St Martin's was the Glover's district. The present New Street and Friar Street, were originally one street, and until 1557 was Glovers Street, but in that year was renamed New Street. Considerable trade (gloving) was carried in the area including in Nash's House by John Redgrave, the Hawkes family dating back to 1712 in Lich Street, which later passed to the Sanders family by marriage, in Lowesmoor, Fownes occupied a warehouse before the erection of their factory in the Blockhouse. It was said that Groves & Partington employed a large number of older men who had been displaced by machines to alleviate hardship.