Caird (Dundee) Ltd, Jute Manufacturers

• Reference:GB 254 MS 60
• Dates of Creation:1834-1997
• Name of Creator:
  Caird (Dundee) Ltd
• Physical Description:
  0.37 linear metres

• Scope and Content

  Letters books. 1910-1920, Financial papers. 1915-1957, Engineering records. 1917, Papers of James Key Caird. 1837-1916, Publications. 1913-1997, Photographs. c.1930-1950, Maps and plans. 1834-1997

• Administrative / Biographical History

  Edward Caird, founder of the Caird business, was born in Montrose in 1806 and began the manufacture of cloth in a 12-loom shed at Ashton Works, Dundee, in 1832. He was one of the first to weave cloth composed of jute warp and weft and, as the use of the new textile became popular, his business expanded. Edward Caird died in 1889, although his son, James Key Caird, had already taken over the running of Ashton Works in 1870. He was to direct the fortunes of the firm of Cairds for the next forty years. Under James Caird's management the Ashton Works was re-built and equipped with the most modern plant. In 1905, he took over the Craigie Works, which had until then supplied much of his yarn and was now to supplement his production of cloth. Two years later Caird acquired property adjoining the Ashton Works to permit further expansion, and in 1908 perhaps the most modern jute spinning-mill of the time was started. Ashton and Craigie Works were among the largest and best-equipped jute works in Dundee, employing 2,000 hands. The company was the first to introduce a War bonus, an example soon followed by other spinners and manufacturers in the city and in 1916, Caird's mills contained 14,000 spindles and 1,000 looms. By the press and middle-classes, Caird was considered a good employer who "aimed at making his establishment not only efficient from a working point of view, but also a model of comfort for the workers" (Dundee Advertiser, March 1916). He was also a noted benefactor and between 1895 and 1914 gave £240,940 in donations to institutions and organisations within and outside Dundee. James Key Caird was awarded a baronetcy in 1913 and died in 1916.

• Arrangement

  Usually chronological within series.

• Access Information

  Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

• Acquisition Information

  The records were deposited by Caird (Dundee) Ltd in 1978

• Note

  Edward Caird, founder of the Caird business, was born in Montrose in 1806 and began the manufacture of cloth in a 12-loom shed at Ashton Works, Dundee, in 1832. He was one of the first to weave cloth composed of jute warp and weft and, as the use of the new textile became popular, his business expanded. Edward Caird died in 1889, although his son, James Key Caird, had already taken over the running of Ashton Works in 1870. He was to direct the fortunes of the firm of Cairds for the next forty years. Under James Caird's management the Ashton Works was re-built and equipped with the most modern plant. In 1905, he took over the Craigie Works, which had until then supplied much of his yarn and was now to supplement his production of cloth. Two years later Caird acquired property adjoining the Ashton Works to permit further expansion, and in 1908 perhaps the most modern jute spinning-mill of the time was started. Ashton and Craigie Works were among the largest and best-equipped jute works in Dundee, employing 2,000 hands. The company was the first to introduce a War bonus, an example soon followed by other spinners and manufacturers in the city and in 1916, Caird's mills contained 14,000 spindles and 1,000 looms. By the press and middle-classes, Caird was considered a good employer who "aimed at making his establishment not only efficient from a working point of view, but also a model of comfort for the workers" (Dundee Advertiser, March 1916). He was also a noted benefactor and between 1895 and 1914 gave £240,940 in donations to institutions and organisations within and outside Dundee. James Key Caird was awarded a baronetcy in 1913 and died in 1916.

• Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

  The records are on paper and include photographs and outsize plans

• Archivist's Note

  Description compiled by Gary Smith

• Conditions Governing Use

  Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

• Accruals

  Not expected

• Related Material

  MS 108 Edward Caird's Trust

• Additional Information

  Published

  Catalogued

  MS 60

• Subjects

  Textiles