Avena History
OUR UNIQUE STORY
Crossley Carpets is born. In partnership with Robert Abbot and Francis Ellerton, Martha and John Crossley take a 20-year lease on a small mill at Dean Clough in Halifax. John oversees the worsted spinning and dyeing, Martha the shallons and plain back weaving.
John Crossley buys patent rights for printed tapestry and velvet carpets. *Picture – 150 yrs celebration sampler
By now, John Crossley & Sons is the world’s largest carpet manufacturer. The firm takes out a patent for a new steam powered loom weaving velvets and carpets. Mass production at lower-than-ever prices has begun! *Picture – Steam loom at the Great Exhibition 1851
J Crossley Ltd had built 6 mills on the Dean Clough complex, with factories at Kidderminster and warehouses in London and Manchester. The firm had also financed beautiful buildings and parks in Halifax: a nod to John’s mother’s declaration that ‘If the Lord does bless us in this place, the poor will have a taste of it’. *Picture – Alms House opened in 1863
The centenary of John Crossley & Sons, now a firm of 4,000 employees and 30 mills, warehouses, sheds and dyehouses. The business was so integral to life hereabouts that a local parody of Auld Lang Syne observed ‘John Crossley came from Luddenden one hundred years ago, but little dreamt John Crossley then of the site that you now show.’ *Picture – Aerial view of Dean Clough
Elizabeth shed was opened at Dean Clough, and here the narrow loom Wilton department is housed. *Picture – H Shed
Crossley’s new cord carpet broke all carpet launch records with sales of over 1 million yards across 34 countries in only 6 months. A new carpet was laid in the Memorial Chapel at Halifax Minister. *Picture – Regimental Insignia (Duke of Wellington’s)
Merger of John Crossley and Kidderminster-based Carpet Trades Manufacturing Company into Carpets International. *Picture – Crossley Carpets van used for the Halifax gala
Patrick Crossley retires as Chairman: Carpet International Group HQ moves to Kidderminster. *Picture – Entrance to the works
Carpet International ends production of Brussels Wilton carpet, saying it’s not viable. Redundancies and redeployment follow. In response, seven experienced workers, who all believed this niche production technique was still viable, decided to buy six of the newly redundant looms. The group had help from Lady Cholmondeley, while Lord Garnet introduced the fledgling company to his North American contacts. *Picture – H Shed at Dean Clough.
Avena Carpets was formed, with all seven investors working for the business, now based in semi-derelict rented premises at Denholme near Halifax. In just a few extraordinary weeks they rebuilt the looms and turned the premises into a working mill producing the finest Brussels Wiltons. *Picture – Avena main company shareholders. (L to R standing) Clarence Hudson, Peter Gully, Michael Oates, Bob Darragh and seated (L to R) Raynor (Ray) Tighe, Frank Suddick and Peter Lassey.
All manufacturing by Carpets International at Dean Clough ended. Rather than sell or loan the machinery, the breakers were called in and the looms were destroyed, marking a very sad end to an extremely important era. *Picture – Sir Francis (Frank) Crossley Statue
Avena Carpets quickly outgrew its Denholme premises despite various expansions. The company moved to Bankfield Mills at Haley Hill, Halifax, overlooking the Crossley factory. *Picture – Peter Lassey and the Avena Van
The workforce expanded to include creelers, bit winders, stampers and menders alongside its original weavers – all working together to produce bespoke Brussels Wiltons. A modern dye house was installed on site. *Picture – Top Left – Selwyn Mitchell | Top Mid – Michael Oates | Top Right – Anne Underwood | Middle Left – Mick Linton | Middle Top – Margaret Hemming | Middle Bottom – Norman Buckley | Middle Right – Bob Darragh | Bottom Left – Sandra Readon | Bottom Middle – Frank Suddick | Bottom Right – Beryl Rushworth and Raynor Tighe
The last of Avena’s original founding members, John Tighe, retired, and Nick Crossley, a descendant of the original Crossley’s, fully took the helm. Although the company contracted in size, demand continued for its sought-after products. *Picture – these are the founding members from left to right. Peter Gully – Deceased | Peter Lassey – Deceased | Michael Oates – Deceased | Bob Darragh – Deceased | Clarence Hudson – Deceased | Ray Tighe | (Behind) Frank Suddick – Deceased
Nick Crossley became gravely ill and, despite company efforts, it wasn’t possible to keep manufacturing viable. Sadly, Nick Crossley passed away, and the future of historic narrow-width manufacturing seemed uncertain. . *Picture – Weavers at Bankfield Mill. Featuring – David Ambler, Glen Sloan, Dick (Richard) Cox, Allan Jackson and Donald Green
Several attempts were made to reignite the company, but issues around premises and equipment ownership made the situation complex. While manufacturing continued sporadically, it wasn’t until Richard Hughes raised funding and bought the historic John Crossley design archive that Avena’s narrow-width looms were back in business. That business is where we are today: a 15-strong team based in modern premises at Southowram, just 2 miles from the company’s previous location. *Picture – The current team at Avena Carpets | From left back – Rachel Tighe, Jason Hunt, Richard Hughes, John Joyce, Ethan Bentley, Jake Ward | From left front – Dylan Branter, Alison Sheddon, Gary Charles, Michelle Newton
HISTORIC PHOTO ARCHIVE
Please see below a collection of historic photos taken over the years throughout the incredible story of Avena Carpets.
If you would like to learn more regarding our history, please contact our team.
*Aerial view of Dean Clough
Dean Clough 1911
*Elizabeth Shed
*Building of ES with Lee Mount in background
*Dean Clough United FC 1929 Johnny Meynell
*The cobbled lane running from Old Lane at Dean Clough to the bottom of Haley Hill, Boothtown.
*Dean Clough (sourced – Facebook)
*Halifax (sourced – Facebook)
*Moving beaming equipment into dye house. Peter Gully, Peter Lassey and Clarence Hudson
Wakes Week
*Founding members from left to right. Peter Gulley – Deceased | Peter Lassey – Deceased | Michael Oates – Deceased | Bob Darragh – Deceased | Clarence Hudson – Deceased | Ray Tighe | (Behind) Frank Suddick – Deceased
*Peter Lassey and the Avena Van
*Wool blending
*Crossley Carpets Van, used for the Halifax Gala
*Mick Linton and Ann – Bit winding
*Beryl Rushworth and Raynor Tighe – passing/ inspecting carpet
*Sandra Readon – Mending
*15ft Plain Wilton Loom
*Margaret (Maggie) Hemmings – Winding bobbins
*Avena main company shareholders. (L to R standing) Clarence Hudson, Peter Gully, Michael Oates, Bob Darragh and seated (L to R) Raynor (Ray) Tighe, Frank Suddick and Peter Lassey.
*Michael Oates
*Bob Darragh – Weaving
*Frank Suddick, Clarence (Clarry) Hudson, Peter Gully and Raynor (Ray) Tighe. Removing Debris from Bankfield Mills before moving in
*Press Article for the Royal Blue Carpet, laid in the Garter Throne Room at Windsor Castle.
*Piece of the Garter Throne Room carpet at Windsor Castle – now on display at the Calderdale Industrial Museum.
*Weavers at Bankfield Mill. Featuring – David Ambler, Glen Sloan, Dick (Richard) Cox, Allan Jackson and Donald Green
*Sir Francis (frank) Crossley Statue
*John Crossley & Sons plaque on a ‘Mending Table’
*Avena Carpets Showroom
*Avena Carpets stand at Harrogate Flooring Show or Decorex
*Christmas Party at The Friendly Inn at Boothtown 1985 – (1) Michael Oates | (2) Colin Stewart | (3) Kevin Merrick | (4) David Ambler | (5) Christine Fawcett | (6) Rita Lewis | (7) Frank Suddick | (8) Elaine Taylor | (9) Peter Gully | (10) Ian Thorpe | (11) Harrold Sutcliffe | (12) Samuel Ridgeway Hirst | (13) Norman Buckley | (14) Michael Thorpe | (15) Donald Moore | (16) Gary Charles | (17) Pauline Firth | (18) Sasha Batinica | (19) Shirley Quayle | (20) Heidi Naylor | (21) Eunice Oates | (22) Raynor Tighe | (23) Pat Hollond | (24) Peter Lassey | (25) Steve Ramsden
*Clary’s retirement ‘do’ at the Denholme Premises 1984 (left-right – Paul Charles, Mick Thorpe, Clary Hudson, Ann Underwood, Elaine Taylor, Rita Lewis, Pat Hollond, Colin Stewart, Norman Buckley)
*’Jacko’ (Alan Jackson) at Bankfield Mills
*The Argory Co’ Ormagh – National Trust
*Beryl Rushworth – Bankfield Mills
*Daphne Clegg
*Dye Pans at Bankfield Mills
*Elaine Taylor – Bankfield Mills
*Elaine Taylor – Jacquard Card Stamping at the Bankfield premises
*Letter from Director Roy Strong at Victoria and Albert Museum, thanking Michael Oates for presenting them with the gift of three carpet samples for the exhibition ‘The Way We Live Now’.
*Letter from C.M. kauffmann at Victoria and Albert Museum, thanking Michael Oates for lending material to the ‘The Way We Live Now, Designs for Interiors 1950 to the Present Day’.
*Looms at Bankfield Mills
*Michael Oates with Carpet for Eton College – Upper Hall 1984
*Pat Holland (left) and Linda Phillips (right) – Bankfield Mills
*Rita lewis – ‘Mending’ at Bankfield Mills
*Vinnie Binns – Bankfield Mills
*Winding at Bankfield Mills
*Rita lewis – Office at Bankfield Mills
*Susan Jackson – Bankfield Mills
*Michael Oates and Clarence (Clary) Hudson’s Retirement do at the Denholme site
*Selwyn’s Retirement party at The Brown Cow in Denholme 6th July 1984. (This day was also Gary Charles 19th Birthday.) 1. Michael Oates | 2. Selwyn Mitchell | 3. Mrs Mitchell | 4. Elaine Taylor | 5.Eunice Oates | 6. Gary Charles | 7. Kevin Merrick | 8. Clarence Hudson | 9. Rita Lewis | 10. Pat Hollond | 11. Ian Thorpe | 12. David Ambler | 13. Christine Fawcett | 14. Mark Oates | 15. Peter Gully | 16. Harrold Sutcliffe | 17. Peter Lassey | 18. *TBC | 19. Frank Suddick | 20. Colin Stewart | 21. Michael Thorpe | 22. Raynor Tighe
*Evening Courier (February 17th, 1976) – Discussing Avena Carpets going back into production
