The New Basford Works.

Reverting to the Nottingham Branch of the business, we next reproduce the personal impressions of a visit paid to the original works at New Basford by our representative, of which the following account, with the accompanying illustrations, will provide some details of interest to readers of these reviews. Situated about three miles from the centre of the city, the premises comprise several blocks or ranges of buildings of various elevations, including the original lace factory, where steam was first employed in the manufacture of machine-made laces. For the purpose of locating the different departments visited, we shall in the course of this sketch refer to the more ancient portion of the works as the old factory, and the newer portion as the new factory.

No. 1 Designing Room, New Basford, showing Designers at work.
No. 1 Designing Room, New Basford, showing Designers at work.

Entering from the "Forest" near the handsome Higher Grade School Board buildings, we are faced by a timekeeper's office and some stabling to the left, beyond which is an old-fashioned, two-storied, ivy-clad house, once the residence of Mr. Richard Birkin, and now occupied by some of the firm's employes. We believe Mr. R. Birkin still resided here at the period of his first mayoralty. Beyond the house is a second entrance to the works from Palm Street. Quitting the main entrance, we first arrive at the old factory, a substantial three-storey building, of which the ground floor is occupied as workshops for the punching or pattern-card making department of the "Levers" or fancy lace branch of the business, next to which are the winding and threading rooms, each fitted with the requisite up-to-date machinery. From here we pass to a large and well-lighted room, in which a number of boys and girls, known as threaders and bobbin pressers, are busily engaged; while in an adjacent apartment a staff of male hands is occupied in somewhat kindred labour. Crossing the yard, on the way to No. 1 factory, we approach a tall chimney stack with a turret clock displayed in its side, and surrounded to about one-half its height by a winding stone staircase, with windows at frequent intervals. This portion of the structure is surmounted by a large circular iron cistern always containing water ready for any emergency. In this connection it may be mentioned that fire buckets and extinguishers are in evidence on the different floors of the works, and the employes are trained in fire drill.

No. 2 Designing Room, New Basford, showing Designers at work.
No. 2 Designing Room, New Basford, showing Designers at work.