{"id":5742,"date":"2014-05-30T12:39:03","date_gmt":"2014-05-30T10:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.muzeumlniarstwa.pl\/the-factory\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T01:46:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T23:46:58","slug":"the-factory","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.muzeumlniarstwa.pl\/en\/the-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"The Factory"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE HISTORY OF THE FACTORY OF LINEN PRODUCTS IN \u017bYRARD\u00d3W<\/strong><\/h3>\n
THE ORIGINS OF THE FACTORY<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The origins of the linen industry in \u017byrard\u00f3w date back the early 19th century, when one of the most advanced factories in then Europe was built in Ruda Guzowska. To aid the development of the polish textile industry, the government of the Kingdom of Poland brought Philipine de Girard into the country \u2013 the inventor of a mechanised way to spin thread from linen. He played a very significant role in the expansion of the factory. The first phase of construction and the following equipping and putting things into motion was a period of trials and errors for the Linen Factory.
In 1829 a joint-stock company called \u201cKarol Scholz I Wsp\u00f3\u0142ka\u201d was established by Henryk \u0141ubie\u0144ski (Bank of Poland chairman), J\u00f3zef Lubowidzki (the vice-chairman), Karol Scholtz (a commercial advisor to the Bank) as well as Jan \u0141ubie\u0144ski and Tomasz \u0141ubie\u0144ski (the act of incorporation was signed on August 9 th of 1830). The construction of an advanced textile mill \u2013 The Factory of Linen Products \u2013 was initiated after experimental linen production had been relocated from Marymont to Ruda Guzowska. Production in the Factory begun as early as in July 24th 1833, utilising over a dozen spinning machines. As the industry grew so did the factory settlement where the workers lived. The settlement was called \u017byrard\u00f3w, after the brilliant inventor and engineer, chief technology officer in the Factory, Philipine de Girard. \u017byrard\u00f3w soon became a melting pot of different cultures, as a result of migration, mostly motivated by economic reasons \u2013 majority of the factory workforce was Polish, but there were also weavers from the Czech Republic and skilled craftsmen from Germany. To keep production going required constant, expensive investments into the machinery park, its upkeep and modernisation. As time went on, the factory begun to struggle financially. The Bank of Poland refused to issue any more loans, and so, despite restructuring the factory and minor investments, in 1847 the Bank became the new owner of the Factory of Linen Products, by way of a judicial sale. <\/p>\n

THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE FACTORY \u2013 INDUSTRIALISTS KAROL HIELLE AND KAROL AUGUST DITTRICH<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Both \u017byrard\u00f3w and the factory experienced the greatest amount of development in the second half of the 19th century, when the factory changed hands and became the property of two German industrialists on March 13th 1857 \u2013 their names were Karol Teodor Hielle and Karol August Dittirch. It is thanks to their efforts that the factory transformed into one of the biggest and most advanced linen factories in Europe at the time. From that point on, the factory begun to change into a large, capitalised business, employing as many as 9 thousand workers. The amount of production departments was steadily increasing with the creation of such places like a mechanical weaving mill, cotton and wool spinning mill, a dyehouse and a stocking-manufacturing department. Additionally to all that, the machinery park continued to be modernised. The factory produced a wide range of linen and cotton products, including but not limited to: bedsheets, undergarments, serviettes, clothes and different types of stockings and stocking-adjacent products. These goods were sold through a network of stores in cities like \u0141owicz, Warsaw or \u0141\u00f3d\u017a, but also outside of the Kingdom of Poland: in Moscow, Kyiv and Saint Petersburg. The high quality of linen products is evidenced by the many awards and medals attained by the factory at a number of fairs and international exhibitions (e.g. in Vienna or in Philadelphia) as well as the title of the \u201cSupplier of his Imperial Majesty\u201d awarded to the factory by the tsar of Russia during an exhibition in Saint Petersburg. The development of the factory meant the development of \u017byrard\u00f3w as a whole, creating a unique urban architectural style. The city was divided into three \u2013 a villa district, industrial district and the factory settlement district.
The last one, was where dwelling houses stood along with different public buildings, such as churches, schools, a hospital etc. Regrettably difficult working conditions and dramatically low salaries were the cause of several worker strikes. Among them, the most well-known demonstration was the Strike of Female Spool Tenders in 1883, considered the first mass workers strike on polish territory and one of the first women-led worker strikes in the world. <\/p>\n

SHAREHOLDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE \u017bYRARD\u00d3W MANUFACTURE HIELLE & DITTRICH<\/strong><\/h5>\n

In the 70s-80s of the 19th century the Factory of Linen Products was being passed down to the descendents of Karol Teodor Hielle and Karol August Dittrich. On April 19th 1885, Karol Dittrich Jr., successor of the latter of the aforementioned industrialists, transformed the business into the \u201cTowarzystwo Akcyjne Zak\u0142ad\u00f3w \u017byrardowskich Hielle I Dittrich\u201d [eng. \u201cShareholders Association of the \u017byrard\u00f3w Manufacture Hielle & Dittrich\u201d]. It was because of him that the factory became a monopoly in the linen market and one of the biggest textile factories in Europe at the time. The turn of the 19th and 20th century was the period of serious investments. Such as, improving the machinery park and expanding more and more departments, among them the stocking-manufacturing department and the weaving mill. A new building was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, the biggest industrial facility in the entire factory \u2013 the New Spinning Mill. Products manufactured at the factory were considered the uncontested best in terms of quality (as evidenced by the Grand Prix award, the highest honourable mention at the time, awarded to the factory at an exhibition in Paris in 1900). Given the factory\u2019s various successes, the production line was expanded with cotton goods as well. The factory settlement grew proportionally to the increase in population \u2013 in 1897 it counted 20 thousand residents \u2013 absorbing neighbouring villages. Manufacturers from the factory expanded the factory settlement with new houses and new public buildings: churches, the hospital, the laundry, the public bathhouse, schools, \u2018ochronka\u2019 (a kind of daycare for orphaned children or children living in poverty), the community centre for workers as well as a social club with a bowling alley for factory managers and directors. Different community-based societies begun their activity, such as the singing societies \u201cLira\u201d and \u201cEcho\u201d and first sports societies and organisations. In the face of increasing influence of political parties and a growing revolutionary sentiment a couple more worker strikes took place, including the second largest one after the Strike of Female Spool Tenders in 1883 \u2013 the mass strike of November 26th 1905.<\/p>\n

WORLD WAR I AND THE INTERWAR PERIOD<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The factory continued to develop dynamically, however, with the outbreak of World War I production was initially limited, before it was halted completely in 1914. German troops entered \u017byrard\u00f3w on July 16th 1915. That day also marked one of the most tragic events in \u017byrard\u00f3w\u2019s history. On the night of 16th to 17th, retreating Russian troops planted explosives and blew the most important buildings of the Factory of Linen Products sky-high. The time of German occupation was a time of a significant decline in \u017byrard\u00f3w\u2019s population, which coincided with the town receiving municipal rights in 1916. It wasn\u2019t until November 11th 1918, after the city was truly liberated for the first time in its history, that the political life enlivened and competition to assume the mantle of power begun. The Workers\u2019 Council was in control of socio-economic life and initiated the efforts to resume production in the Factory of Linen Products. Eventually, actions undertaken by the delegates lead to a takeover of the factory by the country\u2019s administration on May 16th 1919. Renewing production was left in the hands of W\u0142adys\u0142aw Srzednicki, an engineer well-liked by the workers. His search for loan opportunities, a market and the modernisation of the machinery park soon yielded in the factory\u2019s growth \u2013 it managed to reach 85% of the production from the pre-war period. With the factory being rebuilt and social and economic recovery, cultural life as well as schooling and sports also begun to recuperate. <\/p>\n

\u017bYRARD\u00d3W\u2019S AFFAIR \u2013 BOUSSAC\u2019S CAPITAL GROUP<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Despite the post-war period of revival and increased residents\u2019 involvement in the town life, the factory would soon have to face its darkest and most cruel period yet that nearly lead to the fall of \u017byrard\u00f3w. Everything begun in 1923, when the factory was acquired by a French capital group \u201eComptoir de l\u2019industrie colonmere\u201d owned by Marcel Boussac. Boussac introduced exploitative governing policies, which brought the Factory in \u017byrard\u00f3w to ruin. The Frenchman\u2019s goal was to eliminate any competition to his own cotton-based business. That is why he purposefully decreased production, breaking every policy or law, turning \u017byrard\u00f3w\u2019s factory into a colony of a foreign capital. During the time of Boussac\u2019s capital group\u2019s administration the management office was transferred to Warsaw. Most significant of all was the treatment of the workers. The directors in charge treated them horribly \u2013 terror reigned supreme, hiring organisation was changed, and mass layoffs lead to more and more worker strikes and manifestations. A \u017byrard\u00f3w-based writer and publicist, Pawe\u0142 Hulka-Laskowski, described the picture of the collapsing \u017byrard\u00f3w and workers living on the verge of poverty. The state of the town was discussed and published in many articles at the time, the image presented by them becoming all too familiar. That depiction became even more relevant during the trial of Julian Blachowski, who on April 26th 1932 shot a key executive of the factory \u2013 Gaston Koehler. The murder trial transformed into a defence of \u017byrard\u00f3w itself, with the French capital accused of conducting a policy of plunder. During the trial all of Marcel Boussac\u2019s machinations were revealed, and \u201c\u017byrard\u00f3w\u2019s Affair\u201d became an international case. Opposition from small Polish shareholders towards the Shareholders Association\u2019s administration lead to sequestration of the factory in 1934. The Polish government eventually bought back the factory in 1936, after the arrest of the directors \u2013 the factory was now managed by the State Agricultural Bank. <\/p>\n

WORLD WAR II<\/strong><\/h5>\n

On September 12th 1939 German troops entered \u017byrard\u00f3w, which begun the 5-year long period of German occupation. The Factory of Linen Products was taken over by Germans; once that happened, production was set into motion, but one that only served the needs of the occupant\u2019s army. For \u017byrard\u00f3w and its residents it was a time of blood and terror, germanisation, many arrests of political, civic and union leaders, displacements into German territory for forced labour or into the concentration camps, executions and ruthless murders (among them, the November 18th 1943 execution by firing squad of 24 arrested people under the wall of the weaving mill). In the face of the occupant\u2019s acts of repression, tough living conditions, hunger and poverty, an underground resistance movement was born. Factory workers were opposing the occupants by stealing products or purposefully slowing down production. Civic leaders taught polish youth in secret, spreading patriotic ideals to them. The ever-growing resistance boycotted German management, gathered intelligence and conducted sabotage and diversion operations \u2013 German train wagons were blown up on the tracks, telephone lines were cut, military operations were conducted and death sentences were passed on directors, managers and Volksdeutches despised by the workers. The Polish Worker\u2019s Party\u2019s District Committee and the Home Army are especially to thank for liberating \u017byrard\u00f3w. By the end of World War II, when German troops were undergoing preparations to blow up the factory buildings, on January 16th 1945 the Red Army entered the city, taking it back and preventing Germans from detonating the explosives.
\nThey were forced to retreat, and just like that, the period of German occupation was over, after lasting exactly 1952 days.<\/p>\n

POLISH PEOPLE\u2019S REPUBLIC AND THE DOWNFALL OF THE FACTORY AFTER 1989<\/strong><\/h5>\n

After the war has ended, and \u017byrard\u00f3w was freed, a new governing body begun to take shape in the city, instilling order and taking control over the economy, culture, schooling and everyday social life as early as January 18th 1945. The Factory of Linen Products, which had been seized by the country\u2019s administration on January 19th 1945, which did not stop them from setting the production in motion with the beginning of February. The Three-Year Plan brought about significant organisational changes. In 1947 the Factory of Linen Products was renamed to \u201cPa\u0144stwowe Zak\u0142ady W\u0142\u00f3kiennicze nr 1 w \u017byrardowie\u201d [eng. \u201cState Plant of the Linen Industry no. 1 in \u017byrard\u00f3w\u201d] and between 1950-1952 the Plant was divided into specialised workshops, including but not limited to: \u201c\u017byrardowskie Zak\u0142ady Przemys\u0142u Lniarskiego im. Rewolucji 1905 roku \u201c\u017byrard\u00f3w\u201d, \u201c\u017byrardowskie Zak\u0142ady Przemys\u0142u Bawe\u0142nianego\u201d, \u017byrardowskie Zak\u0142ady Przemys\u0142u Po\u0144czoszniczego \u201eStella\u201d, \u017byrardowskie Zak\u0142ady Przemys\u0142u Odzie\u017cowego \u201ePoldres\u201d and \u017byrardowskie Zak\u0142ady Tkanin Technicznych im. Kasprzaka. The factory that employed over 50% of the actively working residents, once again became an international industrial centre of high-quality products, which were distributed to places like, France, Greece, Venezuela and England. The time of the Polish People\u2019s Republic is one of post-war renaissance and relative prosperity. It is the period of development of cultural (Cinema \u201cS\u0142o\u0144ce\u201d, a theatre, a library) and educational institutions. Schools were rebuilt, a music school opened, and Karol Marczak\u2019s Film Institute renewed its operations. A vacation house was organised for the factory workers as well as trade schools to further expand their mastery of textiles. Due to rising political tensions, on October 12th 1981 a workers strike broke out in \u017byrardowskie Zak\u0142ady Techniczne. Two weeks later the protesters were personally visited by Lech Wa\u0142\u0119sa. The factory\u2019s standing changed dramatically in 1990s. As a result of the implementation of the 1989\u2019s reform the factory couldn\u2019t handle progress and announced a business failure of different departments. Once a business giant, the Factory of Linen Products closed down for good in 1999. <\/p>\n

REVITALISATION OF THE 21ST CENTURY<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Although the downfall of the factory was irreversible, the linen tradition and textile production was continued by two private companies: co-partnership \u201c\u017byrard\u00f3w. Fabryka Lnu\u201d (1999 \u2013 2012) and a smaller business \u201cTkaniny \u017bakardowe Andrzej Borzykowski\u201d (1999 \u2013 2019). With the beginning of the 21st century, the abandoned factory buildings caught the attention of the municipality and private investors, who together decided to maintain the unique, post-industrial character of \u017byrard\u00f3w. The factory settlement revitalisation process begun with the readjustment of the public park, the \u2018Ochronka\u2019 and the historic buildings housing the social club and the bowling alley. \u017byrard\u00f3w\u2019s city officials took action to create the Philipine de Girard Linen Museum in \u017byrard\u00f3w \u2013 its role as a cultural facility is to bring awareness and introduce the history of the post-industrial identity of the city to younger generations. The most spectacular work is being undertaken by the private investors, it being the adaptation of the former Factory of Linen Products\u2019 central office to account for lofts and shopping centres (one of the buildings that has been modernised is the old spinning mill). The adaptation of the biggest of the factory buildings, the new spinning mill, was being undertaken by co-partnership \u201cGreen Development\u201d, but was abandoned due to the company going under in 2012. \u017byrard\u00f3w\u2019s factory settlement is considered the only urban-architectural complex of an industrial city from the turn of the 19th and the 20th century remaining in its entirety in Europe. It is one of the most interesting tourist spots in Mazovia and a precious keepsake after the largest centre of the linen industry. <\/p>\n

\u017bYRARD\u00d3W\u2019S WEAVING TRADITIONS TODAY<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Quick revitalisation of the factory buildings meant that \u017byrard\u00f3w became not only an interesting tourist destination, but also a 19th century industrial town with actively cultivated linen tradition. Although no other private weaving business operates in \u017byrard\u00f3w since 2019, the clatter of the looms and the voice of the factory still reverberates throughout the town. In 2020, the Linen Museum took measures to buy the machinery park from the last functioning company in the city \u201cTkaniny \u017bakardowe Andrzej Borzykowski\u201d. The acquisition of sixteen original weaving machines allowed to resume production of linen fabrics in \u017byrard\u00f3w. By collaborating with former employees of the Factory of Linen Products, the machines are not only able to be preserved but are also used for demonstrations in the summer. The jacquard looms that changed their location three times (The Factory of Linen Products \u2013 a private company \u2013 The Linen Museum) are remarkable museum show-pieces today, enriching the exhibitions by adding an active craftsmanship element to it. <\/p>\n\n\t\t