R & W

The year stone with initials marks the spot where the Regout-Weustenraedt textile factory was once located (the families were related by marriage). The factory was originally owned by Posthumus (address book 1855: Posthumus et compagnie; fabricant de toile et d'etoffes en laine). In 1875 it was taken over by the Regout-Weustenraedt company and possibly renovated or extended, as can be seen from the keystone "RW 1876" above the gate at no. 16.

Jules Regout was then placed there by his father and took over the business in 1880 under the name Jules Regout & Co. He called himself "manufacturer of woollen blankets and round-woven felts for the paper industry". The latter was important to the Royal Dutch Paper Mill founded on the Bassin in 1850, in which the Weustenraedt family played an important role.

In 1887 at the time of the famous labour survey, he had 60 employees: 34 men over 18; 7 boys between 16 and 18; 9 boys between 12 and 16; 7 women over 18 and 3 girls between 16 and 18.
Most of the work was done by machine, but some of the looms were still driven by hand.
Normally the working hours were from 7 to 12 and from 1.30 to 7; so 10 ½ hours a day, but at the time of the survey labourers worked for only 8 hours , because there were few orders and they wanted to avoid overproduction. This also meant less money for the workers, since the weaving pay was on a piece-work basis. This meant that they were paid 3 ½ francs (fl. 1.70) per roll of 10 blankets, which took them on average about two days, so 20 hours.
The process at the factory consisted of wool blending; carding (forming a new thread); spinning (thickening and strengthening the thread); weaving; filling (giving volume to the fabric); sulfurising and finally bleaching and drying.
To ensure a good water supply, Regout bought one of the four water mills across Pieterstraat: the Overste Neustadtmolen, also known as Hoffensmolen.
With this purchase, Regout was entitled to half of the incoming water. The intention was to use the water wheel as a lifting device and to lead the water to his factory via a pipe system under Pieterstraat . Although plans were ready, the poor condition of the water wheel and the locks apparently made him decide not to do it.

In 1922 the factory expanded with the purchase of the tannery of the brothers Max and Fustage Coopman on the Grote Looiersstraat, whose back yard bordered on that of the blanket factory. In 1936, four years after Jules' death, the factory went bankrupt due to the global crisis of the 1930s. The tannery on the Grote Looiersstraat was demolished in 1947, but the watermill on the Sint Pieterstraat was preserved.

The building then retained its industrial function for more than 50 years. In the early 1990s, after a renovation with respect for the industrial character, a residential function was realised. The building is also easily recognisable as such with its original double wooden gate and original steel windows on the ground floor and modernised on the upper floors.