1937

Lord Nuffield provided a large sum of money to assist the Government in its plan to establish new industries in distressed areas.

With the help of Alfred Polikoff a clothing factory in Ynyswen was built.

1939

6 Mar 1939

Production commenced producing clothes for men and women workers, as well as military clothing for World War II.

Just prior to WWII, Polikoff’s were employing 933 persons, mostly girls, and 700 employees lived within a radius of two miles.

July 1939

1948

Great Universal Stores acquired Polikoff’s and Burberry but kept separate trading names.

Reduction in military orders and changes in fashion redirected clothing production. Polikoff began to make polo shirts for the brand name Burberry.

Post-War

1989

The company name Polikoff was changed to Burberry and the Polikoff brand ended.

Burberry proposed to close the Treorchy factory at the end of the year. Celebrities and the GMB Union support the campaign to keep the factory open.

2006

Mar 2007

304 highly skilled workers lost their jobs as the factory closed it’s doors for the last time.