Yeovil's Virtual Museum

boyd & fooks

Glove Manufacturers of South Street

 

In 1856, Boyd and Fooks were the largest glove manufacturers in Yeovil. In 1858 they employed 1156 men and 8050 women. Despite this there is hardly any information in the records of the company. The Fooks of the company was wealthy glove manufacturer Thomas Fooks.

Their factory was located on the north side of South Street and to the east of Union Street, in the area now occupied by the car park between Tabernacle Lane and the Penn Hill Pharmacy.

Nothing further is known at this time.

 

From the Cave Collection (colourised), Courtesy of South Somerset Heritage Collection

South Street photographed from Penn Hill. The three-storey building at centre was previously the glove factory of Boyd & Fooks, but at the time of this photograph was the premises of Hill Sawtell. It was demolished and is now car parking, while the two-storey Hill Sawtell building to its right is now the Penn Hill Pharmacy. The white cottage at the right (also seen end-on in the photograph below) was demolished and is now the forecourt of Kwikfit.