Lees Newsome Ltd

Lees Newsome Limited – A Legacy in Textiles Since 1875

Founded in 1875 by Benjamin Lees, Lees Newsome Limited has proudly served a wide range of industries for over 150 years with quality textiles and textile-based products.

Originally established as a weaving and raising operation, the company quickly evolved, embracing innovation and expanding into bleaching, dyeing, and finishing, followed by knitting, coating, and sewing. At its peak, Lees Newsome employed more than 250 people and operated over 200 weaving looms.

However, with shifting market demands and a steep decline in UK-produced cotton fabrics, change became inevitable. In 2008, the company underwent a strategic restructure:

Weaving and raising were sub-contracted to trusted partner mills.
Our dyeing and finishing plant was relocated.
The business moved from its original home at Ashley Mill in Oldham to a modern facility in Middleton, now housing our offices, warehouse, and conversion unit.
Recognising the need to remain competitive while upholding our reputation for quality, we developed strong partnerships with some of the world’s best overseas mills—relationships that have been carefully built and maintained over decades.

Today, backed by cutting-edge technology and a global supply chain, Lees Newsome operates as a manufacturer, importer, and converter, serving a diverse range of sectors, including:

Exhibitions & events
Upholstery
Curtains & soft furnishings
Funeral interiors (coffin linings)
Screen print & digital print
Bedding & mattresses
Dairy industry
Specialist fabrics & commission work

Our long-standing commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service continues to drive everything we do. The groundwork laid over a century ago still supports our strong industry reputation today.