The James North Company

James North started life as a family business. It began as a chamois leather firm in Colne in 1868 but moved to Hyde in 1876. The first place they operated from in Hyde was a disused stable in Robert Street but soon expansion into the glove making industry meant they needed bigger premises and they moved to Godley Mills.



James Norths' Bottom Street works during the Hyde Flood.

Heavy flooding caused extensive damage in 1900 and 1906 - in the latter year a large part of Godley Mills was destroyed. But the firm fought back from these, several fires and the 1930s depression, to become a highly successful multi-national safety apparatus and clothing manufacturer, patenting the PVC glove in 1947.


James Norths at the Market Street Premises just before demolition.

James Norths were commissioned to make gauntlet gloves for Sir Ernest Shackleton's great Antarctic expedition.
(With thanks to the M.E.N.)

There is too much to write about James North in one post so this is just a short history. Look out for more photos in the future.

Thomas Street - (disappeared streets 2)

Thomas Street was in three sections : Mount Street to Union Street then Union Street to Beeley Street and Beeley Street to Platt Street.

A 1897 map showing where Thomas Street once stood.

This is the top section of Thomas Street, at the junction with Mount Street.

Thomas Street Working Men's Institute.(Middle section)

On the middle section stood The Working Men's Institute - Hyde was one of the first places to build a public institute to the Chartist cause .It was opened in September 1838, and sermons were preached in the morning and afternoon by the Reverend Joseph Raynor Stephens. This later became St Thomas's School. This building saw action a second time when it was used as a headquarter for 'A' Company of the 36th Cheshire Regiment of the Home Guard in the last war.

Why this building wasn't preserved is anyone's guess. I believe that there should be a sign on Union street where the Working Men's Institute once stood commemorating this building so that the Chartist connection with this part of Hyde is never forgotten. Chartist House now stands on the Mount Street - Union Street section of Thomas Street

The bottom part of Thomas street still stands, technically although it isn't road signed anymore.. It's the road leading into the multi-storey car park from Union Street. It used to run past the side of the gymnasium belonging to Hyde Lads Club. Both Club and Multi Story Car Park are now gone.