Poppy Factory
51°27′20″N 0°18′10″W / 51.45556°N 0.30278°W / 51.45556; -0.30278
The Poppy Factory is a factory in Richmond, London, England, where remembrance wreaths are made. It was founded in 1922 to offer employment opportunities to wounded soldiers returning from the First World War, creating remembrance poppies and wreaths for the Royal Family and the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal. It is operated by a company that is a registered charity which provides employment support to veterans with health conditions across England and Wales. The factory's production team continues to make remembrance wreaths by hand today.
The corresponding organisation in Scotland is Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, which was established in 1926 and makes approximately five million remembrance poppies each year.
The Poppy Factory in England
Artificial poppies for the first poppy appeal in 1921 were imported from France by Madame Anna Guérin.[1]
In 1922 the Disabled Society, a charity established in 1920 by Major George Howson MC and Major Jack Cohen, received a grant of £2,000 from the British Legion's Unity Relief Fund to employ disabled ex-service personnel to make remembrance poppies in England.[2] Later that year, Howson wrote to his parents, "I do not think it can be a great success, but it is worth trying. I consider the attempt ought to be made if only to give the disabled their chance."[3]
They set up in a former collar factory on the Old Kent Road in London. Soon the factory was employing 50 disabled veterans.[4]
In November 1924, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) visited the Poppy Factory, which made 27 million poppies that year. Most of the employees were disabled, and by then there was a long waiting list for prospective employees.[5]
The old collar factory eventually proved too small as demand increased, and in 1926 the factory moved to a disused brewery in Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey.[6] The Poppy Factory organised the first annual Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in 1928.[7] The current Art Deco Poppy Factory building was built on the brewery site and was completed in 1933.[8]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/A_volunteer_constructs_poppies_at_the_Royal_British_Legion_Poppy_Factory%2C_Richmond_MOD_45148164.jpg/220px-A_volunteer_constructs_poppies_at_the_Royal_British_Legion_Poppy_Factory%2C_Richmond_MOD_45148164.jpg)
In November 2016, former chief executive Melanie Waters became the chief executive of Help for Heroes charity.[9] Deirdre Mills was later appointed the new chief executive; she had previously been a Director at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[10]
In July 2017, Queen Elizabeth II visited the factory to celebrate the charity’s 90th anniversary.[11] In February 2024, Queen Camilla held a reception at Clarence House to mark the Poppy Factory’s centenary.[12]
Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Scotland
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Lady_Haig_Poppy_Factory_%2814772857731%29.jpg/220px-Lady_Haig_Poppy_Factory_%2814772857731%29.jpg)
Lady Haig's Poppy Factory was founded in Edinburgh in March 1926, shortly after the Royal British Legion's factory in London,[13] as independent charity to provide employment to disabled veterans. Lady Haig's Poppy Factory became a trading name of Poppyscotland of which it is a subsidiary.[14]
The factory was created at the suggestion of and by Dorothy, Countess Haig, wife of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, who had created the Haig Fund to assist ex-servicemen and which still raises funds through the UK's annual poppy appeal.[13]
It was established in a former wood-chopping factory in the grounds of Whitefoord House. The factory moved to its current premises, a former printing works in Warriston Road, in 1965.[15]
In November 2018 the factory was moved for two years into Redford Barracks while major renovations could be made while also adding a new learning facility.[16]
Like the Poppy Factory in Richmond, it employs ex-service personnel, all of them disabled. It makes five million remembrance poppies in Edinburgh each year, to a slightly different design with four-lobed petals rather than two for English poppies, and 12,000 wreaths.[17]
Remembrance poppies
- Royal British Legion pin poppy
- Royal British Legion wreath poppies
- Royal British Legion remembrance cross
See also
References
- ^ "The Poppy Lady". Alliance Francis de Londres. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Veterans Minister visits Poppy Factory". A People in Defence news article. Ministry of Defence. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ "The Big Question: Why are we asked to wear a poppy, and is its significance being lost?". The Independent. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "The Poppy Factory: History". The Poppy Factory. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ Philip Waller (2004). "Howson, George (1886–1936)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/37577. Retrieved 7 February 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Odling, George (18 November 2014). "Original poppy factory in Richmond to become luxury flats and offices". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Opening of the Field of Remembrance". First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Rhe Poppy Factory in Richmond - lest we forget". The Great British Life. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ Ricketts, Andy (5 August 2016). "Melanie Waters appointed chief executive of Help for Heroes". thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- ^ "New Poppy Factory Chief Executive Appointed". cobseo.org.uk. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- ^ Christian, Alex. "Queen visits Richmond Poppy Factory to celebrate charity's anniversary". swlondoner.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- ^ "The Queen thanks Poppy Factory for work supporting veterans". ITV News. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ a b "The Start - Lady Haig Poppy Factory". Lady Haig Poppy Factory. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ paul (18 May 2015). "Poppyscotland". Poppyscotland. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "Armistice 100: Lady Haig Poppy Factory is on the move". Falkirk Herald. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ Currie, Julie. "Armistice 100: Lady Haig Poppy Factory is on the move". Falkirk herald. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ^ "How It's Done". Lady Haig's Poppy Factory. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
External links
- Official website: The Poppy Factory
- The Poppy Factory, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 4 Extra blog
- The Poppy Factory, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 11 am on 9 November 2011
- The Poppy Factory & Transport for London
- Official website: Poppyscotland
- Official website: Lady Haig's Poppy Factory
- v
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![Location of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Coat_of_arms_of_the_London_Borough_of_Richmond_upon_Thames.svg/100px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_London_Borough_of_Richmond_upon_Thames.svg.png)
![Location of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/LondonRichmond.svg/100px-LondonRichmond.svg.png)
Barnes
Barnes Bridge
Fulwell
Hampton
Hampton Wick
Kew Gardens
Mortlake
North Sheen
Richmond
St Margarets
Strawberry Hill
Teddington
Twickenham
Whitton
- A307 road
- A308 road
- A309 road
- A316 road
- Barnes High Street
- Castelnau, Barnes
- Church Road, Barnes
- George Street, Richmond
- Kew Green
- Mill Hill, Barnes
- Mortlake High Street
- Old Palace Lane
- Old Palace Yard
- Queen's Road
- Ringway 2
- South Circular Road
- The Green, Richmond
- The Terrace, Barnes
- The Vineyard, Richmond
and river services
- Beverley Brook
- River Crane
- Duke of Northumberland's River
- Longford River
- Sudbrook and Latchmere stream
- River Thames
- Athletic Ground, Richmond
- Barn Elms playing fields
- The Championship Course
- Cricket clubs and grounds
- Golf clubs and courses
- Hampton Pool
- The Lensbury
- Pools on the Park
- Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court
- Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre
- Thames Young Mariners
- Twickenham Stadium
- Twickenham Stoop
- former Ranelagh Club
- former Richmond Ice Rink
- Britannia, Richmond
- The Bull's Head, Barnes
- The Crown, Twickenham
- Dysart Arms, Petersham
- The Fox, Twickenham
- The George, Twickenham
- Hare and Hounds, East Sheen
- Jolly Coopers, Hampton
- Old Ship, Richmond
- Park Hotel, Teddington
- Richmond Brewery Stores
- Sun Inn, Barnes
- Twickenham Fine Ales
- Watney Combe & Reid
- White Cross, Richmond
- The White Swan, Twickenham
and music venues
- The Bull's Head
- Crawdaddy Club
- The Exchange
- Olympic Studios
- Orange Tree Theatre
- OSO Arts Centre
- Puppet Theatre Barge
- Richmond Theatre
- TwickFolk
- Wathen Hall
- former Eel Pie Island Hotel
- former Richmond Theatre (1765–1884|
- Richmond and Twickenham Times
- former Gaydar Radio
- former Hogarth Press
of interest
- 123 Mortlake High Street
- 14 The Terrace, Barnes
- 18 Station Road, Barnes
- 70 Barnes High Street
- Asgill House
- Barnes power station
- Brinsworth House
- Bushy House
- Cambridge Cottage
- Chapel House
- Chapel in the Wood
- Clarence House
- Doughty House
- Douglas House
- Downe House
- East Sheen Filling Station
- Fulwell bus garage
- Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare
- Garrick's Villa
- Great Pagoda, Kew Gardens
- Grove House, Hampton
- Halford House
- Ham House
- Hampton Water Treatment Works
- Hampton Youth Project
- Harrods Furniture Depository
- Hogarth House
- The Homestead
- Hotham House
- Kew Gardens
- Kew Mortuary
- King's Observatory
- Kneller Hall
- Langham House
- Langham House Close
- Latchmere House
- Lichfield Court
- Marble Hill House
- Montrose House
- National Physical Laboratory
- Normansfield Theatre
- The Old Court House
- Old Town Hall, Richmond
- Ormeley Lodge
- Parkleys
- Park Lane Stables Teddington
- The Pavilion
- Pembroke Lodge
- Pope's Grotto
- Poppy Factory
- Royal Military School of Music
- Royal Star and Garter Home
- St Leonard's Court
- Strawberry Hill House
- Stud House
- Sudbrook House and Park
- Thatched House Lodge
- Trumpeters' House
- University Boat Race Stones
- Victoria Working Men's Club
- West Hall
- White Lodge
- The Wick
- Wick House
- Yelverton Lodge
- York House
- former Admiralty Research Laboratory
- former Alcott House
- former Camp Griffiss
- former Cardigan House
- former Cross Deep House
- former The Karsino
- former Mortlake Tapestry Works
- former Mount Ararat
- former Pope's villa
- former Radnor House
- former Richmond House
- former Richmond Lodge
- former Richmond Theological College
- former Sheen Priory
- former Star and Garter Hotel
- former Twickenham Park
- Adana Printing Machines
- Ashe baronets
- Cook baronets of Doughty House
- Darell baronets, of Richmond Hill
- GHQ Liaison Regiment (Phantom)
- Hampton Court Conference
- Kew Letters
- Petersham Hole
- Pocock baronets
- Richmond Flyers
- Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902
- Treaty of Hampton Court (1562)
- Vandeput baronets
- Warren-Lambert
- Wigan baronets
- Richmond Park
- Twickenham
- former Richmond and Barnes
- former Richmond (Surrey)