Bagley & Wright
Bagley & Wright was a spinning, doubling and weaving company based in Oldham, Lancashire, England. The business, which was active from 1867 until 1924, 'caught the wave' of the cotton-boom that existed following the end of the American Civil War in 1865 and experienced rapid growth in the United Kingdom and abroad.
| Industry | Textiles (spinning, doubling and weaving) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1867 |
| Defunct | 1924 |
| Headquarters | Oldham, Lancashire, England |
Key people | Benjamin Wright and Ralph Bagley (founders) |
| Products | Sewing cotton, fishing net twine, crochet and tatting yarn |
| Parent | Bagley, Wright & Milne |
In 1897, the business split into two with the sewing cotton operation being subsumed into the newly formed English Sewing Cotton Company (ESCC). The remainder of the Bagley & Wright business remaining independent in the form of Bagley & Wright Manufacturing. Although the Wright and Bagley families lost influence on the ESCC part of the business following a scandal over the distribution of dividends in 1902, they remained in control of Bagley and Wright Manufacturing until it was finally dissolved in 1924.
Throughout the existence of the business, the influence of the Wesleyan Church in Oldham was substantial in the formation of the friendships and partnerships that were the engines for business success.