THIS week in Down Memory Lane we visit one of Thurrock’s oldest cottage industries – basket making, which ended 74 years ago this week.

In Thurrock Museum we have just one example of what is believed to be an Orsett Basket Works wicker bin, but I believe some more may have survived and I am keen to collect another example before it is too late.

The Orsett basket works was set up by Colonel FHDC Whitmore CMG, DSO, TD, DL, who ran the Orsett Estate from his home at Orsett Hall.

What is unique about this is that he did it to increase employment post Great War, especially for those who had been maimed by serious wounds and shock and had served in his regiment.

The works included the osier beds and a couple of huts with possibly up to 30 people employed.

Women appear to have done the ‘peeling’ of the osiers once harvested, while the men made the baskets.

My featured photograph from the 1922 Grays & Tilbury Gazette shows three basket makers in various stages of production of a basket, from the start to the completed basket.

Apparently they made all types of basket and hampers, for market garden, commercial, laundry, household and fancy use.

Although I think the works opened up post the First World War, the final closure is recorded on March 10, 1939, as the last of the old timers retired.

If you have a basket produced from Orsett, I would be pleased to see and photograph one.