Page 44 - History-of-flooringLR

THE HISTORY OF

CORMAR CARPET COMPANY

A truly Great British success story, Cormar Carpets have been manufacturing carpet in the UK for more than 65 years from its mills
in Lancashire, offering a first class delivery service to retailers, wholesalers and flooring contractors throughout the UK and Ireland.
Here we explore some of the incredible history that has led them to where they are today...
1920s

Greenwood & Coope was registered in 1924, with
John Cormack (right), as Finance Director. The
company was based in Rossendale and produced
felts and bindings for the local slipper trade. John’s
son, Neville, joined the business in the early 1950’s
and started carpet manufacturing under the brand
name “Cormar Carpets”. Though the company now
trade as The Cormar Carpet Company, their parent
company is still Greenwood & Coope Ltd.

1950s

Cormar Carpets was founded in 1956 by Neville
Cormack, O.B.E. (right). One of the pioneers of tufted
carpet in the UK, he bought his first two machines
from the United States and started production at
Nunn Hills Mill in the Rossendale Valley. In 1959,
Cormar Carpets moved into the existing Brookhouse
Mill factory in Greenmount, near Bury, to provide
more space for storage and production.

1960s

Despite a major flood at Brookhouse Mill, the business
continued to expand and thrive, with new offices and
warehousing being added to the factory site. They
even had a special visit to their stand at the Earls Court
Exhibition, by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth (pictured
to the right with Neville Cormack and his wife Betty).

1970s

An extensive fire in 1970 destroyed the main
warehouse at Brookhouse Mill. Thankfully, no-one was
hurt or injured in the blaze and the following year
it was rebuilt. In 1973, Cormar purchased Holmbury
Carpets and moved the tufted machines and carpet
manufacturing to Holme Mill in Ramsbottom. Cormar
continued to expand and in 1974, Greenwood & Coope
enjoyed its 50 year anniversary.

44 The History of Flooring