Blackwood, Morton & Sons Ltd (carpet manufacturers : 1908-2005 : Kilmarnock, Scotland)

Blackwood Morton & Sons was a company that comprised of two Kilmarnock families that had a long tradition of weaving. The Blackwoods were cotton, worsted, and wool-spinners as early as the 1750s. By 1819 Robert Blackwood was a woollen manufacturer in the Kilmarnock area. The Kilmarnock and Riccarton Post Office Directory for 1846-47 listed Robert Blackwood as a wool-spinner and manufacturer in Wellington Street. Robert's son James Blackwood was listed as a wool-spinner and manufacturer in Brougham Place. There were also two wool-spinning companies listed in the directory. These were: Blackwood R & J, Manford Lane; and Blackwood, Wilson & Co located at Back Causey. In 1860 James Blackwood took his brother Robert Blackwood Junior into business with him forming Blackwood Brothers. In 1880 the company acquired Burnside Works and produced Scotch or Kidder Carpets made of both cotton and wool.

By 1882 the brothers split from each other to form their own companies. James Blackwood took his son Henry D. Blackwood into business at the Townhead Mills factory. This company was named Blackwood Brothers & Co. and continued to manufacture carpets until 1909. Robert Blackwood Junior also took his sons, William Ford and James Blackwood into partnership at the Burnside Works site. They continued to manufacture Scotch or Kidder Carpets of all qualities under the name of Robert Blackwood & Sons. Robert passed away in 1895 and his son James retired from the company in 1900. This left William Ford Blackwood as the sole partner. It was William who joined with Gavin (Guy) Morton to form Blackwood Morton & Sons in 1908.

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