 Hosiery manufacture continued to be an important industry in the town after the decline of hand process of framework knitting with manufacturing firms such as Two Steeples, George Deacon and sons, Wigston Co-Operative Hosiers, A H Broughton and William Holmes.In neighbouring South Wigston Henry Bates was the leading hosiery manufacturer.Wigston was the subject of W. G. Hoskins's pioneering historical study, "The Midland Peasant" (London