Booth & Moores Hat Factory, Hyde Rd, Denton
This company of hat manufacturers was founded in 1862 under the style of Booth, Moores and Marlor, the three proprietors being Alfred Booth, Thomas Moores and Samuel Marlor, respectively.
On the 23 Apr 1875 this partnership was dissolved when Samuel Marlor stepped down as a partner. The business then continued as Booth & Moores, the partners being Alfred Booth and Thomas Moores.
Similarly, Alfred Booth stepped down as a partner on the 4 Dec 1882 but Thomas Moores continued on his own account under the same style.
A large factory was erected on the south side of Hyde Rd and the façade was decorated with rectangular terracotta plaques and each pilaster was surmounted by a terracotta finial in the form of an urn. When this was demolished in 2002/3, to make way for the car park of the proposed Morrisons Supermarket, some features were saved so that they could be incorporated into the supermarket that was built on Saxon St.
By the 1920s and 1930s market conditions in the hatting industry were in decline, principally caused by informality in dress produced by the rise of the motor car coupled with an increase in chain retailers and consequent failure of specialist hat shops. As a result of this Booth & Moores closed in the 1930s.
Later the premises were occupied by Denton Sheet Metal & Engineering Co Ltd and then by Davies Brothers (Denton) Ltd, who referred to the premises as Beaver Works. They were specialists in light and heavy steel fabrications, light structural work, argon arc and electric welding. Another company known to have occupied the premises was L C G Components Ltd, whose registered office was in Brazennose St, Manchester. This company specialised in sheet metal work, complete components and detailed assemblies. A petition to compulsorily wind up this company was presented on the 18 Jul 1966 and it was struck off the Register of Companies in Jun 1972.
Three styles of terracotta plaques were incorporated into the external walls of the original hat factory. The first two plaques showed the Denton Coat of Arms with the crest of one (top left) depicted a beaver while the crest of the other (bottom left) depicted a bowler hat. These were built into the external walls of the supermarket. The third plaque depicted the Lancashire Rose and these were incorporated inside the supermarket by the check-out area.