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Women in Wolverhampton's History Some examples of women's employers: Courtaulds In August 1916 a new employer came on the scene - Courtaulds. The company bought land in Dunstall and Whitmore Reans with the purpose of building a new factory for the manufacture of yarn. The Wolverhampton plant was built in the mid 1920s, though the recession of 1926 meant that full production on the site was delayed until 1927, when it was decided to open a second plant. The reasons for this were "an expectance of brisk demand", "the absence of unforeseen circumstances" and "the apparently unlimited labour supply in Wolverhampton".
Courtaulds Factory under construction in 1925 (L6/COU/E/1) The second plant was complete by 1929, but was not fully operational until 1932. Courtaulds employed a large number of women. The conditions inside the newly built factory were pleasant and a skilled female worker could earn good wages. In coming to Wolverhampton the company had said they were attracted by "a supply of the right sort of female labour". By that they meant young and single. The wages in 1926 started at 9s 11d for a 60-hour week that included a Saturday morning. Every six months there was an increase of two shillings a week. When a female worker married they were expected to leave. If the company found out that a female worker was married they were instantly dismissed. The company had a sports and social section that ran ladies' hockey and netball teams. There was also a ladies' cycling club that had ninety members. The sports and social section also had its own magazine called The Rayoneer, which carried a ladies page with beauty tips and fashion advice.
Extract from The Rayoneer, April 1933, page 234 (L67746) The
ladies' page in 1932 even ran a competition where it asked its female
readers for what they saw in their "ideal man". The winning
entry is printed below:
Extract from Ladies Page, The Rayoneer, September 1932, page 64 (L67746)
Courtaulds Carnival Queen 1935, Miss G Waterfall (V4/COU) Miss Waterfall was crowned carnival queen at the Annual Sports Day and Flower Show, 27th July 1935. It was thought she would be " an example and inspiration in the works during the year." During the Second World War Courtaulds were involved with war production, making armoured cars for Guy Motors Ltd. In 1970 the factory, which employed more than 1,300 workers, closed and the buildings were demolished two years later. Guy Motors Ltd During World War II many women volunteered to work for Guy Motors Ltd:
Extracts from The Family Goes to War produced by Guy Motors in the 1940s (L6292p). Note Mrs Nicklin (above) worked a 55 hour week, brought up 8 children, and 'on Sundays cooked, washed, cleaned and mended for her husband and family!' Another factory in the town that employed large numbers of women included Efanden.
Press Shop, Efandem, Wolverhampton, 1922(L6/EFA/I/1) The
Efandem was situated in Park Lane and manufactured electric batteries.
The company later became part of Ever Ready Co Ltd.
Battery Shop, Efandem, Wolverhampton, 1922 (L6/EFA/I/2) Fischer Bearings Co. also used a large number of women workers. Located in the ex-Sunbeam Motor Works in Villiers Street, it manufactured bearings for mechanical purposes.
Women assembling and viewing miniature ball bearings in dust-free cabinets at Fischer Bearings Ltd, Wolverhampton, c.1959 (L6/FIS/I/1)
© Copyright. Wolverhampton City Council, 2002
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