In 1870, John Morland (1838–1934) bought a tannery in Glastonbury, particularly attracted by the water (essential to the tanning process), which he described as being "of unusual purity".[2]
John Morland was chairman from the day he founded the company until he died in 1934 at the age of 96.[3] A devout Christian, he was a highly regarded speaker at Quaker meetings, both in Great Britain and abroad.[4][5] He was four times the mayor of Glastonbury and a member of the Liberal Party. Both his sons and grandsons went on to become directors of the company.
Morlands produced a range of products from sheepskin including, from the early 20th century, coats, rugs, and foot muffs for Motor car drivers. In 1928 the company made a profit of £13,867.[6] In 1940, Morlands made flying jackets and boots for the RAF pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain, although this caused some ethical discussions within the Quaker family.[7]
The company was a family business for over a hundred years before running into difficulties in the recession of the 1980s. The large tannery closed and the manufacturing process was moved to a smaller building.[8][9] Boots and gloves are still available.[10] It was part of the G.R. Holdings company in the 1990s and 2000s[11] before being taken over by Whitworth CS Holdings in 2019.
The 31-acre (130,000 m2) site of the old Morlands factory in Glastonbury was scheduled for demolition and redevelopment into a new light industrial park,[12][13] although there have been some protests that the buildings should be reused rather than being demolished. As part of the redevelopment of the site, a project has been established by the Glastonbury Community Development Trust to provide support for local unemployed people applying for employment, starting in self-employment and accessing work-related training.[14]
