Glove Stories: Mabel - A Factory Fire, Wartime & the 3 Day Week
Channel: North Devon Moving Image
Date: 2016-07-06

North Devon Moving Image spoke to Mabel Fowler who went to work as a glove maker in Bideford straight from school at the age of 14.

Mabel talks about working at W E gloves in the 1940s and how the firm moved from making leather to fabric gloves after the factory burned down. She also talks about the effect of war time on the factory and how when she worked at Sudbury's Gloves in Bideford  they took their machines home during the 3 day week.

This short film is part of North Devon Moving Image's Glove Stories project - recording stories of the glove making industry in north Devon.

Old photos courtesy of Peter Christie - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Bideford-Peter-Christie/dp/1445644843