Records of Pasolds Wrightwear Fabrics Limited and its predecessors W.A. Openshaw Ltd and W.A. Openshaw and Co. Ltd; 1948-1990s

The records comprise:

Minute book of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1953-1980, with loose items dated up to Sep. 1986 (MS 814/5/1);

Pensions register of W.A. Openshaw & Co/ W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1948-1964 (MS 814/5/2);

Register of members, Directors and shares of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1953-1974. Includes annual returns 1959-1964 (MS 814/5/3);

Register of members, Directors and shares of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, containing annual returns 1965-1968 (MS 814/5/4);

Register of members, Directors and shares of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1969-1978. Includes annual returns 1969-1970 (MS 814/5/5);

Private ledger of W.A. Openshaw Ltd, containing private accounts, profit and loss accounts and balance sheets, 1915-1935 (MS 814/5/6);

Nominal ledger of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1972-1984 (MS 814/5/7);

Sales ledger of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1973-1977 (MS 814/5/8);

Purchase ledger of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1973-1976 (MS 814/5/9);

Petty cash book of W.A. Openshaw & Co Ltd, 1973-1975 (MS 814/5/10);

Bundle of annual returns, directors' reports and accounts, and share certificates and papers, 1959-1999 (MS 814/5/11/1-41).

The firm of W.A. Openshaw Ltd dates back at least to 1915. By 1953 a company called Bolton Waste Cotton Co. Ltd, trading as W.A. Openshaw & Co., was carrying out a cotton waste spinning business at Hill Fold Mills, Astley Bridge, Bolton. The company was registered no. 523506 at Companies House.

In 1953 the business was bought out by a new company, W.A. Openshaw & Co. Ltd, which was a subsidiary of the Barber Textile Corporation Ltd. In 1972 the Barber Textile Corporation Ltd became part of the Spirella Group Ltd, later Vantona Group Ltd and Vantona Viyella plc.

The Hill Fold Mills were closed in 1975 and the company ceased trading. In 1986 Vantona Viyella plc merged with Coats Patons plc (owners of Pasolds Ltd) to form Coats Viyella plc. The dormant company became a subsidiary of Pasolds Ltd and was re-named Pasolds Wrightwear Fabrics Ltd.

The records have been arranged according to record type.

The collection is accessible to all registered readers with advance notice and agreement and subject to the conditions of the Data Protection Act.

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection and copyright on the description belongs to The University of Nottingham.

The material was acquired in July 2007 from the ultimate parent company Coats plc, and is part of a larger series of records from Pasolds Limited and its subsidiary companies.