EAW052678 ENGLAND (1953). Colton Street and Arthur Foister and Sons Ltd (Cherub Ltd) Factory on Charles Street, Leicester, 1953. This image was marked by Aerofilms Ltd for photo editing.

Johnson & Barnes Ltd The original business was started by John Thomas Johnson in the 1890's in a small shed in Kibworth making stockings. Eventually however, William Barnes an expert ware-houseman arrived on the scene and in 1901 the partnership of JOHNSON & BARNES was formed. A single-span building was erected in Dover Street with six or so straight-bar knitting machines manufacturing fully fashioned hose. The premises in Rutland Street, Leicester, were purchased in 1910 and these eventually became offices, showrooms and warehousing and quickly became one of the leaders in the hosiery capital of the country. The growth continued and in 1912 the partnership of Johnson & Barnes became Johnson & Barnes Ltd with a share capitol of £45,000 and factories in Nottingham, Yorkshire, Lutterworth and Kibworth Beachamp. Share capital in the Company was increased to £120,000 in 1920 and to £200,000 in 1924 in order to fund the development of the business. In 1928 JOHNSON & BARNES Ltd became a Public Company with a further increase in share capitol to £375,000. The Leicester premises comprised offices, inspection and fine mending and countering rooms, boxing and dispatch departments, showrooms and loading bays for road vehicles and ancillary services including a printing works where the labels, order books, instruction forms and general stationery and literature of the firm were produced. By the 1950's Britain's hosiery trade was beginning to be threatened and undermined by overseas competition and cut prices. The importing of cheap stockings and socks began to be a serious matter. The 'swinging 60s' brought mini-skirts and a demand for tights instead of stockings but by this time Johnson & Barnes could not afford the capitol investment required to install new machinery to cope with the manufacturing of tights, in 1970 the Leicester premises were sold. John Thomas died in 1917 at the age of 57, William Barnes died in 1932 aged 78, both are buried in Kibworth cemetery.

Ford Prefect 10 hp

Sign says... Cherub for Children Socks Underwear Slumberwear Outerwear

Charles Street Police Headquarters