The Lingfield Point Story

The finished wool factory (1951)

Bricklayers building the boiler house chimney – they later went onto encase the boilers in the background which were assembled before the boiler house building was erected

Balling and packaging process at the height of P&B's success

Flyer machines were used to wind the wool onto bobbins in the 13-acre spinning

Workers leaving for home in August 1951

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The Past

Patons & Baldwins has its roots in the very beginnings of the industrial revolution, dating back to the mid 18th century when two entrepreneurs, James Baldwin of Halifax England and John Paton of Alloa Scotland separately developed businesses working with the early inventions of Crompton’s spinning mule in the mid to late 1770s.

1920 saw the merger of these two successful businesses, creating one of the largest wool manufacturing companies in the world. Both families believed that the health and happiness of their workforce was key to the success of their businesses. They created working conditions which were unprecedented at the time. In addition the company built homes, schools and colleges and provided excellent healthcare facilities for the workforce and their families.

Construction started on the new Patons & Baldwins wool factory at Lingfield Point Darlington in August 1945. The aim was to create a flagship manufacturing base for the world famous knitting yarn company.

The 107 acre site 2 miles to the east of the town centre was ideally located next to the Stockton to Darlington railway line, providing the factory with its own railway sidings. By 1951 this revolutionary wool factory was completed at a cost of £7.5m. At over 2 million square feet this colossus was the largest wool factory in the world.

In its heyday the wool factory employed 4,000 local people and in keeping with the company’s ethos, the workforce enjoyed the most remarkable facilities. As well as the Beehive theatre there was a medical centre, football and cricket pitches, tennis courts, a bowling green and an ornamental ‘Italianate’ garden. P&B built new homes for their workforce along with the nearby Heathfield School. The benefit of their investment is still felt today.

In 1975, the downturn in demand for yarn led P&B to let a third of the site to Rothmans as its main UK cigarette manufacturing plant. Rothmans were taken over by British American Tobacco who in time relocated their manufacturing facility and closed operations at Lingfield Point at the end of 2005.

In 1991, Patons & Baldwins merged with the Coats Leisure Group of Glasgow to become Coats Crafts UK. J&P Coats is still an important occupier of space at Lingfield Point today.