Desborough - Employment

Employment

In the 17th century the town developed as a spinning and weaving centre. Using local wool and flax, the town's factories produced fine cloth and linen until the mid 19th century. Silk weaving then developed in a Paddock Lane factory.

To counter exploitation by agents and employers, local men founded the Desborough Co-operative Society in 1863. Starting with local shops and then a corset and lingerie factory, the Desborough Co-op still has a department store, a bank, a supermarket, a travel agents, a ladies shoe and clothing shop and a couple of corner stores.

The former Co-op Corset Factory is now owned by Eveden Ltd making lingerie and swimwear. The site includes the original Victorian factory and, immediately opposite, Eveden's warehousing and UK factory shop.

The former Co-operative Society Sports Ground with its football field and tennis courts is now the site of a major housing development called Desbeau Park. Desbeau was the name of one of the range of lingerie made at the Corset Factory.

The Desborough Co-op was recently purchased by the larger East Midlands Co-op who have since closed the bank and the ladies shoe and clothing shop. They have also turned one of the corner shops in to a funeral directors.

The former RS Lawrence's shoe factory site on the High Street was sold by the Midland Co-operative Society to Kettering Borough Council.

To the north of the Town, on the Harborough Road, is Rigid Containers which has just undergone a £4 Million refurbishment.