Dursley Reliance Works

1778 - 1950's

It was in the year 1778, under the reign of 'Farmer George' - the popular name for George III - that the House of Champion was founded by Samuel Champion.

It was over 200 years ago that the Reliance Works appeared in Dursley, in a year when George Washington, Lord Byron, Napoleon Bonaparte, William Pitt, Edward Burke, Michael Faraday and Lord Nelson were launching their names into the history books.

What Dursley was like in the year 1778 must be left to conjecture. The Market Square was here , and so was the Church of St James, and it was about this time that William King, friend of Robert Raikes, founded the first Sunday School at Dursley. But it is impossible to state definitely the number of inhabitants because this was 23 years before the first English Census was taken.

Yet Dursley must have possessed labour, accommodation and other advantages to induce Samuel Champion to commence his remarkable enterprise. Perhaps Dursley enjoyed a transitory period of prosperity, perhaps at some time her fortunes took a retrograde turn. But what does it matter? Today there is no disputing the fact, Dursley is forging ahead with amazing rapidity and the Reliance Works continues to play a major part in this expansion.

Samuel Champion's lifelong motto was 'Nothing but the best', and upon this ideal the foundation of the business was laid. Subsequent proprietors, all within the same family, observed the same high ideals of the parent founder.

Certainly the carpets made at the reliance Works were the very best and there are still a number to be found in Dursley homes. The rugs were known as 'Dursley Reversibles' and their popularity was such that a flourishing export trade was established. A secret of the success was that the price ranges enabled 'Dursley Reversibles' to find their way into all sorts of establishments, from mansions to modest country cottages.

At the British Industries Fair in 1928 King George V and Queen Mary made a thorough inspection of the Dursley reversible rugs and carpets on display. The Queen was full of praise for several of the designs, describing them as beautiful and suitable for her own rooms, and requested her Equerry to take full particulars so that she might arrange for an order. Unfortunately the sequel to this true story is not known, but it could well be that Dursley reversibles are still giving service under foot in the private quarters at Buckingham Palace. These carpets were made to last.

By 1939 there were two carpet factories operated by different branches of the Champion family . . . the Reliance Works in Long Street and a factory at Boulton Lane. Both were commandeered by the military, with K. Battery RGH moving into Long Street premises and a London Territorial Unit into the Boulton Lane works.

That was the end of carpet production in Boulton Lane, but work was continued in Long Street, even during the war.

A small staff continued work on various products for military and Ministry of Food use. A number of outworkers were employed producing nets and similar products.

After the war carpet production resumed and was seemingly flourishing. Then, in the mid 1950's when the firm had full order books (enough work in fact, to keep them going for two years), and absolutely no financial problems, the proprietors decided to close the business down for ' personal reasons'. The shock news was at first disbelieved, but the work force was paid off and various 'rescue' attempts by Dursley businessmen failed. That was the end of carpet production in Dursley.

For years the carpet factory stood empty, prey to vandalism and a sad reminder of a flourishing industry. Then F. Bailey & Son Ltd appeared on the scene, seeking premises to house some of the machinery and men from the over-full printing works in the Kingshill Road. Initially it was thought that the Carpet Factory buildings (many of which were quite spacious and modern) could be utilised. However, the final decision was to clear the site and begin again with a brand new factory complex. So it was that in 1966 the Gazette's printing was transferred to the new Reliance Factory, although editorial and accounts staff remained in the Kingshill Road complex.