In the immediate post war years the whole of Britain, economically, was on its knees. We were not only bankrupt but heavily in debt. The new Labour government was totally preoccupied with renewing the national economic and social infrastructure and individual cases had to fend for themselves. It's important to remember that like the inter war years, everything that happened in Barlick to improve prospects was a direct result of actions taken by individuals, there was no 'rescue package'.
In 1945 things looked bleak, as the occupants of the 'shadow factories', mainly the Rover Company because Rolls Royce made the decision to stay in Barlick, moved out back to their core locations in the Midlands, jobs were lost and the mills they had used emptied. The old core industry of textiles attempted a recovery but found they were in the same trading environment that had existed in the 1930s when mills started closing because of bad trade. The old days when the mills wove before breakfast for the home market and the rest of the day for export had gone, never to return. Their plant and machinery was in bad condition due to disuse and lack of maintenance. Many of their former employees had tasted modern wages and conditions in the war economy and were not going to return to an out-dated industry with low pay levels. It was a bleak outlook.
Then there was a quite miraculous recovery. As the mills that had been taken over by the Ministry of Aircraft Production were returned to the owners after long negotiations about payment for 'betterment' by being modernised, Barlick and Earby were suddenly attractive locations for new industries. There were modernised premises at low rents and a workforce that had been re-skilled while working in the aero industry. Briefly, in Earby, Armoride's moved into Grove Mill, Bristol Tractors, Forecast Foundry and Kelbrook Metal Products took over Sough Bridge mill and in Barlick Rolls took over the major part of Wellhouse Mill. Calf Hall Shed was eventually taken over by Blyn and Blyn's for woollen textiles after an earlier venture failed. An ex-RAF man called Tom Clarke started a backyard business making wire frames for mattresses in Skipton but soon moved into Clough as he expanded.
Luckily we have good evidence for what happened at Butts Mill from the records of the Calf Hall Shed Company. There seemed to be an appetite for start ups, small entrepreneurs with a Big Idea and some capital. Butts became the home to several small firms ranging from a second-hand furniture dealer, an ice cream manufacturer, to a small firm making caravans and others. Eventually the whole of Butts was taken over by Carlson's and they are still there. This resurgence of activity was reflected in the improved performance of retailers, small service providers and the professions in the town.
By 1960 Barlick and Earby were thriving, there was almost full employment and better wages and conditions. We had successfully made the transition from being failed textile towns to a modern mixed economy.
Armoride's new factory in School Lane, Earby.
