A secretary for 26 years at one of Westbury’s glovemaking factories, Reynolds & Kent Ltd, has recalled her time there in this potted history for the White Horse News.
Bridget Johnston says, “Reynolds and Kent Ltd, The Oak Factory, Warminster Road, Westbury, was formed after the war by a Mr Reynolds and a Mr Kent. I believe that one of them, probably Mr Kent (Kentski?) was Polish.
“Jim Mantell joined the firm while it was at Potterne. A Colonel was involved in the firm after Mr Reynolds retired. It eventually became part of the Frank Bryan Group, at that time a major force in the sports supply business. They made huge numbers of squash gloves as that sport was at its peak in the 70’s.
“The business eventually moved to Westbury on the Oak Inn site in the rooms above the inn, which were originally the old brewery premises.
“Jim was manager for many years and oversaw the growth into the retail markets of USA and Japan. In 1981 due to the sharp downturn in business because of the recession, and the high strength of the pound, Frank Bryan group sold the business to Roger Keen. Jim became a director and continued to look after the production side until he retired.
“Mr Keen decided to try and obtain more export business and travelled to Japan and Italy to exhibit at menswear exhibitions. He also visited New York and met with buyers of many of the well known stores. All these new contacts produced many healthy orders, Ralph Lauren becoming one of the largest. The company was also very successful in England, supplying Burberrys, Vivienne Westwood, Turnbull and Asser, Austin Reed and many other well known stores
“In 1990 the company was the first glove business to be awarded the Queen’s Award for Exports. The award was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire at the Oak Factory and later that year there was a visit by The Duke of Kent to have a tour of the glove making business.
“The gloves were made from cape skin, hog skin, deer skin, Mocca calf and lamb skin, all luxury leathers with linings of silk and cashmere. The majority were handsewn by skilled ladies working from home both in Westbury and other towns scattered around England.
“A group of Westbury ladies used the intricate glove making machines in the workroom at The Oak to make the white leather gloves worn by the Household Cavalry as well as the delicate Capeskin gloves that were sold all over the world. The business closed in 2010 as manufacturing in the UK became uneconomical.”
