browseRamar Goodbye
Richard Grassick (Photographer)
Original Side Gallery exhibition text, 1992:
No one believed it could ever close. Companies came and companies went, but the Crook clothing manufacturer Ramar seemed to be a permanent feature of the local industrial landscape. Opened in 1949 by Labour minister Hugh Dalton, the factory epitomised the hopes of West Durham, for a future without coal. Hailed as ‘good employers’ by trade unions accustomed to hostile fly-by-night clothing firms, it came as a major shock in 1990 to discover that all was not well with the firm, and that they were rapidly heading into receivership with the massive unpaid debts.
Attempts were made to find an alternative buyer, but in these days of compact factory units there never seemed to be a realistic hope of saving the immense and spacious premises. The receivers duly moved in during the autumn of 1991, and closure finally came in October. Since then, a small proportion of the staff have been taken on by Astoria, set up by redundant ex-Ramar managers, and by Textillion, who have opened a unit on the same industrial estate, just a few hundred yards from the old factory.
The pictures in this exhibition were taken during the final few weeks of work at Ramar, and at the farewell party organised by the last of the staff to finish at the site. Richard Grassick is a member of the Side collective, and is working on a long term project about Wear Valley.
Note: The long term project became People of the Hills.