Richmond Mills

Fifteen years ago, in an upstairs room in Richmond, Mr Tim Dunn and two women commenced making knitted garments. A few weeks ago Tim retired from his business that today occupies a whole factory and employs 25. The firm he began, Richmond Mills Ltd, produced about 50 to 60 garments a week, back in 1953. Today his staff has trebled the output. About 75 per cent of the garments produced are wool, the remainder, acrylics and cotton

The knitted garment is born in the machine room where big reels of wool or acrylics are woven into intricate designs on each of the four circular machines similar to the one above. The machine at top right can also knit in the piece but is used mainly for making the trims and bands. The machines are extremely delicate in their operation and receive close attention from Colin Fraser (below) who is in charge of this department. At right, the knitted material flows from the machine ready for the next stage.