i have a box of old nylon stockings marked 'lindley and lindley
nottingham, england. also marked 'protexyl finish'(regd) case number 4514.
can you tell me about this company,when they were made,are they still
trading or when did they stop etc etc.

These websites might help you contact people who could answer your
question:

http://mss.library.nottingham.ac.uk/isad/ms586.html

http://www.cthulu.demon.co.uk/swinnerton1910/chapter13.htm

http://www.belperweb.co.uk/history/knitting.htm

Also look at:

://www.google.co.uk/search?q=nottingham+hosiery+industry&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&meta=

And note that the Lindley name turns up in the history of hosiery in
Nottingham.  See:

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/NTT/Nottingham/Trades.html