THE thumping sound of press machinery which used to resonate through Willmotts Ltd., the former factory in Swan Lane, Evesham, overlooking the River Avon, and which stopped 12 months ago, has been replaced by the sound of mechanical diggers and builders' equipment.

The Swan Lane factory which once manufactured spectacle and jewellery cases, has been bought by Coventry-based based housing developer KingsOak South Midlands, and is being converted into modern-day luxury apartments.

A man whose grandfather James Willmott started the company, Ted Pinder, of Broadway Road, Evesham, spent 44 years of his life working there. "At one stage, practically everyone you spoke to worked at Willmotts," he said.

Steve Russell, of KingsOak South Midlands, said: "Years ago, Willmotts played a very important role in making this a thriving part of the town. But since it moved out, the area has not seen much life. Our conversion and refurbishment programme on the factory, coupled with other developments at Riverside, aim to bring people back to this wonderful part of town."

Mr Pinder speaks very fondly about the old days at Willmotts and recalls many memorable occasions. "There was a period during the miners' strike in 1974 when you were only allowed electricity for a certain time, which meant you could only work certain days," he said. "An American customer heard of our plight and offered, in true American style, to buy everyone a beefburger. However, we couldn't buy any, so we all had an ice cream instead - in January."

A highlight in Willmotts' history was in 1948 when the NHS was introduced and spectacle cases were free. Mr Pinder said: "We just couldn't produce enough at that time. We were producing around 1,000 cases a week and were still not meeting demand."

It was also a good time for Evesham as employment in the factory was at its highest at 500, and the company was running five coaches from surrounding villages to ferry people in.

"It was a sad time when Willmotts moved out," Mr Pinder said. "Stones were put through the window and weeds started to grow. I'm personally happy with the work KingsOak is doing on the factory and the fact that the building is being retained is quite pleasing."

Mr Pinder's grandfather started the company in 1884 in Birmingham's jewellery quarter, and in 1904 moved to the purpose built factory in Evesham. Over the years, the company has been the leaders in the design and manufacture of spectacle, jewellery and presentation cases. Frank Willmott, one of James Willmott's sons, invented the spring-lidded spectacle case.

Mr Pinder's career started in June 1942, eight years after James Willmott dies. His first role was cost clerk and he progressed through various managerial roles until retiring in 1986 as general manager.

He recalls one of the most remarkable places in the factory as the press shop where the cases were stamped out using heavy machinery.

Apart from the noise, there was also the high heat and strong smell. "The material lining for the case had a heat activated animal glue. The machine was heated, which would melt the glue, therefore sealing it onto the case. The heat was so high sometimes the girls would have to go home, but some carried on," he said.

During the Second World War the company was a listed munitions manufacturer, with the plant subject to security regulations. Gun links were produced in 303.5 and 20mm sizes that held bullets in the form of a belt. Some of them were used on the Spitfire.

Willmotts was always a caring employer. It used outworkers where possible and utilised a disabled club in Evesham to assemble hinges. Willmotts moved out in May 2001 and now operate from Pershore. If he could choose one of the new apartments in the The Case Factory, Mr Pinder said: "I would like the top floor, in the middle. That's where my office was."