View from E showing part of NNE front of S blocks (McCall's Avenue front) of factory with part of number 44 on left

Description View from E showing part of NNE front of S blocks (McCall's Avenue front) of factory with part of number 44 on left

Date 11/8/1970

Collection Papers of Professor John R Hume, economic and industrial historian, Glasgow, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 739848

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Gray's Carpet Factory, McCall's Avenue, Ayr, South Ayrshire This shows the middle range of the factory from the north-east. The main range, with its clock-tower, can be seen in the distance. The height of the single-storeyed north-lit weaving sheds was necessary to accommodate the pattern-selection mechanisms of the power looms. Gray's made quality axminster carpets, and in common with other Scottish makers of 'traditional' carpets fell a victim of the cheap imported tufted carpets during the 1970s, Increasing affluence also meant that people no longer expected carpets to last for decades. Ayrshire was for many years renowned for its carpet weaving, originally a hand-loom trade, but from the mid-19th century increasingly mechanised. The main centre of the industry was Kilmarnock, and this Ayr factory was the only other one in the county by 1970. It was in three sections. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference H35/70/43/13

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/739848

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap