Attending the launch of 'Manufacturing Glamour in Fermanagh: The Story of Taylor Woods Hoisery and Lingerie 1946-1966':
Back Row (L to R) Sarah McHugh, Manager of Fermanagh County Museum; George Elliott, Evelyn West and Sinead Reilly, Museum Development Officer; Front Row (L to R) Jimmy Walker, Marion Maxwell and Martha Loane
A new book telling the story of the Taylor-Woods manufacturing in Fermanagh was launched by Marion Maxwell on Saturday 31 March in the Westville Hotel, Enniskillen.
The book, entitled ‘Manufacturing Glamour in Fermanagh: The Story of Taylor Woods Hosiery & Lingerie 1946 – 1966’, was compiled by Sarah McHugh, Manager of Fermanagh County Museum, with the Taylor-Woods Reminiscence Group.
Marion Maxwell arrived at the event wearing an original Taylor-Woods house coat. In her speech Marion said:
“Were we to create a time capsule to represent the history of Fermanagh in the twentieth century, it would surely have to contain a pair of Taylor-Woods nylon stockings, made in Enniskillen. We might choose a pair of Lifelons, sold in that distinctive red plastic pouch adorned with the familiar logo, a dainty ballerina encircled in a wreath of laurel leaves. And from the range of colours they were made in, we would surely choose the one named 'Fermanagh Rose'.
Still today, everyone in Fermanagh knows someone who worked in the ‘nylon factory’, but thankfully there have been enough former employees around still with the necessary determination to ensure that the Taylor-Woods story is told, their project brought to fruition thanks to the interest shown by Fermanagh County Museum and to the support given by the staff there.”
Sarah McHugh, Manager of Fermanagh County Museum welcomed everyone to the event. She said:
”This book is dedicated to all former staff at Taylor-Woods. It is not a comprehensive history of the Company with everyone involved mentioned. Rather, it is a reflection of all the memories and photographs generously donated to Fermanagh County Museum Service’s archive by former employees and the Taylor-Woods Reminiscence Group. I am sure that there are many other stories relating to Taylor-Woods still waiting to be told! I am immensely proud of the book and delighted that the Association of the Friends of Fermanagh County Museum has supported this publication.”
Nearly 200 people attended the launch at the Westville Hotel, including Martha Loane, the only surviving member of the original group of recruits who were sent to be trained at the parent factory in Ontario, Canada in 1946.
The book retails at £10.00 and is on sale at the Enniskillen Castle Museums’ gift shop.
