The Weaving Factory

“In the American Civil War of 1861-1864 the cotton exporting Southern ports blocked by the Northern forces were causing a severe shortage of cotton. A Manchester cotton tycoon named Ledlie Clarke foresaw that a boom in demand for cotton goods would arise after the war. In order to meet this opportunity, he got together with John Steveson of Stevenson's yard to whom he was related by marriage; to build a weaving factory in Coalisland.

The choice of site was appropriate. A water supply from the river Torrent by the way of the mill race to the old spade mill already existed, the nearby canal could provide transport and railway connections were already being planned. Most important of all, the area was noted for the skilled hand-loom weavers required to operate the new power looms driven by one of the new steam engines that contributed to the Industrial Revolution.

By 1886 the factory under the name "Stevenson & Clarke" ¹ went into production. As time went on both cotton and linen goods were produced including mattress ticking, awnings, damask tablecloths and tea cloths. Unlike many other factories dyed and bleached its own yarn, wove and then "finished" its own fabrics all highly skilled and specialised work.

Around 1886 John Stevenson withdrew from the business which carried on as "L. Clarke & Sons".

The Clarkes were keen sportsmen not averse to a bit of cock fighting and with a great fondness for thoroughbred horses which were stabled in the factory grounds near where Caitlin's restaurent now stands. One weekend in September 1894 a stable boy whose job was to feed the horses with mash found that he was out of salt. He knew that salt was used in the Dyeing process but the factory was closed for the weekend. He managed to break in to the dye house and took what he thought was salt. Sadly, it was a poisonous chemical also used in the dyeing and all five horses died, their graves still marked by a stone surround in the yard.

In 1901 Mr Christopher Beatty joined the firm as works manager. When the Clarke family died out around 1922, Mr Beatty joined up with Sir Samuel Kelly (of Kelly's Yard and the coal mines) to carry on as Coalisland Weaving Company. Shortly after, Kelly pulled out of the company and Mr Beatty carried on, joined by his son George and later by his younger son Charles.

Back in the late 1930's a large new yarn store was built, being always referred to as the "New Building" (but more about that later).

By the 1960's foreigh competition began to herald the end of the Textile Industry in Northern Ireland, and in October 1976 the big engine was turned off for the last time. Some weaving production greatly reduced carried on for a time powered by an electric motor until a serious fire destroyed the production area in 1977 and another fire in 1978 saw the final closure.

At this time a group of local business men and community leaders became concerned with the lack of job opportunies for the young people of the area. These people got together to form Coalisland Development Association, buying the now-derelict factory and setting up a youth training programme. The "New Building" now became training workshops for joinery, engineering, building, craft and electrical subjects.

Then in 1995 the "Craic" theatre company was formed and by 2003 and the "New Building" provided by Coalisland and District Development Association, was being transformed yet again by highly professional and talented hands into the luxurious theatre we see now.”

¹ The initials "S & C" (Stevenson & Clarke) and the initials "L C & S" (L. Clarke & Sons) can be seen on the built-up arches in the front courtyard.