“The Weaving Shed" Old Glamis Factory known for jacquard woven tapestries along Old Glamis Road in Dundee, Scotland, UK


The founder of the firm was James Donald, a tailor from Kirkton of Lundie born in 1780. In 1829 he built Pitalpin works and Mansion House in Lochee for flax spinning and weaving, running the business with son James as Donald and Son. In the 1850s the firm went bankrupt. However, their fortunes recovered and in 1862 James junior built the James Park Factory in Albert Street, Dundee. When he retired in 1864 the firm was renamed Donald Brothers and run by sons James, David and John Donald. By 1900, according to Kelly's Directory, they were producing jute, linen and hemp fabrics primarily for industrial use. However, the firm was already suffering from a slump in the domestic jute industry. By the late 1890s the firm had began to diversify by producing plain and figured rugged linen and canvas fabrics for domestic use. One of the earliest successes was providing textile wall coverings for museums. They exported to the Continent, New Zealand, Australia and the United States, most significantly to Arts and Crafts furniture designer Gustav Stickley. Their Art fabrics were extensively used within Art galleries and the Arts & Crafts interior in Britain and America between 1896-1914. Woven fabrics were manufactured by Lockhart's of Kirkcaldy. Printed linens featured William Morris influenced designs and some were designed by Silver Studios. In 1924 a Limited Company was formed with Directors Francis Donald, Edmond Archer who managed the London office and Wallace Ellison of Frances Stevenson and Sons, Dundee. In 1924 the Glamis Road factory was acquired and they gained international recognition for their printed fabrics marketed under the trade name Old Glamis Fabrics which was founded in 1926. Best known for high quality woven linen furnishings, their range include textured weaves, Jacquard woven tapestries and prints. Many designs were produced by artists who also designed textiles such as Marion Dorn and Bernard Adeney. The firm received a Royal Warrant in 1934.


Size: 3550px × 2367px
Location: Dundee, Angus, Tayside, Scotland, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Dundee Photographics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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