Collier

A copper farthing token of Thomas Collier, 1650s-1660s. The reverse siude with the monogram 'TC'; there is a fleece in the centre of the other side.

Dates of operation: 1584(c)

Origins and history
Collier is one of the oldest names in the history of Witney blanket making. In the 16th century they were both wool and cloth merchants [1]. In an inventory of household goods made at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire for the Earl of Leicester in April 1584, an entry reads 'XXX blankets bought of Coliar of Whytney' [2]. A Robert Collier was also one of the first twelve assistants to the Company of Witney Blanket Weavers, along with Thomas Early.

A Government report of 1838 recorded that Horatio Collier then employed at least twenty weavers, Samuel Collier had ten, Thomas Collier had six and Robert Collier had four. Together, these men were the most important weavers in Witney at this time next to the Earlys [3]. They operated not as a single company as we would know it today, but rather had separate entures that would help each other out as required.

The Colliers continued to make blankets for most of the 19th century, but about 1879 William and Harry Smith (sons of William Smith, founder of W. Smith and Co.) took over James and Albert Collier's business at Crawley Mill and Corn Street [4]. This event seems to have marked the end of the Collier family's involvement in the blanket industry.

Products and operations
The Colliers are known mainly for blanket making.

Premises
Horatio and Robert Collier acquired a weaving shop on the north side of Corn Street in 1830. By the 1870s the Corn Street factory was owned by James and Albert Collier and housed thirteen spring looms and three ordinary looms; they also owned Crawley Mill where most of the preparatory and finishing processes were carried out [5]. When the business was sold on to Smith's, Corn Street closed down as a blanket factory but Crawley Mill was retained for finishing processes.

The Collier family seems to have used only handlooms, and never mechanised the weaving process.