Images of Clothing made by N. Corah & Sons of Leicester

Sets of 35mm slides of clothing manufactured by N. Corah & Sons, mostly under their brand name St Margaret. The images are drawings taken from advertisements or catalogues. Some slides are accompanied by a photocopy of the advertisement or catalogue.

• Accounts Books, 1882 (4 slides, 1 booklet)
• Corah’s Advertisements for underwear and socks, 1920s (12 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Bathing Costumes, 1910 (6 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Bathing Costumes, 1913 (11 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Bathing Costumes, 1915 (9 slides, 1 booklet)
• Corah’s Bathing Costumes, 1929 (14 slides, 1 booklet)
• Corah’s Bathing Costumes, 1930 (21 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Bathing Costumes 1931 (17 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Blouses, 1910 (7 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Blouses, Spring 1912 (21 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Blouses, Autumn 1913 (23 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Blouses, Spring 1919 (20 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Perfect Fitting Blouses, c.1915 (29 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Football Jerseys, 1920s (6 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Football Jerseys, 1914 (21 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Golf Jerseys for women, also motor hats, 1908 (3 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Golf Jerseys and Coats for women, also motor hats, 1906-07 (9 slides, 1 booklet)
• Corah’s Jerseys for Seaside Wear, 1880s (2 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Men’s Sweaters, 1913-14 (6 slides)
• Corah’s Fleecy Wool and Cloth Hats, c.1910 (6 slides, 1 booklet)
• Corah’s Underwear, 1907 (5 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Children’s’ Blouses, 1921 (3 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Knitted Outerwear for maids and girls, 1929 (1 slide, 1 booklet)
• Corah Boys’ Suits and Girls’ Dresses, 1920s (11 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Spring Season, 1916 (28 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret Autumn Season, 1916 (21 slides, 1 booklet)
• St Margaret, Autumn 1932 (2 slides, 1 booklet)

N. Corah & Sons was founded by Nathaniel Corah, a Leicester businessman, in 1815. At first the business bought up locally produced hosiery for sale in other towns. As the business grew they turned to manufacture, moving to the famous St Margaret Works in 1865, at which point they were one of the largest hosiery manufacturers in the country and a major local employer. Their product range expanded to include clothing, and the company formed a fruitful partnership with retailer Marks and Spencers. However, the recession of the 1970s and 1980s, changing tastes and foreign competition all caused serious problems for the business and it was closed in 1989.

Available for general access. Researchers are advised to contact the Archivist for an appointment.

Transferred to the Archive from Library stock.

Catalogued by Archivist Katharine Short with assistance from Graduate Champion Sadiyah Patel, January 2016.

Images may be taken for private research purposes only.

Papers relating to N. Corah & Sons can be found at the Record Office for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and at The National Archives.

There are two histories of the company: Jopp, Keith: Corah of Leicester 1815-1965, privately printed, 1965 and Webb, C.W.: An Historical Record of N. Corah & Sons Ltd. Manufacturers of Hosiery, Underwear and Outerwear. St. Margaret's Works, Leicester. N. Corah & Sons Ltd., 1948. Both are available online at http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/myleicestershirehistory.