Painted Fabrics

developed on the site of the WW1 RFC Women's Camp at Norton

Painted Fabrics Ltd was founded in 1917 at the former RFC Women's camp at Norton by Annie Bindon-Carter who, together with 3 other art school students, had volunteered at Wharncliffe War Hospital, during WW1, assisting the rehabilitation of injured servicemen through informal art classes.

The former buildings of the Women's Camp became print and design workshops and accommodation was supplied to the men and their families.^[3]

They enabled amputees and sufferers from shell shock to hand-print designs onto various fabrics, which were made up into ‘Painted Fabrics products’, including dresses, ecclesiastical garments, table cloths and curtains.

The company were conferred with several Royal Warrants. Products were sold as luxury products in through many outlets, including Liberty's of London.

The WW1 RFC Women's Camp was sited between Little Norton Lane and Meadowhead.

Although very alike in many respects to the men's camps, almost all of the buildings had brick walls. This was probably a major factor taken into account when the site was developed after the war as the Painted Fabrics workshops for disabled ex-Servicemen.

During WW1 the women slept in 26 dormitories, 70ft long by 20ft wide, plus 4 cubicles in a separate building. There were 2 dining rooms and a laundry. Many of the RFC women lived away from the camp.