Hepworth’s – a true rags to riches story
THERE IS nothing like a rags to riches story. Clothing manufacturer and retailer Joseph Hepworth neatly falls into this category. Starting life as a factory lad, he later went on to become Mayor of Leeds and run dozens of retail stores, before the entire operation was taken over by Next PLC.
Born in Lindley, Huddersfield, in 1834, by the age of 10 Hepworth was working as a ‘‘ half- timer’’ in a woollen mill. He remained at that mill until he was 16, and afterwards worked at other mills in the Huddersfield district.
Although receiving little education, he attended the Lindley Mechanics’ Institute, to improve himself. This he achieved, and when 19, he was a voluntary teacher at the Institute.
A little later he became a commercial traveller, working long, tiring hours.
At 30, in 1864, he moved to Leeds – risking much, though having a strong determination to do his best. With his brother- inlaw, James Rhodes, he began in business as a woollen draper in Briggate. This lasted a year and during that time he earned only 15s ( 75p) and the money had to keep his wife, himself and their two children.
In the mid- 19th century, the ready- made clothing trade was in its infancy and Hepworth thought this was something he might develop, though he was content to begin in a small way in 1867. Employing a few assistants to work machines, he occupied a building that once stood at the top of Bishopgate, though this quickly became inadequate. Around 1885, he transferred his business to a large building in Wellington Street, employing about 500. Also, around 1878, his son Norris was taken into the company, becoming J. Hepworth & Son.
Until the 1880s, the company had been wholesale clothiers, but from this time they began to open their own retail shops in a number of different towns as well as several locations abroad. By the early 1890s, Hepworth & Son boasted some 80 premises. Enjoying considerable success, the company ceased to supply to the trade and manufactured solely for their own requirements. In 1891, factory premises in Clay Pit Lane, Providence Works, were built at a cost of £ 20,000 to the designs of H A Cheers of London.
Fronting Clay Pit Lane was a handsome facade, the entire building measuring 80 yards long, 40 yards wide, and it stood three storeys high and included a basement. Interestingly, the second storey provided space for a thousand sewing machinists along with shops for the mechanics, ready for any type of repairs to the Singer’s machines used. A dining room was provided in the basement for employees.
Joseph Hepworth’s relations with his workforce was described as ‘‘ always most cordial’’. When he began in business on his own, he stated that he would not employ any man on less than £ 1 a week, and that he would give the same wages to girls and women. He added that it was a pleasure to him when he found that a girl or a woman earned as much as 35s a week.
In 1892, the business was turned into a limited liability though three years later the factory was gutted by fire and the loss to the company was estimated at £ 80,000. Fortunately, for the firm, both the building and its contents were insured.
While about a thousand workers, mainly women, were suddenly thrown out of employment, the factory was eventually rebuilt.
On July 25, 1906 the Hepworth empire fell victim to another fire. A large six- storied building at the junction of Wellington Street and Thirsk Row made up of warehousing, belonging to Hotham & Whiting, and a Hepworth store, with a large valuable stock, was destroyed.
Despite his devotion to business, Joseph Hepworth found time to be involved in public affairs. In 1888, he became a member of the Town Council as a Liberal representative of West Hunslet. Four years later he became an Alderman and his chief work was as chairman of the Free Library Committee. Personally, as well as officially, he was involved with the Corporation’s Fine Art Gallery.
In November 1906, Joseph Hepworth was invited to become Mayor of Leeds which he accepted after several difficulties were overcome. He had ceased to reside in Leeds, living at Harrogate in the summer and spending the winter in Torquay. This obstacle was removed by Robert Armitage MP agreeing to act as Deputy Lord Mayor, relieving Hepworth of many of his duties. Additionally, Hepworth arranged to reside in Leeds during the week, going to Harrogate for the weekends.
They were not the only difficulties in the way of his acceptance of the position. It was no secret that Hepworth’s views and practice as a rigid teetotaller – he signed the pledge at the age of 14 – seemed likely at one time to suggest he would refuse becoming Mayor. Hepworth insisted all intoxicants would have to be removed from festivities before he would accept the position. Although much criticised for this action he had his way. At the conclusion of his acceptance speech, Hepworth handed to a Mr Kinder, chairman of the Education Committee, a cheque for £ 500, to be used for feeding poor children during the coming winter. It was the first of many acts of generosity that marked his year of office.
Joseph Hepworth died at his house in Harrogate on October 17, 1911. He left a widow, three sons and four daughters. His son Norris Hepworth, who was chairman and managing director of J Hepworth & Son Limited and chairman of directors of the Yorkshire Liberal Newspaper and Publishing company Limited died aged 58 in 1914. He was also chairman of the board of directors of the Leeds City Association FC ( Ltd) 19051914. All his life he had taken an enthusiastic interest in cricket, and he was a generous patron of the game. In his early days he played regularly and for some years acted as captain of the Leeds club.
Hepworth’s thrived as a national chain of men’s tailoring stores, specialising in readymade and made to measure suits for much of the 20th century. Their competitors in the same field included Montague Burton; Henry Price, The Fifty Shilling Tailor ( later John Collier); Alexandre the Tailor; Jackson the Tailor; and Horne Brothers.
In August 1973, The Yorkshire Post took as series of pictures illustrating the new ten storey Hepworth House. The company moved into the building as the first stage in a £ 2,000,000 development scheme of their headquarters in Claypit Lane. When completed, it was hoped the whole development project would provide Hepworth’s with a headquarters, production and distribution centre which would allow sufficient growth to cater for the company’s expansion for many decades.
By the early 1980s, Hepworth’s had taken over women’s retailer Kendall & Sons, giving them around 600 stores in Britain’s high streets. Then, after a series of developments, Hepworth stores were absorbed in a new chain Next PLC in 1986. Around the same time, the company headquarters were transferred from Leeds to Enderby, Leicester.
Thanks to Susan Stepan and Leeds Libraries for help with this article.
Hepworth insisted that all intoxicants would have to be removed from festivities.