madame hawke

Business & Enterprise

Early 20th Century

Suggested by Alissa Kindred

Alissa says, “Madame Hawke shows she was a pioneer of the knitting industry in Newquay. A widow with six children, she bought a knitting machine and developed a successful business making and supplying knitted apparel. Her products were on sale in her own shop in Newquay – now Costa Coffee - and she supplied garments to Debenhams in London, establishing a factory in Crantock Street, Newquay employing 450 people.

I think she’s a really inspiring example of a woman in Newquay who made her own fortune through running a highly successful business whilst being a mother. She kicked off an industry and employed many people, changing the face of the history of Newquay in her time.”

Joanna Clare on the Newquay Nostalgia Facebook page has started a thread asking others for information and photos about Madame Hawke, her great, great grandmother and posted this photo of her from c1930 taken from page 78 of a book called “Images of England: Newquay” by Joyce Greenham and Sheila Harper, published by The History Press in 1999, with the accompanying caption:

“This lady can take credit for establishing the knitwear industry in Newquay. In 1905 upon purchasing a knitting machine she opened a shop selling knitted hats, suits and coats, eventually supplying Debenhams of London. This London connection led to other factories opening including one in Crantock St employing 450 staff. During its heyday the industry provided much needed employment for hundreds of girls. All of this down to one lady and a knitting machine.”