Description and History of Site:-
During its approx twenty years Grove Works had three distinct roles, as a tanning and leather dressing works, as a textile mill and finally as a warehouse. It was built in 1885 to designs of the local architect Charles Sebastian Nelson as an annex to Scales and Salter's boot and shoe Works at Lidget Hill Mill. There were two main blocks, a two-storeyed building facing Cemetery Road with sheds and a warehouse behind, and, across an open yard, a four-storeyed currying block measuring 154ft by 34ft. The complex, dominated by the 108ft chimney, was hailed as 'a conspicuous landmark - testifying to the power of energy and perseverance'. The cost of the buildings alone was £10,000. There was also a 16hp engine for the main factory, a 24hp engine for the currying department and a borehole yielding a plentiful supply of water.

Within a year of Grove Works being built W.D. Scales retired, Scales & Salter was dissolved and the two families established their own businesses. Salter & Salter moved to Allan Brigg Mill in Pudsey Lowtown whilst Scales & Sons remained at Grove Works. As W.D. Scales's family consisted of six daughters it was his sons-in-law, James Stillings, Jonathan Webster and W. H. Turner who continued the business. By 1898 Scales & Sons was employing 300 workers at Grove Works. The firm also had retail shops throughout northern England.

In 1910 the Scales firm was divided, the Stillings branch (Stirlings Ltd.) moved into the newly built Stirling Works in Pudsey Chapeltown (the building survives today), whilst Jonathan Webster continued as Scales & Sons at Grove Works. Both firms faced increasing competition, particularly as South Africa, a major market, began making its own boots and shoes. Also Ireland imposed a heavy duty on imported boots and improved public transport reduced the demand for heavy-duty boots. By 1915 the Grove Works workforce had dropped to about fifty.

A damaging fire in 1925, destroying much of the building, was followed two years later by the resignation from the firm of Jonathan Webster's son-in-law, Fred Ogden. This was a severe loss since, as Liberal MP for the Pudsey Division, he had proved a popular and powerful orator on both political and religious platforms. Following his departure the firm went into voluntary liquidation, Although creditors were paid in full shareholders lost much of their capital.

Fred Ogden then bought the failed Scales firm and traded under the title Fred Ogden & Sons. He also bought a proportion of the original firm's retail shops although many of these passed into the possession of W Scales Webster who used the title 'W.S. Webster & E.L. Webster & Co'. In early 1932 Grove Works was said to be 'better employed than for a number of years'. Part of the building was let to Bradford Worsted Co, makers of plain and worsted coatings. Suit lengths at 22/6 and 30/- were available from the Works every Saturday morning. Following Fred Ogden's death Grove Works was bought by John Ben Ward, a Bradford wool merchant, a great benefactor to Pudsey and one-time mayor. Hopes that 'perhaps the works could be converted into a branch of his own business in Bradford' proved unfounded and the premises were let as units. Tenants included Eldred Emsley (commission worsted weaver and mender with 32 looms) ,Callard & Bowser (butterscotch maker), William Smith (ice-cream maker) and A. Parker & Co. Ltd. J.B. Ward's daughter Edith had married Frank Parker, son Alfred, founder of A. Parker Co. Ltd. This firm dated from 1890. In the early 20th century, as Parker & Morton, it moved from Bingley to Pudsey occupying 'room & power' at Pudsey Worsted Mill. Initially producing linings, furnishings, dress cloths and gabardines, from 1907 the firm pioneered the weaving of rayon in the district, at first using cotton warps and rayon wefts. The firm expanded into making crepes de chines, georgettes, taffetas and slipper satin, claiming to be the only firm in England making high quality dress silks to be sold almost exclusively in London. Previously such material had been imported from France. The firm's title had by then changed from Parker & Morton to A. Parker & Co. Following the death of Albert Parker in 1929 the firm became a Limited Company with nominal capital of £15,000 in £1 shares and with Albert's two sons, T.G.Parker and Frank Parker as directors.

To accommodate the specialised silk looms needed for the widening range of products the firm rented part of Grove Works and in 1938 the whole production moved there from Pudsey Worsted Mill, doubling the firm's floor space. Grove Works was re-equipped and was soon running 120 looms including the new Dobby looms. Steam power was replaced with electric and soon the firm was exporting to fifty countries worldwide.

To address the shortage of labour following the 2nd World War a School of Weaving was introduced and the firm optimistically looked forward to a three-fold increase in output. In 1947 a cine film was made by Frank Laycock and Norman Riley, showing the various processes undertaken by the firm and illustrating its extensive welfare facilities. It was followed by a promotional booklet, Par Fabrics. But rayon manufacture, in common with the wider textile trade, was facing increasing foreign competition. By 1960 the number of looms had dropped to 90, leading to the closure of the firm's manufacturing side to concentrate on merchanting. The decline continued and Grove Works was first let, then in 1970 sold to Wilkinson & Warburton of the adjoining Prospect Mill for additional warehousing. In 2002 a DVD was produced, directed by Ken Crow called 'Memories of the Mills', an edited and extended version of the 1947 film.

In 2006 Wilkinson & Warburtons moved to smaller premises and from 2006 for three years Grove Works, along with Prospect Mill, stood empty. In late 2009 both were demolished and the huge site, adjoining Queens Park playing fields, was developed with housing appropriately called “Queen's Gardens”.

Further Reading and References:-
Strong, Ruth: "Pudsey's Mills A Lost Textile Heritage (2014)". Pudsey & District Civic Society.

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Key Words :- boot shoe works

Address :- Edward Close, Pudsey, West Yorkshire, LS28 7HJ
Grid Ref :- SE 21834 33519
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.797523 , Long -1.670005
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to residential housing
Site Dates :- 1885 - 2009
Record Date :- 20 February 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Ruth Strong