Spence Bryson

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Spence Bryson
IndustryTextiles
Founded1885; 137 years ago (1885)
FoundersJohn Bell Bryson and Thomas Henry Spence
Headquarters
Portadown
,
Northern Ireland

Spence Bryson is a Northern Irish textile company which manufactures and distributes linen and linen products.

History[]

Spence Bryson was founded as Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd in 1885 by John Bell Bryson and Thomas Henry Spence in Portadown, County Armagh.[1] John Bell Bryson (c.1859-1923) was born in County Down,[2] and apprenticed in the linen trade to Robert Glass of Portadown, while Thomas Henry Spence (c.1854-1937) was born in County Armagh,[3] and was apprenticed to Hamilton Robb in Portadown.[4]

By the 1950s, Spence Bryson was the largest of the 11 weaving companies based in the Portadown area and was based on Meadow Lane.[5] The company was bought by Ulster Weavers Ltd in 1990.[6]

The company is known for its manufacture of a range of linen fabrics, from light linen to suit fabric,[6] and for its self-sufficiency, sourcing local wood for their looms and locally cast iron.[5] In the 20th century, the sales division was organised into 3 sections: embroidery cloth, handkerchiefs, and suiting.[1] In the 1950s, Spence Bryson worked with fashion designer Sybil Connolly to develop her signature pleated linen from handkerchief linen.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Living Linen Interview". National Museums NI. 2000. Retrieved 2022-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1911". www.census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  3. ^ "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1911". www.census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  4. ^ Rankin, Kathleen (2007). The linen houses of the Bann Valley : the story of their families. Northern Ireland: Ulster Historical Foundation. ISBN 1-903688-70-1. OCLC 191759866.
  5. ^ a b "Factory Life in Portadown". www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  6. ^ a b "Spence Bryson Linens". Irish Linen Guild. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  7. ^ "Pleats now and then". KDD & Co. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
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