• FEB / MAR 2023
NEW HALL FARM 35 specifically to sell the blankets . Walker ’ s made guaranteed all-wool blankets and had mills in Mirfield and Dewsbury , as well as further south in Witney . In their heyday Walker ’ s had 4 mills and employed 860 people , but eventually , at the turn of the last century , they couldn ’ t compete with foreign manufacture .
“ It ’ s only my opinion but putting woollen blankets back on beds would probably save on people ’ s heating bills right now , especially while we are going through this current energy price rise chaos .
“ It was in the 1960s that people started installing central heating for every room of their house rather than relying on a fire in the living room and kitchen . If we just went back to that and using wool to keep warm through bedding and clothing we could save a lot of money on people ’ s heating bills . It would also help reduce global warming as we wouldn ’ t be using as much gas .
Richard has bought the premises that once housed the woollen mills which today is a business park across the 26-acre site that includes a series of units housing a number of long-term tenants . He tells of Holme Bank Mills ’ decline and that of the whole industry , plus its greatest drama .
Continues on page 36
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