HOME | C & J CLARK'S VENNLAND MINEHEAD FACTORY WORKERS 1950's |
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The Company, C & J Clark was founded in 1825 by two brothers, Cyrus and James, who came from a Quaker family in Street, Somerset. They were producing 60 lines of ready-made (rather than bespoke) footwear in 1835, including children’s shoes for the first time.
Queen Victoria visited the company’s stand at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Clarks first started here in Friday Street Minehead in Feb.1954. The main Vennland factory opened in Oct.1954 Vennland Way, off Ponsford road. |
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Photos supplied by Shirley Jones. Original Clarks workers when they first started in Friday Street Minehead in Feb.1954. These are some of the names for the people seated in the second picture: back row, left to right: Cyril Bushen, unknown, Barry Fuzzard, Ernie Davey, Ken Ware, Stan Weeks, Arnold Meads, Tony Rawle, Morris Prescott. 2nd row: Jock Gollen, Mrs Tucker, Janet Babb, Pam Gould, Mrs Floyd, Gorden Huxtable. 3rd row: George Bosley, Wendy Pope, Edna Jones, Christine Greenman, Shirley Rowe, Violet Burnett, Olive Irving, Bill Bennett. 4th row: Pat Tucker, Enid Davey, Valerie Lewis, Janet ?, Muir Andrews,Dorrien Causey Front row:unknown, Fred Ashman, Claude Gilford, Mrs Look, Rose ? unknown. |
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The opening of Clarks Vennland Factory Oct. 1954 kindly supplied by Kristy Hirons. names from left to right - unknown, Harold Strong, Tony Milton, unknown, Arthur Langdon, rest unknown. From right to left, Mr Parsons, unknown, Dennis Flagg, unknown, Sammy Jay. Front right Mr. Ridler. |