ARCHAEOLOGICAL excavations and documentary sources reveal leather working trades in Ock Street, Abingdon, from the 14th century onwards.

In the early 19th century William Batten Bailey, a parchment maker and leather dresser, established the Spring Grove Works on the town's western boundary – close to the Larkhill Stream, which provided a plentiful supply of water essential for the various processes in the preparation of the skins.

Bailey's business was acquired by Thos Tate & Son in 1911.

A year later Tate's son John and Robert A. Fraser formed the Pavlova Leather Syndicate. Robert 'Bobby' Fraser was reputed to have been an admirer of ballerina Anna Pavlova.

It was through him that the Savernake Glove Company became a subsidiary of the company.

In the early days the main product was white leather gloves.

After the outbreak of the First World War new buildings were constructed, women recruited and production increased to meet the demand for gloves, belts, leather flying helmets, and saddles for horses.

Increased production brought problems with effluent disposal.

In 1916 the excessive volume of sewage forced the borough surveyor to recruit a relief engine driver at the town's sewage works.

The daily discharge equalled the total from the rest of the town, and over an eight month period the Marcham Road sewer overflowed on 26 occasions.

In its defence, the company claimed no other works in the country could match its production of essentials.

The Pavlova Leather Company Ltd was eventually formed in 1918 when the syndicate went into liquidation.

Initially Alfred Booth and Co. Ltd. acquired a 25 per cent interest but by 1926 was in full control.

In the same year the new company granted a lease to the Arlington Leather Clothing Company of premises at Fairlawn Wharf.

Booth & Co. owned a steamship company which increased the range and availability of raw materials from across the world. During the First World War sheepskins were imported from New Zealand and in the 1930s goatskins from Argentina.

Over the next 20 years the range expanded to include skins from Africa, kangaroo and wallaby for leather gloves and sports shoes, pig skin from Russia and Bulgaria, calf skins from Chile for chamois production, and even a small number of penguin skins processed under contract for use in the gloving and shoe trade.

The slump in production after the First World War left many buildings surplus to requirements.

Buildings formerly part of W B Bailey's fellmongery, were sold by Booths in 1929 to accommodate the MG car factory.

The three-storey building in Cemetery Road, afterwards associated with MG, originally included the works clocking on and off office and canteen.

The Boniface Sheepskin Company, which processed sheepskins for the shoe, glove and fur trades, was another subsidiary accommodated on site.

Between 1939 and 1945 a building was leased to the War Office for essential work.

A 1937 trade directory lists the Pavlova Leather Company Ltd, Spring Grove Works, as leather dressers and Booth and Strong Ltd, Radley Road, as leather manufacturers.

The Radley Road tannery, also known as Henry Booth (Abingdon) Ltd imported lamb and sheep skins from New Zealand and Australia.

In 1947 the Pavlova Leather Company exhibited doeskins, white and coloured shoe suedes, clothing and belt suedes and chamois at the British Industries Fair in Earls Court. A pair of gloves was presented to the Queen during her 1956 visit.

In the 1980s the company experienced difficult trading conditions with the possibility of hostile takeovers.

In 1988 the future of the 300 workers at the Pavlova, now the headquarters of the Somerset-based Pittard Garner Group's chamois and clothing division, was again under threat.

Strong and Fisher, a Northampton based leather-goods manufacturer, made a second, successful, hostile bid for its parent company, Pittard Garner.

In October 1993 the Oxford Times reported that the 'loss-making' factory was to close.