Earliest records of glovemaking in North Dorset are dated in the 14th Century and the craft has been practised ever since in the area.

Traditionally glovemaking has been carried on with 'outworkers" - makers and cutters working in their own homes. This makes sound economic sense, as the sale of gloves is seasonal and depends a lot on cold weather. This custom is still in use today.

CHESTER JEFFERIES LIMITED was founded by Chester Jefferies and Gilbert Pearce in 1937 to manufacture gloves, from the then 'new leather' HOGSKIN (Wild pigskin Peccary & Carpincho - from South America). This they did for the next 25 years (except during WW II)for all the major glove names i.e. Dents, Fownes, Morley, Brettles etc who bought and then sold these gloves under their own brand names.

The name JEFFERIES is first recorded in English glovemaking during the 1820's and Chester Jefferies was a direct descendant. Chester Jefferies disposed of his interest in 1959 and the company became a wholly owned family concern. Although outside expertise has since been brought into the management team there are still six members of the Pearce family, including two of the third generation, working in the company.

Originally the company was based in Slough with outworkers in Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset. Since 1962 the main factory and head office have been in Gillingham, Dorset. The company originally specialised in hand-made gloves, and our records show that for a Man’s Hogskin, Hand-sewn, unlined glove in 1937 we received forty two shillings per dozen pairs (1990's - 18p per pair!). Today we sell the same type of glove for £42.50 per pair. At the start all gloves were hand-made and from hogskin. Today we offer gloves from a variety of leathers with various sewings.