Chillout Room>History of the Raincoat
	The history of rainwear

Preston

1874

The Mannax Directory of 1874 lists the following firms under the heading

Gutta Percha and India Rubber Manufacturers:

Hayes, Robert 197 and 198 Lancaster Road (south)

Jackson, Benj. (dealer), 144 Lancaster Road (north)

Quin, James and Co Limited Avenham St and Leyland.

1885

Barrett's Directory of Preston & the Fylde for 1885-86 lists under

Gutta Percha Manufactures:

Attwater RH & Sons 109 Church St.

Hayes, Robert, 43 Fishergate & 1 Chapel St.

Leyland Rubber Co. Ltd. 31 Avenham St, works Leyland.

There is an advertisement for Attwaters in this directory.

1907

24 Fishergate in 2005. According to Barrett's Directory of 1917, this was once the home of the London Rubber Company.

Barrett's Direcory of Preston, 1907 lists under Waterproof Garment dealers:

British Rubber Co., 28 Friargate

London Rubber Co. 24 Friargate

Palatine Rubber Co., 123 Fishergate

1917

In 1917 the Barrett General and Commercial Directory of Preston list the following under the slightly different category (it's a different Directory) of India Rubber and Gutta Percia [sic - I'm sure this ought to be Percha] Merchants:

Attwater and Sones (engine packing, asbestos. etc.), Hopwood Street mill

123 Fishergate in or around 1923 shared according to this postcard by The Palatine Rubber Company and The Borough Hotel.

Boyles Percy (waterproof & oilskin clothing), 91 Fishergate

British Rubber Co., 28 Friargate

London Rubber Co. (waterproof garments, etc.), 24 Fishergate and Guildhall street

Palatine Rubber Co., 123 Fishergate

Wade J. & Co., Fleet street

91 Fishergate today (2005)

Under Waterproof Garment Dealers the following are repeated from the list above:

Boyles Percy (waterproof & oilskin clothing), 91 Fishergate

British Rubber Co., 28 Friargate

London Rubber Co. (waterproof garments, etc.), 24 Fishergate and Guildhall street

Palatine Rubber Co., 123 Fishergate

but another firm is added:

Manchester Rubber Co., Fishergate [no number]

In the street-by-street listing there is the following:

Lowis W., tailor, agent for Burberrys waterproof specialities, 14 Cannon street. Tel. 47x

1968-69

Corner of Winckley St with Fishergate today (2005). Formerly premises of the Direct Raincoat Co.

The County Borough of Preston Directory, Blair Publications Ltd, 1968-69, offers the following lists:

Waterproof clothing manufacturers

Direct Raincoat Co (StoneDri), Ltd, 36 Fishergate

Norseman (Rainwear) Ltd., Vyking Mill, Sherborne St., Chorley

Rubber Factors

Bamber, Richard & Son Ltd., 102-4 Friargate

Rubber Manufacturers & Merchants

6 entries including

Perrite Ltd. Weldbank Rubber Mills, Chorley

Rubber Products - Manufacturers & Suppliers

Dunlop Co. Ltd, Fitzgerald St., Preston

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