New Fields for Industry - an industrial handbook of North East Lancashire, c1955 - Prestige Housewares advert
A fascinating "official handbook" of the style produced usually for individual councils, this c1955 book was issued as part of the drive to attract new industries to the North East Lancashire Development Area. The area was one of a number designated under Government powers that were embodied in the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, that was intended to assist 'declining areas' as well as attempting to spread the growing 'light' industries more equitably across the UK. It allowed the Board of Trade to construct factories for lease and to make loans for the development of such facilities as industrial estates as well as improving 'basic services' such as transport, power, housing health and the reclaimation of derelict land.
The North East Lancashire area consisted of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Barrowfield, Brierfield, Padiham, Trawden, parts of the Rural District of Burnley and even across the County boundary to include Barnoldswick, Earby and Salterforth in West Yorkshire. Some large companies did indeed relocate works and plant here, including Lucas Industries, British Thomson-Houston and Platers & Stampers. The latter was best known as the manufacturers of the Prestige range of kitchen goods.
Plater & Stampers had, since 1936, been backed by the US EKCO company who thanks to EK Cole, Ecko Radio, of Southend on Sea, couldn't use the name here. They made domestic and kitchen equipment and appliances and post-war expansion saw them start to use the "Prestige" name that became a well known brand - indeed, we still have a Prestige hand wisk and the the base of one of their pressure cookers. The factories have long since gone but the brand name survives under different ownership.
New Fields for Industry - an industrial handbook of North East Lancashire, c1955 - Prestige Housewares advert
A fascinating "official handbook" of the style produced usually for individual councils, this c1955 book was issued as part of the drive to attract new industries to the North East Lancashire Development Area. The area was one of a number designated under Government powers that were embodied in the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, that was intended to assist 'declining areas' as well as attempting to spread the growing 'light' industries more equitably across the UK. It allowed the Board of Trade to construct factories for lease and to make loans for the development of such facilities as industrial estates as well as improving 'basic services' such as transport, power, housing health and the reclaimation of derelict land.
The North East Lancashire area consisted of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Barrowfield, Brierfield, Padiham, Trawden, parts of the Rural District of Burnley and even across the County boundary to include Barnoldswick, Earby and Salterforth in West Yorkshire. Some large companies did indeed relocate works and plant here, including Lucas Industries, British Thomson-Houston and Platers & Stampers. The latter was best known as the manufacturers of the Prestige range of kitchen goods.
Plater & Stampers had, since 1936, been backed by the US EKCO company who thanks to EK Cole, Ecko Radio, of Southend on Sea, couldn't use the name here. They made domestic and kitchen equipment and appliances and post-war expansion saw them start to use the "Prestige" name that became a well known brand - indeed, we still have a Prestige hand wisk and the the base of one of their pressure cookers. The factories have long since gone but the brand name survives under different ownership.