-known sons of the village,
who include one who became Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The mid-period of the nineteenth century was a time of great industrial
development. The use of the power loom was becoming established, in
spite of the violent opposition of the hand-loom weavers and riots in the
neighbouring towns of Colne and Skipton had been quelled by the
military. The growing use of the power loom threatened the livelihood of
the people of Cowling, and with no alternative employment available, the
outlook was serious. At this time, John Binns was a carrier as well as a
small farmer and he had contact with a wider world as he delivered the

hand-woven goods to the cloth markets at Bradford and Colne. He had
already entered public life, for amongst other duties he had undertaken,
he was now a parish overseer, a guardian of the poor, and a pre-Peelite
village constable (in modern times, a "special"). With all this, he was
a robustly religious man, being a Leader at the Bar Chapel of the
Methodist community. His friends and neighbours found in him the man
they needed to start power loom weaving and thus preserve the life of
the community at Cowling. Many urgent meetings must have been held,
for there had already been attempts and failures. John Binns was not a
rich man, but action was needed to secure the future and his friends
helped him as necessity arose.
The first requirement was a site for the proposed new mill. Richard
Bradley Wainman of Carrhead, the local squire, was approached for a
portion of land in that part of Cowling called Middleton Bottom. Here
was met the first difficulty, for Mr. Wainman refused to sell the land,
stating that he did not desire pollution of the atmosphere by smoke from
a factory chimney. Thus occurred one of the clashes between landed
proprietors and industrialists which assumed specially defined political
significance in later years. Richard Hill, owner of the Bay Horse Inn, was
next approached and he agreed to sell land at the back of the inn known
as "The Croft".Building began and,with building, borrowing.The people

lent money and those without money lent their labour. John Gawthrop
carted stones from a nearby quarry and when doubts arose about payment
he said: "Well, John, if tha cannot pay, we'll be noa worse friends i'
heaven!" John Binns paid, and by his rectitude established such a
reputation as to make him banker to the village.
Even with all this help, the money was exhausted as the building
reached the first storey. At this juncture, however, John Binns found
a partner in William Marchbank, a Bradford shopkeeper. William

Marchbank was a man of more education than his partner, an interesting
personality and a versatile man. He had opened a grocer's shop at
Cowling. It is said of him that at a later period of his life he invented and
connected a telephone from his house at Lane Ends to the house at the
other end of the row.
The mill was completed. The first building consisted of two storeys,
with boiler and beam engine in the bottom. The second floor was used
as a warehouse. At right angles to this block and completing a letter
"T" was a long two-storey building with looms on both floors. John
Binns and his partner William Marchbank, trading as Binns &
Marchbank, started with 80 looms. They sub-let part of the mill to
William Watson, who also had 80 looms, and to John Snowden who
had 50. The first loom was started in 1852 by Mrs. Elizabeth Bradley,
whose grand daughter retired from the same firm and the same occupation
in 1951! Friday was payday and, it is said, that in the evening John
Binns would sit at the mill door to pay the workers, the wages book
on his knee, a bowl of silver on his right and a bowl of copper on his left.
The firm were worsted weavers and the cloth woven was known as
"camlet". It was 33 inches wide by 57 yards long by 19½ lbs. weight.
It was sold mainly through Bradford merchants, dyed red, and finally
found its way to the Russian and Baltic armies. Even today, there is
some of this camlet cloth, the gift of John Binns, on the cushion upholstery
at Bar Methodist Chapel.
In 1865, the tenants of the mill were given notice to leave. William,

Watson went to a Cowling mill. Binns and Marchbank had bought
some looms from a William Shuttleworth of Cowling, who had tried
power loom weaving and failed. They became sole occupiers and, in 1867,
they had 260 looms running. In 1872 the partnership between John
Binns and William Marchbank was amicably dissolved. by this time,
John and Thomas Binns, the founder`s two sons, were old enough to
enter the business which then took the name of John Binns & Sons.
William Marchbank continued as a manufacturer and built Royd Mill
Shed, Cowling. In 1875 the firm had 298 looms running, and in the year

plans were made to convert the two-storey portion of the mill into a
single and larger weaving shed and also to build a new warehouse. These
alterations and extensions were done by direct labour. From this time
and onwards, the firm also "gave out work on commission" and there
are records of transactions with other mills at Cowling, Colne, Lothersdale,
Silsden and Skipton, many of whom continue in business today.

In 1880, the firm had 360 looms running, and in this year John Binns
died. He had built up a successful cloth manufacturing business employing
more operatives than any other similar undertaking at Cowling. He
had done a great deal for the development of the community, for he not
only improved the livelihood of the people, but he helped to improve
their lives. During his lifetime the village of Cowling prospered and the
inhabitants established a reputation for pride of home and thrift which
they have never since lost.

THE SECOND GENERATION

The control of the business now passed to John and Thomas
Binns, sons of the founder. A new boiler-house was built and a new engine
and boiler installed, and during this decade the number of looms was
increased to 410. The scope of the firm's activities was widened and,
in 1888, the first Manchester agent was appointed. At this period all looms
were fully employed, and many more firms were weaving on commission.
In 1890 John and Thomas Binns dissolved partnership, and the latter
built a new mill at Cowling. Two years later his brother, John Binns,
died at the early age of 49, his regime having lasted twelve years. He
had known every employee personally and was a strict disciplinarian.
It is said that the sight of his bowler hat, popping up from behind the
looms in the early morning, was highly disconcerting to those weavers
who were taking things easy. Widely known as a man of high personal
integrity and diligent application to business affairs, he was also a zealous
adherent of the Methodist cause, and he was the prime mover in the
building of the present imposing Methodist Chapel at Cowling.

THE THIRD GENERATION

In 1893, the firm became a Limited Company. The first directors
were J. P. Fielding (Chairman) of Rochdale; Mrs. H. Binns (Widow);
Everett Binns (Son). J. 1'. Fielding, a consulting engineer, was the
brother-in-law of john Binns the second. He was elected Chairman
because, at that time, Everett Binns was only 26 years old.
Everett Binns took over the active direction of the business and in
this he was ably supported by his cousin Stephen Emmott, also a grandson
of the founder. In the following years, the weaving activities of the firm
were continually broadened. Coloured cotton weaving was introduced.
Broadly speaking, the worsted side of the business was controlled by
Everett Binns, assisted by Wright Snowden, whilst the production of
cotton goods was developed by Stephen Emmott.
In 1897 plans were produced for new office and warehouse extensions.
Handsome premises were erected on Keighley Road and a public clock
was installed. On one occasion, precise winding instructions were left by
the operator for his deputy: "Wind thirty-two times towards Crosshills".
In 1898 the firm acquired the mill built by Thomas Binns known as

CRISIS AND RECOVERY

Everett Binns was succeeded by his only son John Binns, but in
1931, seventy-nine years after its beginning, the firm faced severe diffi-
culties which developed into a grave crisis. Carr Mill had been closed,
but by November further action became imperative. Meetings were now
called by the bank and John Binns, the new Chairman, resigned. Once
again the loyalty to the firm of Stephen Emmott and Wright Snowden
was demonstrated. They agreed to accept the risks of the situation and
to provide finance, upon which the bank agreed to lend support, subject
to a continuing improved position. Stephen Emmott and Wright
Snowden were appointed directors and once again a grandson of the
founder became Chairman of the Company in the person of Stephen
Emmott. His term of office ended a year later when serious illness com-
pelled him to resign. Wright Snowden succeeded him. William Stanley
Emmott and J. Raymond Emmott (sons of Stephen Emmott) and
Norman E. Snowden (son of Wright Snowden) were appointed directors.
These directors made plans and took bold decisions.
In 1933 it was agreed to turn over the Company's production wholly
to rayon weaving and to carry out a planned programme of machinery

Weaving At Shildon

Aiming High

the highest. During the long period of his loyal service he not only pre-
served but promoted harmony of working at all levels, and at all stages
of progress.
William Stanley Emmott became the new Chairman, his brother,
J. Raymond Emmott, Norman E. Snowden and Clarence Snowden
(formerly auditor) the other directors. Clarence Snowden was also
appointed Secretary. The Chairman and his brother, sons of Stephen
Emmott, are great-grandsons of John Binns the founder. It is interesting
also to note that they have connections with his first partner, William
Marchbank, who married Ann Emmott, the aunt of their grandfather
James Emmott.
Increased output continued throughout 1948, with the result that the
Company now became the largest producers and weavers of rayon
fabrics in Yorkshire. The firm continued to expand its sphere of influence
and, in 1949, acquired two rayon converting organisations which were
consolidated in the Headen Weaving Co. Ltd., and this became a
subsidiary of John Binns & Sons Ltd.
In 1950, the directors announced the issue of bonus shares, the results
of the solid work of reconstruction and expansion steadily pursued
since 1931.
In 1951, Croft Mill was completely modernised. The mill the founder
built had been enlarged and extended on three occasions in the past and
was now brought into line with the requirements for machinery respacing.
To accomplish this the shed roof was supported on a cantilever principle

The Board of Directors
(Left ot right) Norman E. Snowden, Clarence Snowden, William Stanley Emmott (Chairman and Managing Director), J. Raymond Emmott

whereby seventy-eight pillars were removed and replaced by eight.
Each loom was fitted with its own electric motor, fluorescent lighting
was installed, and arrangements were completed to generate electricity
from the Company's own power plant.
The firm of John Binns & Sons Ltd. has not merely survived a century;
the Chairman of the Company has now a wider responsibility than any
of his predecessors, and can look back on a remarkable and continuing
transformation. Success has been made possible by the sustained loyalty
of all who work at Binns', and future progress depends on the creative
ability and quality of workmanship achieved at the various mills.
The founder of John Binns & Sons found cloth manufacturing a good
and honourable trade and, after "weaving a century", the same can still
be said of his successors. Times have changed, and old John Binns would
view with incredulity the loom production of 1952. It is a far cry from
"camlets" to "crepe-de-chine", but at the end of the firm's century as
at its beginning, the same spirit of enterprise is evident, and the
Company's Head Office is still at Cowling.