The Founder YearsThe Company carries the name of the creator, Thomas Ferguson (27th April, 1820- twenty fourth February, 1900), who was created at Clare, near the community of Waringstown in Co. Down, in which his daddy John captive-raised. At that time the locality was obviously a centre of Irish Bed linen hand weaving and this activity was commonly combined with farming.
His father perished in 1831, and he was orphaned, when ever his mom died in 1836. It really is believed which the Rev. Ruben Johnston (1786-1862) of Tullylish Presbyterian Church, became the guardian of Thomas, great brother John. Thomas Fergusons guardian observed to the completing his schooling and then organized for him to be apprenticed to Brice Smyth (1796-1851) of Brookfield, Banbridge. This remarkable guy, even though having been blind coming from smallpox since a child, was a very skilful handloom weaver of fine sheets, and a noted educator of his trade. It had been said Brice Smyth was also able to examine the brown chain as they were brought into his warehouse by weavers, and in doing so he could have shaped an accurate common sense as to whether or perhaps not the cloth was correctly woven. His apprenticeship completed, Thomas Ferguson kept Brookfield at some point around 1845 and set on his personal as a handloom weaver in Banbridge. It can be believed he started business within a house in Church Sq, in the community. In 1854, by then firmly established, this individual acquired a lease for 999 numerous years of the site where the Company managed for 137 years. Our factory on this site was known as Edenderry Works.
There this individual continued with his hand weaving business, right up until in 1866 he formed a partnership together with his two brothers-in-law, James and Benjamin Dickson. Following the formation of this Organization, Dickson, Ferguson Co., the partners made a decision to build a fresh factory. Function was made its debut in 1867 on the webpage which Jones Ferguson experienced earlier bought, and the stock was furnished with power influenced looms with Jacquard machines for damask weaving.
In 1883 the two Dickson brothers retired from the organization. The Company using its present title was designed in 1884 with Thomas and his daughters, Howard and Norman, staying the first directors with another child, Thomas H. as secretary. In later years 3 grandsons from the founder entered the Company although two great-grandsons and one great-great-grandson had been all positively involved in the business. To find out more about the history of linen in Banbridge and Thomas Ferguson.
Recent times
In Dec 1988 Thomas Ferguson Co. Ltd. became a member of the Franklins Group. It was formed by simply another fabric Company located in Banbridge Franklins International Limited. Franklins is definitely the premier marker, label and embroidery professional in the UK and Ireland and was founded in 1835, in Coventry. Franklins International Ltd supplies to youth organisations, commercial corporations, charities, armed service, security and emergency providers and companies at community, national and international levels within the sports, industrial, style, career put on and marketing markets. In 1999 Franklins Group acquired Brownlow Textiles Ltd., currently known as Brownlow Bed linens. Brownlow is now a brand of Thomas Ferguson Co. Ltd. and they concentrate on household linen gifts and handkerchiefs, a large number of with a solid ethnic Irish appeal, in lower price items, mainly for the tourist market segments in Ireland in europe.
In November, 2012 John Britain came under similar ownership as Thomas Ferguson. John England (Banbridge) Limited. is a artist and flower nurseries of apparel and home fabrics, and carries a broad variety of unique off-the-shelf linens.
In January, 2015 John England (Banbridge) Ltd. signed up with Franklins Group. Now as being a sister company of Jones Ferguson both equally companies are doing work very closely jointly. John Great britain exclusively markets fabrics by the metre and adds a wide choice of unique stock fabrics intended for the fashion and apparel, curtain, upholstery, theatrical linens, film productions, etc . to the selection. It also designs unique fabric along with our customers, in order to meet their specific requirements. In 2014 the organization celebrated 160 years running a business. But at my back I usually hear Instances wingd chariot hurrying around And yonder all ahead of us lie Deserts of vast perpetuity. Andrew Miracle 1621-1678 To His Coy Mistress.