Made in Harborough

1950s Hawaiian swimsuit

The 1950s Hawaiian-print swimsuit was made in the Symington Building, as part of R.&W.H. Symington’s Peter Pan range of swimwear, which started production in 1937. After the austerity of the Second World War, manufacturers capitalised on the growing trend for an annual summer holiday and adopted bright, cheerful colours in their designs to counter the drab and austere clothing of WWII. Hawaiian prints became very popular in 1950s America and were quickly adopted in Britain too.

In the 1940s and 1950s, swimwear was essentially a type of out-door underwear to be worn in public, and many of the techniques and fabrics used in underwear manufacture were used to make swimming costumes. The popular ruching effect at the time was patented and developed by Symington’s. The method created a stretchable garment that could fit any size and keep its shape when wet.

Incidentally, the concept of ‘dress-down Friday’, (where an organisation’s staff come dressed in casual clothes for the last day of the week) can be traced back to the Hawaiian print. In Hawaii, every Friday is ‘Aloha Friday’ and employees can wear their favourite Hawaiian-print dress or shirt with pride!

Harboro Rubber Company

In 1894 the Briggs family expanded from their boot-making shop in Leicester, taking over Blandford’s Flour Mill on St Mary’s Road in Market Harborough.

The new venture was the Harboro Rubber Company, which benefitted from its proximity to the River Welland, as water was required in the manufacturing process.

Following a successful start and participation during the First World War, the company employed 250 people by 1939. The production of synthetic rubber began during the Second World War as the materials needed to produce rubber originated in Japan, an opponent during the conflict.

Symington Foods packaging

William Symington travelled from his home in Dumfries, Scotland and settled in Market Harborough in 1827. A young businessman and inventor, he founded a company selling tea, coffee and groceries, in the streets around St Dionysius’s church.

In 1852, William invented dried pea flour that could be used for making soups and broths just by adding boiling water. It was enormously popular across the country and also during the Crimean War (1853 -1856) as soldiers had to fight and feed themselves in freezing conditions.

Explorers also recognised the benefits of Symington’s dried foods and in 1901 the company supplied pea flour to Captain Scott’s Discovery Antarctic Expedition. Scott even wrote in his diary: ‘A lot can be done with the addition of a little boiled pea meal’ One of Scott’s food stores was actually discovered fifty years later and incredibly the supplies of Symington’s pea flour was found to be edible!

Richard & Sons garment label

Richards & Sons was a successful business in Market Harborough, listed in the 1908 Kelly’s directory as ‘tailors and habit makers, 29 High Street’. Later, their premises were at 60 High Street and the Manor House. Market Harborough had many large manufacturers, such as R & W H Symington & Co Ltd and smaller companies such as Richards & Sons were successful by providing retail and services to wealthier clients.

Many firms, including Richards & Sons, took on apprentices. In the past, apprenticeships were an important way for young people to learn a craft or trade, and made sure the next generation of workers had the right skills. Georgina Maddock, of Little Bowden, became an apprentice at Richards & Sons in 1904 as a shirt maker.