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1850’s - 1880
1856 – Humble Beginnings in Bolton
James Lever, a near penniless rope worker, begins twisting rope in a derelict brick field with a chicken coop as warehouse, using waste yarns discarded by cotton mills. He repurposes them into sturdy driving ropes, which he then sells back to the mills as driving ropes, a remarkable piece of Victorian business ingenuity that sparks a legacy still going strong today.
1861-1865 - American Civil War causes the Lancashire Cotton Famine.
The American Civil War cuts off cotton supplies from the southern United States, where much of the raw material used by Lancashire mills originates. The resulting cotton famine devastates local industry, creating severe shortages, hardship and instability across the region.
1860s – Builds Crown Rope Works at Delph Street
Through hard work and growing demand for his hand-crafted driving ropes, James builds Crown Rope Works on the same site at Delph Street, marking the shift from cottage-scale production to a fully established ropeworks.
1880 - 1920
Late 1800s – A Family Tradition Begins
In the late 1800s, James passes aged 66 and his succeeded by his son William, who helps steer the company into the 20th century. William has two sons — James, his eldest, and Thomas Cort.
1914–1918 - Outbreak of World War One
World War I places enormous strain on British industry and families alike, with millions drawn into the conflict and manufacturing redirected to support the war effort.
1916 – Wartime Loss and Leadership
James, William’s eldest, is killed at Verdun in WWI. His brother Thomas Cort, wounded at the Somme, returns home to join his father in the business.
1920 – 1950
1920s – Diversify or Die
As Lancashire’s cotton mills struggle in the aftermath of World War I, facing falling demand and increasing competition, together with a move towards belt drive transmission, demand for driving ropes collapses. Facing a stark choice, diversify or die, Lever’s enters the general cordage market, producing sash cords, pulley lines, blind cords and utility twines.
1929 – The Wall Street Crash
The Wall Street Crash triggers a global depression, severely accelerating the decline of the UK cotton industry and reinforcing the need for diversification across manufacturing.
1930s – Innovation Through Adversity
As part of Lever’s move into general cordage, William and Thomas pioneer two key innovations; Endless cords for cord operated window mechanisms and the Everlasto weatherproof sash cord, waxed for use in sash windows, pulleys, clotheslines and in damp conditions. Crown Rope Works is renamed Everlasto Cordage Works, reflecting the rise of the Everlasto name which would become the UK’s leading cordage brand, with Everlasto sash cords still specified by architects today.
1939-1945 – Word War Two
The outbreak of World War II places unprecedented demands on British industry, with manufacturing redirected toward essential wartime production and national supply.
1940s – Supplying a Nation
During WWII, James Lever & Sons becomes a contractor to HM War Office, supplying ropes and cords for the war effort. Post-war, the business supports national rebuilding through robust cordage for industry, agriculture, trade and domestic use. With the passing of his father, Thomas Cort becomes head of the company.
1950 – 1980
1950s – Post-War Rebuilding Fuels Manufacturing Growth
As Britain rebuilds after World War II, demand rises for durable household and industrial goods. New materials such as PVC and nylon become increasingly available, transforming manufacturing and creating opportunities for innovation and expansion across British industry.
1950s – Expansion and Consolidation
Quick to adopt post-war material advances, Lever's experiments with synthetics, and after years of painstaking research, the plastic clothesline is born. James Lever, son of Thomas Cort, joins his father in the business, continuing a tradition of hands-on family stewardship. By the mid 1950s, Levers employs over 300 people across three factories in Bolton, each producing different cordage products. In 1957, Thomas Cort Lever buys Orient Mill on Brandwood Street, consolidating operations in the former weaving shed.
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1960s – The Birth of the Orient Line
Building on the success of the PVC clothes lines, the 'Orient Line' is launched - a translucent PVC clothesline with a cabled core, available in five eye-catching ‘Colours of the Orient’, inspired by the mill it was made in. A premium product from the start, as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of clotheslines it remains the UK’s leading clothesline brand today.
1970s – Expansion into Poly Ropes
In 1973, Thomas’s son James becomes head of the company as fourth generation, ushering in a new era of modernisation. Lever’s introduces polypropylene ropes and poly twines into the range, expanding into general-purpose and industrial markets. The company also moves into viscose twines for butchery and the food trade.
Late 1970s – Early Signs of Decline in UK Manufacturing
By the late 1970s, UK manufacturing begins to face sustained pressure from rising global competition, productivity gaps and increasing imports, signalling the start of a long-term structural decline.
1980–2010
1980–81 – UK Manufacturing Recession
A severe recession accelerates the decline of UK manufacturing, increasing competitive pressure from overseas imports and reshaping the industrial landscape.
1980–2000s – Navigating a Changing Industry
In 1980, James’s son James joins the business as fifth generation. The 1980's began with a devastating recession and saw a significant increase in cheap imports from the East, leading to a rapid decline in UK manufacturing. He becomes MD in 1990, taking the helm during a period of sustained pressure on British industry. With costs rising and global competition increasing, James helps maintain the company’s position as a trusted supplier across both trade and consumer markets.
1990–1992 – UK Recession
The UK enters another major recession, marked by rising costs, falling demand and financial pressure across manufacturing industries.
2005 – A New Chapter at Everlasto Works
Following a period of careful consolidation and a gradual, controlled scaling back of operations through the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company relocates from Orient Mill to a purpose-built, modern premises just around the corner at Everlasto Works, Morris Green Business Park. The move supports leaner production and positions the business for more modern, efficient and flexible operations.
2008-2009 – Global Financial Crisis
The global financial crisis places significant pressure on manufacturers, creating financial uncertainty and supply-chain challenges that test resilience across the industry.
2010 - Present
2010s – A New Generation & Product Diversification
In 2010, James’s son, also named James, joins the firm as sixth generation, followed soon after by his brother Robert. During this period the company enters a new phase of innovation. Lever's enters the craft market, with its ‘Beautiful Baker’s Twine’ range becoming the UK’s largest craft twine offering. Bungee cord is also added to the catalogue, expanding the business into transport, leisure and general-purpose markets. The company also expands its online presence, strengthening communication, product visibility and customer engagement.
2012 – Solar Power at Everlasto Works
Solar panels are installed at the Morris Green site, making the factory more energy efficient and no longer dependant on fossil fuel input, kickstarting Levers’ long-term investment in sustainability.
2016 – Brexit Vote
The UK votes to leave the European Union, introducing additional paperwork and cost complexity for European trade, though without major impact on Lever’s operations.
2020-2021 – COVID 19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupts supply chains and manufacturing operations. In its aftermath, sharp rises in global energy costs place further pressure on UK manufacturers, reinforcing Lever’s focus on efficiency, productivity and getting more from less.
2021 – Made in Britain Member & Investment in Efficiency
Lever’s joins Made in Britain, reinforcing its commitment to UK-based production. The company also invests in state-of-the-art, energy-efficient machinery and LED lighting throughout as part of its ongoing sustainability drive.
2024 – Sustainability, Recognition & Family Legacy
A battery storage system is added to complement solar generation, improving energy efficiency and self-reliance. The ‘Evergreen’ internal focus group is created, committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. Lever's is awarded the Bolton Family Business of the Year, recognized for commitments to sustainability, resilience and six generations of family ownership.
Today – A Heritage Brand for the Future
Now in its sixth generation, James Lever & Sons continues to produce high-quality ropes, cords, and twines under the Everlasto brand, with one of the largest ranges in the UK. Blending tradition and family values with modern technology, the company remains proudly rooted in Bolton, where it has been tying generations together since 1856.
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