A man on a mobile platform lifting a box in the Pirelli factory, Carlisle, Cumbria

Photograph taken 29 October 1968 © Copyright Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection ref: JLP01/08/079730

An interior view of the new Pirelli factory, showing shelving stacked with boxes and a man on a mobile platform lifting a box. The Pirelli factory in Carlisle was built by John Laing plc in 1968. Pirelli specialised in making things from rubber: this part of the factory produced shoes, while another part produced tyres. As car ownership grew in the 1960s and 1970s, the demand for tyres increased. Pirelli manufactured new types of tyres suitable for cars produced by major international car makers, as well as tyres for motorcycles. In the 1970s, road racing became an important sport and Pirelli designed new tyres for racing cars, which were then adapted for regular cars.

Location

Cumbria Carlisle

Period

1960s (1960 - 1969)

Themes

This mill was originally known as Jumble Hole Mill. It was first mentioned in 1788. Between 1815 and 1826 it was owned by Christopher Rawden who owned several mills in the locality. On 11th August 1899 the mill was destroyed by fire. This photograph could have been taken after the fire. The mill was altered and extended during the 19th and 20th century. The 1947 Yorkshire textile Industry directory has an entry for Jumble Hole Mill:
'Cocker and Co (1929) Ltd. (bleaching, dyeing and finishing of blacks and colours; rayons; crepes; cashmeres; brocades; muslins)
Cockers closed in the 1950s, but the mill was later used for silk dyeing.

A man on a mobile platform lifting a box in the Pirelli factory, Carlisle, Cumbria

Location

Period

Themes

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