JOHN RYLANDS

This segment will look into independently owned warehouses by John Rylands. The company was seriously impacted, during the severe economic depression of 1837 - 1942[1]. Therefore, the growth of the industry on average decreased by approximately fifty percent - from 7.4% to 3.3% using the consumption of raw materials as a key indicator[2]. Though the expansion of business remained John Rylands priority, the biggest progress in business John Rylands achieved in late 19th century.

Rylands protected the leasehold of Gorton Mill in 1843[3] as a sole entrepreneur. The Mills entirely belonged to John Rylands, he described it as "a new era of my existence"[4]. Additionally, he acquired 16 separate properties along the New High Street, which he turned into one far - reaching building. Since 1847, Rylands set up the fustian department for the working – class clothing trade[5].

As an independent trader John Rylands carried on his expansion and established a warehouse in the South East. To all intents and purposes it is uncommon for a North - West merchant to open a warehouse with a great distance.  D. A. Farnie explains:

"In 1849 he opened a warehouse in London itself and so gained access to the greatest single market of the home trade. Under the influence of metropolitan demand he expanded the range of the firms operations from the heavy textile trade in fustian, gingham, checks and linen into prestigious and profitable fancy trade"[6].

In 1854, John Rylands decided to disengage from Wigan Linen Works and the reason behind this is that linen production gradually transferred to Ulster adapting power - loom technology[7]. It appears that Rylands businesses were flourishing because as early as 1850 the firm was already the largest wholesale textiles merchandiser[8]. Moreover, since the successful London merchant and politician James Morrison passed away in 1857[9], John Rylands became the “leading textile merchant in the land”[10].

In 1865, in comparison to other firms such as Henry Bannerman & Sons that owned 21 departments as well as J. P. & E. Westhead the owner of 15 departments, Rylands acquired the winning amount of 33 sectors with its 4,500 employees and yearly income of £1.5 million[11].

Expansion of the businesses started to increase with the acquisition of many mills in 1864: Irwell Works, Medlock Mills and Dacca Mills. Further, the extended Gorton Mills allowed the company to increase the variety of services[12].

Furthermore, Rylands began the partnership with his nephew John R. Cross, and began the construction of Gidlow Mills in 1863 – 1865[13] and the lease of Heapey Bleach Works in 1870[14], setting the main priority of high quality production, therefore Heapey Works had earned public recognition for the “Heapey finish”[15].

Meanwhile most of the company’s products had been sold within the UK, Rylands & Sons exported 1/3 of their manufacture goods abroad[16]. Due to Britain’s economical policies of free trade, that allowed merchants to sell their goods profitably to U.S. and the colonies where “cheap cotton goods were perfectly adapted – Latin America, Africa and above all India”[17].  

Like no other Manchester firm’s[18], John Rylands began an “imperial expansion”[19] starting in the 1870’s.  The firm established offices in Paris (France) and Montreal (Canada) in 1874[20].  Marketing became the main aspect in order to secure the business abroad therefore Rylands carried out “price – cutting campaign”[21] thus making a “great push for business”[22]. Further, Rylands & Sons prosperously started overtaking markets abroad by opening their branches in Constantinople (1875), Rio (1876), Genoa (1877), Lyons, Rouen, Alexandria, Barbados, Madras (1879), and Port Elizabeth (1883). The company earned various textile awards for Cotton fabrics abroad: South African International Exhibition in 1877, Paris Exhibition in 1878 and 1889, Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition in 1887, Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne in 1889, Franco – British Exhibition in 1908, Brussels Exhibition in 1888 and 1910, Gran Premio, Turin in 1911[23].

What is more, Rylands expanded its businesses in London as he increased the number of departments “from 39 in 1875 to 42 in 1880”[24]. By 1885, Rylands & Sons annual turnover was £3 million, with a huge capital of £2 million and the amount of customers stretched out to 20,000[25]. Such enormous success had earned the reputation of “the monarchs of the cotton industry of England”[26] but most importantly John Rylands was the first regional wholesaler to be so privileged and be appointed to become Sherriff of London in 1878[27].