Yorkshire Society’s heritage plaque honour for textile company Hainsworth

HISTORIC WOOLLEN textile firm AW Hainsworth & Sons has become the first company to receive a special corporate plaque highlighting its heritage and success.

The Yorkshire Society has joined forces with plaque manufacturer MTL of Rotherham to celebrate successful businesses in the region.

Leeds-based Hainsworth, which has been manufacturing woollen textiles since 1783, was chosen because of its longevity and commitment to Yorkshire.

The seventh generation of the family-owned company continues to integrate the traditional qualities of craftsmanship with design, cutting edge innovation and product development to meet the needs of a growing and diverse global customer base.

Its fabrics are seen adorning the Queen’s Royal Guard at Buckingham Palace, gracing catwalks worldwide with their stylish elegance, enriching the furnishings of palaces and protecting emergency services from the damaging effects of fire.

For a number of years the Yorkshire Society has installed plaques to commemorate Yorkshire men and women who gave exceptional service or contributed significantly to the county and country.

Now it is installing stainless steel plaques on the buildings of companies founded and still operating in Yorkshire.

Keith Madeley, chairman of the Yorkshire Society, said the idea came after The Yorkshire Post praised the society for supporting regional businesses when it installed a plaque to celebrate Fox’s Biscuits’ 160th anniversary in 2013.

Hainsworth employs over 180 people in Farsley, Leeds. Mr Madeley said its ethos for investing in people and maintaining strong partnerships had driven its commitment to maintaining the name as a benchmark in textile manufacturing.

He added: “Textiles in Yorkshire are very dear to my heart so it makes this one particularly special.”