Rock Nook mill was originally the home of Fothergill and Harvey which was founded in 1847, as a partnership between Thomas Fothergill and Alexander Harvey, the company has been producing technical textiles since 1848.
Originally, fabrics were woven from natural fibres such as cotton and the company produced the first khaki drill for servicemen's uniforms.
Rock Nook was constructed in 1886 as the company grew and expanded. By 1945, as a research unit had been established, the company was diversifying away from cotton and into glass and other synthetic fabrics.
The company was amongst the first weavers to produce fabrics from new aramid fibres and during 1972 took advantage of the technology available from the Royal Aircraft Establishment to weave carbon fibre.
The Fothergill and Harvey Group was acquired by Courtaulds in 1987 and using the technology of Courtaulds commenced production of knitted fabrics.
Once Fothergill and Harvey left the mill was taken over by Tygaflor Ltd. who in turn have been swallowed up by Saint-Gobain and moved to Rochdale.
