Eylure

False finger nails and eyelashes

By Roger Filler

Eylure's first premises - `The Shack`, situated on the site of Gosling Stadium 1947
Welwyn Garden City Library
Eylure's Bridge Road East premises 1970
Welwyn Garden City Library
British Pathe Newsreel - making eyelashes

Eylure was a company that made fix-on eyelashes, finger nails and eye cosmetics. It was founded by the Aylott brothers – David and Eric, who were two professional film make-up men.

The Shack

They saw an opportunity to start making false eyelashes at the end of the war and after a period when their workroom was the family sitting room they moved to their first premises, affectionately called “the shack”, which stood on the site of Gosling Stadium at Stanborough in 1947. Until the late 1950s the brothers worked on film sets by day and ran Eylure part-time but at that time the company had grown to such an extent they made the decision to give up their studio work and get down to the business of running the company full-time,

The move to Bridge Road East

By this time Eylure Cosmetics had moved to much bigger premises at 58-60 Bridge Road East, and was producing several types of false lashes, fingernails and eye make-up products. In 1966 they were presented with one of the first Queen’s Awards to Industry for their export achievement. They were in WGC in 1970 when the larger photograph on this page was taken but does anybody know when they closed? They had a factory in Cwmbran, Monmouthshire. Perhaps that is still going for as a product Eylure still exists.

Did you, or one of your family, work at Eylure during its heyday in WGC? If so, why not log on and tell us your memories of the company, what you did there and the people you worked with.

This page was added on 29/09/2009.

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  • Does anyone remember an Eylure eyeshadow compact in yellow with a sliding lid? I am sure I had one in the mid seventies. I loved it. Has anyone got a picture of one please? Please reply to angiedavies0@gmail.com

    By Angie Davies (22/05/2022)
  • My mum was a companion to Susie Aylott in the 1960’s her name was Betty Crawley, just been to visit to Stonemead in Welwyn Garden City. Mum would be very interested to speak to Susie or any of the family.

    By Maggie Delargy (17/02/2022)
  • My name is Plum and I’m John Savill’s daughter. I see dad’s mentioned a few times below – and Mike Fozzard and John Otton, wow, names from the past! Dad loved working at Eylure – I think it was his favourite job ever. Dad sadly passed away in 2008, and Stuart Aylott died a few years ago (I imagine them having a jolly old time still), but mum is still in touch with Steph Aylott.

    By Plum Savill (18/08/2021)
  • I was a friend of Steve Picket, whose sister Stephanie was married To Stuart Aylott. Steve returned to UK from Australia in 1968 and we met on the ship. He had been in Australia for three years and hadn’t told his family he was returning. I stayed with his family on arrival in UK and met Stuart then. I was present when Stuart and Stephanie’s son David was brought home for the first time.
    I have tried to reconnect with any one the Picket Family so if anyone knows them please contact me via the site admin (admin@ourwelwyngardencity.org.uk)
    Cheers

    Graeme Tuder, Perth, Australia

    By Graeme S Tuder (08/11/2020)
  • Eylure seem to be based at Hayes, Middlesex.

    By Robert Oakhill (01/07/2020)
  • I joined the company in 1985 and became an eyelash processor.I was 17.I was there when it closed in the early 1990s. I stayed for another 2 years there as the old managing director took over part of the building and we had various orders of beauty products to complete. My best memory is of them giving us all the old stock during the last week before Eylure closed. Luckily I had a car so it was filled to the brim. I didn’t realise then that I would never have another job as good. I’m 52 now and still haven’t found a job to match up to it.

    By Linda Vodden formerly Holder (29/06/2020)
  • When I was about 14 in 1976/77 I had a weekend job working for David Aylott cleaning his cars at his home on a Sunday morning. I remember him as a really nice genuine friendly person … always interested in what I was doing and often coming to help me, when it wasn’t cold !!

    By David Larkins (23/01/2020)
  • My family came from this area. My grandma was Dotty Aylott, married to Ernest Aylott and buried in Little Gaddesden. Ernest Aylott came from a family of ministers but was a policeman in watford before moving . Some of the family went to Australia. I know of a family member or died in a prayer meeting. Dad (Richard Aylott) is alive. We found Alice Aylott’s grave in I think Hitchin. My name Is Elizabeth Aylott and my daughter Alice Aylott.

    By Liz Aylott (17/07/2019)
  • I am married to David Aylott! The original David Aylott’s grandson!! They sold the Eylure company many years ago .

    By Joanne Aylott (28/10/2018)
  • (Addition to my comment in August 2013).
    When the company Eylure Ltd was taken over by Nobel, the Eylure brand was not included. My memory is that it was sold to Sally Hansen – one of the Eylure brand’s fiercest rivals. yet here we are in 2018, and Eylure lashes continue to be made and sold – seen in Morrisons in Leeds today!
    I see in the comments above mention of John Savile – who I worked for – and Mike Fozard, the sales manager, with whom I worked very closely. Funny how the memories come back once someone nudges them!

    By James Munden (27/01/2018)
  • The happiest years of my business career were when I joined Eylure in the early 1960’s! Bill Watson was the Sales Manager, he employed me as their first Representative. Although the MD Mr David Aylott asked me to stay I did not want to move to South Wales. During that seven plus years the Company grew incredibly. By then I was Assistant Sales Manager with two Area Managers, twenty Rep’s, two female Consultant Supervisors and approximately forty Department Store Consultant to look after! Stuart Aylott, Mr. David’s Son became one of my Rep’s. By the time I resigned he had stepped over me and not on me (I’m glad to say) and was Marketing Manager. Stuart and I became very close friends but sadly lost touch some years later when with he moved to the West Country with his family and we moved to The Norfolk Broads. If you should read this Stuart please contact me, it would be great to catch up.

    By Alan Tansley (21/12/2017)
  • Bill Watson was Eylure’s Sales Manager he employed me as their first representative in the early 1960’s. The next seven years were the happiest of my whole career! Although the MD David Aylott did his best to get me to move with them, I did not want to move to South Wales. In the time I was with the company, I rose to Assistant Sales Manager with two Area Managers twenty Rep’s, two female Consultant Supervisors and approximately forty Department Store Consultant. During this time Mr David’s son Stuart became one of my Rep’s. I’m glad to say he stepped over me & not on me as by the time I left he was Marketing Manager. Stuart was one of my closest friends for many years but unfortunately when he moved to the West Country with his family & I moved to The Norfolk Broads we gradually lost contact. If you should read this Stuart please email me, it would be great to get together again!

    By Alan Tansley (21/12/2017)
  • I was also at the High School with Elizabeth (Liz) Aylott.

    By Kevin Copeland (17/06/2017)
  • Annie Aylott was my grandfathers sister, my grand Aunt, I am now 80.  Apparently I was a twin to Auntie Annie.  There were three children Annie, Victor and Bob.  Annie was married to  Dave Aylott, I visited them at their home in Welwyn Garden City in the 50’s I would love to make contact with anyone related to me no matter how distant.  My facebook account is Roma Marchetti Nugent, Dallas Tx.

    By Roma Marchetti Nugent (30/07/2015)
  • My father Patrick lynch worked for eylure in the 70s I met my late husband john Otton who was the london rep for over 10 years in the 80s mike Fozard is my sons godfather and knew john Saville and the aylots family well 

    By Diane lynch (24/11/2014)
  • I worked at the cwmbran factory I was one of the few boys. in the early days I was a cutter when eye lashes where made frome seal skins. then I worked in the stores.it was the Best job I ever had I’m now 57 years old.

    By Lyndon Watkins (13/05/2014)
  • I would like to contact Felicity Nee Arch, who wrote a comment December 2013, we were very good friends at school my email is steveden101@sky.com Hope she sees this!

    By Denise Driver (07/04/2014)
  • Like some of the contributors above, my mum was an outworker for eylure making eyelashes. I remember the grey head (45+ years later) – I remember the tracing paper and watching her make the eyelashes, the smell of the glue and the little bags they went in – we would then get the bus to the town to take them to the factory in Bridge Road – this would have been mid 1960s.

    By Susan Woodhouse (Davey) (03/02/2014)
  • I remember the Eylure Company and Gordon & Nancy Aylott some fifty years ago. I was a school friend of Denise Aylott and would like to be contacted.

    By Felicity Farnaby(nee Arch) (09/12/2013)
  • Eylure won the Queens Award for export in April 1966, as reported by the Welwyn Times & Hatfield Herald, 22 April 1966 page 1

    By Susan Hall (27/08/2013)
  • I joined Eylure Ltd in Cwmbran, near Newport, Gwent, in January 1988. By that time, Eylure eyelashes were part of a wider portfolio which included Eylure false nails and manicure tools; fragrance brands such as Lanvin, Tabac Original and Pierre Cardin; Elgydium toothpaste; Klorane herbal shampoos; and Bonne Belle skin cleansers. The Eylure Company was then taken over by Nobel Cosmetics and moved to Swindon in late 1989 or early 1990 – at which time Eric and David Aylott left the business. Nobel, in turn, sold the Eylure portfolio (now including Silkience and Henara haircare and Malibu suncare ranges) to Henkel Cosmetics, and the marketing operation was moved to Henkels’ offices in Enfield in May 1992.

    By James Munden (02/08/2013)
  • Hi my mum also worked making eyelashes at home and up until 2000 we still had two of the model heads and my mums tools also my mum did homework for barnet combs anyone remember them? are they were good old days.

    By david brown (01/04/2013)
  • Dave and Eric are my uncles, my father is their younger brother Gordon who also worked at the Bridge Road factory, my mother Nancy is the lady in the film making the lashes. Zena, Dave’s wife is the lady putting on the lashes. Unfortunately they have now all passed away. I also worked at Bridge Road in the late sixties before they moved to Cwmbran, I would love to hear from anyone who worked there during that time.

    By Denise Driver (nee Aylott) (27/09/2012)
  • David and Eric Aylott were my mums uncles (her dad was their brother). My grandmother is the 1st lady shown in the video clip.

    By Steve Barrett (25/09/2012)
  • My mother, Myfanwy (I think she might have been known as Peggy when she worked there), worked at Eyelure at the factory. She also obviously brought work home too as my sister and I used to help cut the eyelashes and put them in the packs. I do have some photos of one of the Aylott brother’s wedding that mum attended. She loved it there. She said that they were very happy days.

    By Pat Thomas (20/08/2012)
  • My mother also worked for Eylure making eyelashes at home in the 1970’s. I too remember her sitting at home making lashes every evening. I also went to the Welwyn Garden city High School with Elizabeth Aylott (the owner’s daughter) and would love to get in touch with her again.

    By Auriol Seaton (14/10/2011)
  • My Mum worked for Eylure but not at the factory. She was an out worker. I can remember as a child the grey head sitting on the dining room table with these eye lashes looking at you. She said she had to take the completed work to the Bridge Road factory. This would have been in the 1960’s.

    By Susan Hall (30/10/2010)