THE factory dominated the Accrington skyline and its products helped bring prosperity around the world.

The name of Howard and Bullough’s was renowned for the textile machinery that the firm produced from its appropriately-named Globe Works.

For decades the firm was one of East Lancashire’s biggest employers and at its peak employed almost 6,000 people.

Founded in 1851 it remains most associated with Sir John Bullough who became one of the wealthiest men in England as the demand for looms rocketed and equipment manufactured in Accrington was exported around the world.

He was the first cotton machine manufacturing millionaire and his staggering wealth allowed him to buy the Island of Rum where he built Kinloch Castle taking many of the his workforce from Accrington to the Scottish island to complete the task.

During the Second World War production was turned over to munitions and textile machinery continued to be produced at the Globe Works until 1993.