Life at Remploy 1949 - 1980s

Collection of dad's photos showing life at the Remploy factory where he worked.

Remploy was set up under the 1944 Disabled Persons Employment Act by Ernest Bevin, who was then minister of labour, to become yet another pillar in Welfare State formed by the Atlee government in 1945.


After the Second World War, Clement Attlee's Labour government was not about to repeat the pitiful scenes 30 years earlier of limbless soldiers playing mouth-organs on the streets. 

Remploy was founded in April 1945. Its first factory opened in Bridgend, South Wales, in 1946. It made violins and furniture and many of the workers were disabled miners.
'Remploy' was an early brand name which was originally registered by the Ex-Services Employment Corporation.


Derived from 're-employ', the name was adopted by Remploy in 1946. Until then it was called the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation.


At its height Remploy had around 100 factories spread across England, Scotland and Wales, employing over 10,000 disabled workers.

The factories produced and manufactured goods and services ranging from, in the early days, violin making and book binding through to furniture making.
Remploy workers were skilled covering a wide spectrum of sectors from textiles to motor components.


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Remploy was very much part of our life. My father was a quality inspector of furniture, he was very particular! It runs in the family. 

All the furniture in our home was Remploy, very well made. I have retained some after clearing mums house,  far too much sentimental value. 

A lot of the furniture went to Government departments and public services, in fact the small set of chairs and folding table we had (still have) the chairs were used for the Police stations.

I don't know if they were for prisoners or the Police not the most comfortable! 
I intend to refurnish and shabby chic them one day.

The photos are of his friends and workmates, it was little Poland in Radcliffe, Lancashire! 

There is a river nearby and a vast majority of pictures are nearby because the Hostel where he lived from 1949- 1966  (called an Industrial Hostel) was I guess at or near the factory - not far to commute then.

I particularly like the off the cuff photos - 'Hey come and just hit here on the wall, let me take a picture of you!'

Many of the Polish Soldiers worked here, most of whom were disabled through war injuries.
I remember many of our family friends worked there with a disability of some kind. 

The Cover photo is my dad at the back, Mr Zarzecki at the front, going through their paces, for a newspaper article about Remploy (which I have but can't locate at the moment). 
I recognise the feet bases in that picture next to him, they were for rocking chairs in a nice shade of 1970's orange. I did have them for years but had to admit defeat and ditch them - shame.

Most of the old Remploy buildings have gone but the main site is still there and recognisable. I visited recently (pics at the end of this page). 

When I was very young Dad used to take me for walks near Remploy by the river Irwell and the Canal nearby.

I always remember lots of rabbits around there in the fields and we would try to count them, whilst avoiding the rabbit poo! 

Nearby is a girder railway bridge named locally as 'Monkey Bridge' over the river  which we ran across during school cross country. It used to be the railway that ran to Bolton Street Station in Bury, now it carries the Tram to Manchester.
  
To me it was terrifying, thin steel bars and rickety wooden planks to run on and you could see the murky river below! 

Funny looking at these photos I can smell 'moth balls' if they still do them? Usually at the bottom of the wardrobes to deter moths.

Click images to enlarge. 

The furniture below from my parents house. 
I remember it well.
Remploy - Click here