100 Year Old Independent Lancashire Firms on the Web
Part Two
Quick Navigation: §1 Explanatory | §2 Theory | §3 Chronological | §4 Full List of Companies | §5 Non-Independent Firms
Section 4: Companies by Sector
Additional Entries
If you would like to contact us about any 100+ year old independently owned Lancashire companies that could be added to this list, please email EconInfo@lancashire.gov.uk.
4.1 Manufacturing and Construction Sector
For an independently owned business to survive for more than 100 years in the manufacturing or construction sector is something of a major triumph. To find a business in the textiles sector that can trace its lineage back to the inventor of the Spinning Jenny and is still trading in Lancashire after all the enormous job losses in that sector over the years is remarkable. The following list does include a number of textile firms that are still independently owned which at first sight may be surprising given the ravages of global competition that the industry has and continues to face, but those that have survived have managed to find their niche and look forward to the future with confidence. Many other sectors are also covered confirming the fact that old established firms can survive and prosper in a range business areas.
AMA DataSet
50 School Lane
Bamber Bridge
Preston
PR5 6QE
Website www.ama.uk.com
Established c. 1855
Six generations of the Mather family have been involved in typesetting and printing over the past 150 years. Printing was actually discontinued in the 1980s, and AMA DataSet now provides a specialist typesetting, database design and consultancy service for publishers and other organisations throughout the UK.
The company's experienced team of typesetting operators, and database and systems designers are supported by its associate company Exeter Premedia Services in India, providing assistance to undertake the larger projects.
The management and conversion of digital data are at the heart of every business, and AMA DataSet pride themselves on being at the forefront of digital technology which, linked with a wide range of skills, meets the demands of today's markets.
Andrew Webron Ltd
Hareholme Mill
Bacup Road
Rawtenstall
BB4 7JL
Website www.andrewwebron.com
Established 1894
The company traces its roots back to when it started as a weaving operation. In the 1960s, it began producing high-specification needlefelt primarily for the filtration industry, and the website asserts that the firm has ever since been at the forefront of filtration technology.
With effect from 2 October 2006, the group's two UK-based businesses, Andrew Textile Industries Ltd and Webron Marling Ltd, merged to become one single business, Andrew Webron Ltd, its headquarters in Rawtenstall.
Andrew Webron Ltd exports approximately 65% of its annual production worldwide, and the customer base includes many leading global filtration equipment manufacturers and major fabricators of filtration products.
Ashton's of Fleetwood
London Street
Fleetwood
FY7 6JE
Website http://ashtonprinters.awardspace.co.uk
Established 1877
Established by WH Ashton and still run by the same family, the company claims to be the Fylde's leading wedding stationery retailer.
Its own specialised range of day and evening invitations, order of service, thank you and reply cards etc. is printed 'in house' and the company can tailor requests to suit the particular needs and budgets of customers. The showroom on London Street is open six days a week to allow customers to browse at their leisure, and the company is also an agent for top names such as CCA, Collisons, Lantz, Fine Impressions and Talking Pictures.
Askam Construction Ltd
3 Hampson Lane
Hampson
Lancaster
LA2 0HY
Website www.askam.co.uk
Established 1831
The present-day company was only established in 1986, but is included in this list of established firms because in 2001 it acquired the old Lancaster firm of J Parkinson & Sons (Contracting) Ltd. Therefore there is a continuous trading history that can be traced well back into the 19th century.
Askam Construction is a civil engineering, industrial and commercial building company that specialises in housing and county council projects.
Bernard Watson
170 North Road
Preston
PR1 1YP
Website www.bernardwatson.co.uk
Established 1878
The company states that it is one of the North West's leading painting firms that undertakes work in the domestic, leisure, industrial and commercial. and local authority sectors.
The website confirms that it has a history spanning more than 100 years, and that its trading heritage can be traced back to the time of establishment of J Corbishley & Sons, a former business that is now incorporated into Bernard Watson.
Besglos Polish Co. Ltd
Meadow Bank Works
George Street
Burnley
Website www.besglos.co.uk
Established 1906
Besglos is one of the longest established polish manufacturers in the North, dedicated to creating a safer and healthier working environment through its wide range of hygiene products and equipment.
The firm states that it has been committed from the outset to providing quality products. Nowadays the company occupies a modern 16,000 sq.ft. factory sited adjacent to the motorway network and produces its very broad range of products under one roof.
The company's clients include local authorities, hotels, contract cleaners, flooring contractors, industry large and small, commerce, rest homes, nursing homes, hospitals and the transport industry.
Attwater Group
PO Box 39
Preston
PR1 1TA
Website www.attwater.co.uk
Established 1868
The Attwater Group has been a market leader in the manufacture and supply of insulation materials for over a century, and has expanded over the years to supply materials to industries worldwide.
Founded on a tradition of quality and innovation, the company has been at the forefront of engineering plastic laminates and coated electrical insulation materials since 1868.
Today, the Attwater Group is established as a leading world player in its specialist field, with a global reputation for high-quality products, particularly engineering plastic laminates and electrical insulation.
Bill Beaumont Textiles
Park Mills
Chorley
PR7 2HP
Website www.billbeaumont.co.uk
Established 1888
The website states that Bill Beaumont Textiles can trace its history back over four generations of family ownership to when Joseph Blackledge set up a small weaving shed in Chorley to supply niche products to the local cotton markets.
Subsequent growth and diversification resulted in a move towards merchant converting and more recently, under the guidance of the current owner, into household textiles with particular focus on curtains and upholstery fabrics.
Bill Beaumont Textiles specialises in jacquard weaves and the company also offers custom-made curtains and blinds on a wide selection of its most popular fabrics.
Birtwell and Co. Ltd
Units 1&2
Willow Business Centre
Lower Barnes Street
Clayton-le-Moors
BB5 5SW
Website www.birtwells.co.uk
Established 1904
The website states that Birtwells has led the way in trade printing and is one of the UK's leading trade printers. The company's clients include a wide range of brokers, and the firm is said to provide specialist services to many large and small printers in the UK and offers a rapid turnaround.
The website contains only a limited amount of information regarding the heritage of the company. However, there is nothing to suggest that the firm is not an independent business.
Briggs & Duxbury Ltd
Butts
Barnoldswick
Colne
BB18 5HP
Website www.briggsandduxbury.co.uk
Established 1909
A family run that prides itself on its reputation and workmanship. The firm specialises Building/ Joinery Works, Building Material Supplies and Funeral Arrangements/ Monumental Masons.
Cherry Tree Machines Ltd
Imperial House
Gorse Street
BB1 3EU
Website www.cherrytreemachines.co.uk
Established c. 1900
The company's prime objective is to provide a premium service to the laundry industry. Whether it is the provision of an individual spare part or the design and installation of a turnkey plant, the company aims to deliver the best value combined with ongoing commitment.
Cherry Tree Laundry Solutions now has a range of service and supply to meet the most demanding of requirements and they intend to develop partnerships with customers to provide long-term mutual benefit.
CMYK Ltd
Charter House
Charles Street
Blackpool
FY1 3EY
Website www.cmyk.uk.com
Established 1896
The website contains only brief details of the history of the company but – without any information to the contrary – it is assumed that the firm remains an independently owned Lancashire business.
The site states that it is a highly successful and ambitious group that manages to achieve and exceed all expectations. The company offers design and print services, print management, and also has an extensive online product sales section that demonstrates the firm's wholehearted embrace of the internet as a sales medium.
Coates Engineering Group
Spring Place
Millfold
Whitworth
OL12 8DN
Website www.coateseng.com
Established 1835
This company qualifies for an entry in this list because it incorporates BCH, which was originally established in 1835. BCH was the first company to produce liquorice presses and the website asserts the company is still the world leader today.
The acquisition of this firm in 1993 led to the establishment of the Coates Engineering Group. Whether a firm should be included because of the purchase of an older company can be difficult to judge. The fact that the heritage and present-day operation of BCH receives such a high profile on the company website leads to their inclusion.
The company has a diverse range of businesses that cover three main areas: mechanical engineering, automation and food science. In 2000, the Coates Engineering Group invested in a state-of-the-art Innovation Centre. The centre has provided the opportunity to demonstrate the company's success in integrating these three pillars of process knowledge and how this process knowledge is applied in five specialised areas, i.e. liquorice, marshmallow, caramel, jam and marmalade, and chilled and ready-made meals.
Conveyor & Elevator Company Ltd
Grange Works
Wellington Street
Accrington
BB5 2NT
Website www.conveyor-and-elevator.co.uk
Established 1889
The website states that this engineering business specialises in the field of mechanical handling. The company's aim is to offer a comprehensive, first class service from the supply of individual spares through to design, manufacture, installation and commissioning where required.
The website confirms the date of establishment, but does not provide any details of the ownership and general heritage of the company. There is however nothing to suggest that it is not an independently owned company therefore it has been included in this list.
Coupe Foundry Ltd
Higher Walton
Preston
PR5 4DQ
Website www.coupefoundry.co.uk
Established c. 1900
Coupe Foundry has operated from its existing site in Higher Walton for over a hundred years. Originally known as William Coupe Ltd, the foundry was a family-owned business producing general engineering castings from cupola-melted iron.
In April 2004 the directors of Coupe Foundry bought certain assets of the business, including the name, and the foundry now continues to trade within the scope as accredited by Lloyd's Register of Quality Assurance.
The foundry has developed significantly in recent years, and now holds an enviable reputation throughout Britain and Europe as a major supplier of grey and ductile iron castings, melted using two 7-tonne-capacity modern electric melting furnaces.
The success and reputation of the company may be measured by the high standing of its customers. A policy of continuous self-appraisal and attention to detail has ensured the expansion of its customer base. Major markets include the supply of castings to the wind turbine power generator market, press tools made directly from polystyrene patterns for the automotive industry and castings for machine tool manufacturers.
Douglas Marine Ltd
Douglas Boatyard
Becconsall Lane
Hesketh Bank
PR4 6RR
Website www.douglas-marine.co.uk
Established c. 1900
Douglas Marine Ltd is situated on the River Douglas, off the Ribble Estuary, and is accessible by boat from the sea, the Leeds–Liverpool Canal, and the Lancaster Canal (via the Ribble Link). The website confirms that it is a family business and that the Douglas Boatyard has been building and repairing boats since around 1900. It was originally established to build and repair timber fishing boats once used extensively on the Irish Sea. In recent years, the boatyard has specialised in building and repairing all types of boats for recreational use, from canal cruisers to ocean-going yachts.
Dexter Paints
Dexter House
Trafalgar Street
Burnley
BB11 1RE
Website www.dexterpaints.com
Established 1907
Burnley Borough Council have very kindly been in touch with the firm to confirm that the year the company first started making paint does represent their date of establishment and that it is an independently owned firm.
The company states that it is at the forefront of innovative technology and that it has a dedicated objective of establishing close working relationships with clients so both parties derive optimum benefit from mutual association.
The company splits its product ranges into four sectors: iIndustrial, automotive, decorative and equipment. The company emphasises the fact that besides being a paint manufacturer, it prides itself on its support service to customers who require professional advice and assistance.
Droyt Products Ltd
Progress Mill
Progress Street
Chorley
PR6 ORZ
Website www.droyt.com
Established 1893
An old Lancashire firm that has managed to survive some challenging experiences that would have proved overwhelming for most businesses.
The family firm was initially founded in Minsk, Belarus, in 1893 under the name of "The Victoria Fine Soap Works". After the Russian Revolution, the company was forced to move and settled in Berlin, in a factory building just off the Kurfürstendamm, at Joachim-Friedrich-Straße 37. With a name change to Danico Glycerinseife Gesellschaft, the firm was based in Germany until 1937, when it was again forced to move. A new home was made in England, in a former yarn mill in Chorley.
Raw materials were scarce during the first few years after arriving in England, due to wartime rationing. The company survived on small allocations and made anything from tooth powder to cough medicine. Soap production did not start again in earnest until the late 1940s.
Nowadays, Droyt is an established private label and the company manufactures glycerine soaps, both solid and liquid, and is entering a new era of organic soap production.
The company remains a privately owned independent company and states that it uses the best quality vegetable or mineral ingredients to make a soap which is aesthetically pleasing and very well regarded.
EA Foulds Ltd
Albert Works
Clifton Street
Colne
BB8 9AE
Website www.fouldslifts.co.uk
Established 1907
The website states that the firm is one of the North West's leading independent lift companies and has been managed by four generations of the Foulds family.
The company was established by Ernst Albert Foulds, and initially gained a reputation as a general engineer and millwright. During the First World War it made shell casings, and then in the 1920s started to specialise in supplying goods lifts. Further diversification in the 1960s led to the manufacture of electrical control panels. Nowadays, the business specialises in all aspects of lift engineering.
Edward Dewhurst
Grierson House
Anchorage Business Park
Chain Caul Way
Riversway Docklands
Preston
PR2 2DG
Website www.edewhurst.com
Established 1887
Edward Dewhurst Ltd is a well-established family-owned private company. Founded in 1887 by Mr Edward Dewhurst, the grandfather of the present chairman and the great-grandfather of the current joint managing directors, John and Paul Dewhurst.
For over 100 years the company has been committed to building a solid reputation within the electrical engineering industry and has now successfully developed into a multi-faceted organisation.
The company offers a comprehensive range of quality engineering specialist services, tailored to meet individual customer requirements, operating within the following four key market sectors: electrical contracting, airfield services, sheet metal fabrication and civil engineering.
Granthams
Head Office
Graphics House
Charnley Road
Blackpool
FY1 4PE
Website www.granthams.co.uk
Established 1890
Granthams has been established in the graphics industry for over 100 years. Originally a sign-writing business based in Blackpool. Today Granthams has operations in two locations based in Blackpool and Preston and split into three divisions: art and reprographics supplies, copy and print, and graphic technology. Each has many years' experience and focuses on offering a professional and highly competitive range of products and services to customers across the UK.
Great British Lighting
Denham Way
Fleetwood
FY7 6PR
Website www.greatbritishlighting.co.uk
Established c. 1905
The website states that the Great British Lighting Co. can trace its history back to the beginning of the last century and proudly continues an unbroken tradition of design and manufacturing excellence.
Based in Fleetwood, the business was built around the provision and maintenance of the town's famous trawler fleet. The company quickly established a reputation among the wider fishing community for its range of oil-burning navigation lamps, designed and built to withstand the harshest of elements during long trips to inhospitable waters. The range of products grew and developed to encompass domestic decorative gas lighting, and the advent of electric lighting heralded the introduction of many new designs.
Over recent decades the company has designed, manufactured and supplied lighting in every conceivable style, shape, material and colour, and asserts that its products are particularly suitable for leisure environments and public buildings where fixtures are often illuminated for nearly the whole day, every day of the year.
F Brown PLC
75 Moor Lane
Preston
PR1 1JQ
Website www.fbrownplc.com
Established 1898
The establishment date was obtained from the Central Lancashire company database managed by the district councils of Preston, Chorley and South Ribble and not from the company's website.
F Brown PLC specialises in the roofing, cladding and interior refurbishment of commercial and industrial buildings. Predominantly known from its origins as an industrial roofing and cladding company, services were extended from the mid-1970s to provide a comprehensive interior fit-out package including suspended ceilings, demountable and metal stud partitions and raised-access floors.
Henry Alty Ltd
Station Road
Hesketh Bank
Preston
PR4 6SS
Website www.altys.co.uk
Established 1877
The vast majority of websites for old established firms detail the history of the firm and emphasise their record of independent trading. The website for Henry Alty gives the establishment date for the firm and briefly mentions its long and distinguished history of which it is proud, but it does not confirm that it is still independently owned nor does it mention how the firm has developed over the years. The balance of opinion however appears to be that this is the case so it has been included.
The company's head office is in Hesketh Bank, whilst there are two other branches close by in Hoole and Burscough, and a further branch in Cheshire.
The company has two main sections of business: building and horticulture. The building side of the business has five sections supplying materials under the headings of heavy and lightside building materials, tool hire, timber products, and landscape and garden products. The firm's horticultural business covers products under the headings of growing media, fertilisers, crop production, pots and trays, baskets and planters, and sundries.
The company emphasises its determination to offer a first-class service to customers at a competitive price.
Henry Halstead
Unit 492
Holly Place
Walton Summit Centre
Bamber Bridge
Preston
PR5 8AX
Website www.kanbanexperts.co.uk
Established 1880
The website states that the head office is at the Bamber Bridge address, but the website gives only brief details of the heritage of the company. The assumption has been made that it appears to be an independent business.
Henry Halstead has the aim to be the very best supplier of Total Component Management Systems to manufacturing industries. The company originated from a manufacturing base, but moved into distribution in the early 1970s.
The firm seeks to assist organisations in seeking 'World Class' manufacturing status. The firm offers a supply service (the kanban system) that is said to be radically different to the "old" procurement philosophy. This system is said to guarantee continuous stock availability on an enormous range of products, working with minimum stocks conveniently sited at point of use.
Companies in sectors such as Automotive, Electronics, Furniture Manufacturing, Domestic Appliances and Machine Tool Builders are said to have benefited from this system.
Henry Ibbotson & Son Ltd
Forrest Street
Blackburn
BB1 3BE
Website www.ibbotson-const.co.uk
Established 1756
One of the oldest companies on the list, yet the website only gives tentative details regarding the heritage of the firm. The current chairman has the same name as the founder, and there is nothing to suggest that it is part of a larger group of companies, so it has been included.
The website gives details of the type and value of the contracts being undertaken by the firm which appear to be concentrated in their local area.
Hilden Manufacturing Co. Ltd
Clifton Mill
Pickup Street
Oswaldtwistle
Accrington
BB5 0EY
Website www.hilden.co.uk
Established 1874
In July 2008, it was announced that the company was placed in administration. It was at the time thought that there was a good chance that the business could be sold as a going concern. The position of this firm in the main list of old independent Lancashire companies is therefore under review.
Prior to the announcement, the Hargreaves family still ran the company maintaining close relationships between management and workforce in order to share knowledge and experience. Close, long-term working relationships had also been developed with global suppliers and overseas subsidiaries to ensure consistent quality for customers in sectors such as hotels, restaurants, bed & breakfasts, airlines and cruises. The company produces tablecloths, napkins, pillowcases, flat sheets, duvet covers, fitted sheets, valance sheets, face, cloths, hand towels, bath towels, bath sheets, bath mats, glass cloths, kitchen cloths, waiters cloths, oven cloths and Judy terry tea towels.
The changing industry had resulted in moving production to Egypt in 2004, but the company still uses its weaving, dyeing and design expertise to control every stage of the production process to maintain standards and remain competitive.
HJ Berry
Kirk Mills
Chipping
Preston
PR3 2RA
Website www.hjberry.co.uk
Established c. 1855
The company can draw upon over 150 years of family values and craftsmanship to build high quality furniture. HJ Berry is now managed by the fifth generation of the Berry family and staffed by local people, many of whose parents and grandparents also worked in the company.
The company is proud of its history, tradition and the quality of its furniture and although times have changed its reputation for fine furniture continues.
All solid wood chair and table frames are made from sustainable British beech, ash and oak, cut from the log and carefully seasoned in the company's own sawmill. The talented in-house design team prides itself on creating the very best, innovative concepts for today's market.
The company's environmental stance ensures that it considers the impact on future generations.
H Lofthouse & Sons
Unit 10
Lincoln Park Industrial Estate
Lincoln Way
Clitheroe
BB7 1QD
No website
Established c. 1900
The company does not have a website but the firm has done work for Ribble Valley Borough Council's Surveyors Department, who have kindly confirmed that it is an independently trading company.
The company is involved in plumbing, painting and decorating, and offers a 24-hour emergency plumbing service to local authorities and domestic properties. The painting and decorating side of the business has been in existence for over 100 years.
House of Anderson (1905) Ltd
Off Thornton Road
Morecambe
LA4 5PX
Website www.houseofanderson.co.uk
Established 1905
The company has two addresses in Morecambe and Ulverston but a search on www.ukdata.com highlights the Morecambe address as the main one for the company. The website contains only limited information on the history of the firm so the questions of ownership and trading history are somewhat inconclusive.
The company name and website do confirm that it is an old established home improvement company that firmly believes in the virtues of personal service and high-quality craftsmanship at sensible prices.
James Hargreaves Ltd
Irwell Mill
Lee Street
Bacup
OL13 0AG
Website www.jameshargreaves.co.uk
Established c. 1845
In the 1840s James Hargreaves began dealing in waste from the cotton mills in the Rossendale Valley. The waste was processed and used for cleaning by local companies. In the late 1800s, Brothers James and Tom Hargreaves were managing the business from Pippin Bank Mill. By the early 20th century, Tom along with a Mr Taylor purchased Irwell Mill and started Taylor & Hargreaves Ltd whose business activities were cotton doubling and mop yarn manufacturers.
In the 1950s James Hargreaves became a limited company and in the following decade Taylor & Hargreaves began manufacturing stockinette. In the 1990s the Taylor & Hargreaves Business was amalgamated into James Hargreaves (Bacup) Ltd. The company nowadays produces a full range of stockinette, industrial wipers and cleaning products.
James Proctor Ltd
PO Box 19
Cow Lane
Burnley
BB11 1NN
Website www.jamesproctor.com
Established 1875
James Proctor came upon the idea for stoking boilers automatically whilst working as an engineer for a local company. His experiments resulted in 1875 in the first patent for his invention, which he named 'Proctor's Mechanical Stoker'. Almost 50 more patents were taken out for improvements, modifications and alterations before the company was registered as James Proctor Ltd in 1902.
In subsequent years coal and ash handling equipment were added to the product portfolio along with new designs for more automated stoking systems which resulted in sales of equipment to the far corners of the world and a reputation as a world leader in coal burning technology.
Successive generations of the Proctor family have steered the company over the decades with new designs and innovative products serving the demands of a changing world. Today, this philosophy of invention and innovation continues apace with the current emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
James Proctor Ltd has a commitment to developing biomass and renewable energy combustion systems. By burning biomass the CO2 emitted is equal to the CO2 originally taken in by the plant to grow. But the systems must be able to burn the fuel in its raw form, which often includes a high moisture content in the fuel.
The company has developed an efficient, cost-effective boiler package which enables high moisture content biomass to be utilised as a low cost, environmentally friendly fuel. This can often be a waste biomass that is currently landfilled, leading to huge cost savings for the customer if used as a fuel both in terms of fuel costs and taxation from landfill and carbon taxes, which must only rise in the future.
James Thornber Ltd
Holmes Mill
Greenacre Street
Clitheroe
BB7 1EB
Website www.jamesthornber.com
Established c. 1800
A family-owned textile manufacturer situated in Clitheroe. For over 200 years and seven generations, the Thornber family has guided the company from the days of the hand loom through the Industrial Revolution and now to the thoroughly modern weaving operation using 'state of the art' machinery and processes that make James Thornber Ltd one of the leading textile manufacturers in the UK.
James Thornber weaves in excess of 100,000 metres of fabric every week for the domestic and contract upholstery market. The remainder of their capacity is utilsed for window blinds, curtains, blankets and apparel.
J Fairburn Ltd
Waterloo Works
Trafalgar Street
Burnley
BB11 1RF
Website www.pulverisers.com
Established 1864
The website provides brief details of the company and its range of services but does not contain information on the history of the company. The date of establishment was confirmed by the Regeneration and Economic Development unit of Burnley Borough Council, and the assumption is that it is an independent firm.
The company specialises in precision engineering, print machinery spares, repairs, reconditioning of machinery and rubber covering of rollers, gear cutting etc.
J&J Ormerod PLC
Colonial House
Bacup
OL13 0EA
Website www.jjoplc.com
Established unknown
The company website only has a limited amount of information about the firm and does not explicitly confirm that it is an independent business. Without any information to the contrary however, it is assumed that it maintains an independent status and therefore has been included in this list.
The website states that the firm was founded over 100 years ago and that nowadays it produces over 600 quality kitchens and bedrooms every week. This makes it the leading supplier to many of the best outlets within the industry.
The firm is a major local employer and operates from a three-quarter of a million square foot factory, where a skilled workforce uses the latest machine technology to produce their product range.
Like many other of the long-established firms in Lancashire, the company makes a point of specifying its sustainable business practices, stating that its principles demand only the use of timbers from managed forests and that all waste materials are recycled.
John Spencer (Textiles) Ltd
Ashfield Mill
Active Way
Burnley
BB11 1BS
Website www.johnspencer.com
Established 1871
Although the company ceased trading in the early 1970s, the replacement business was formed by original family members and many workers from the former business so the fourth criterion – an uninterrupted 100-year trading history – has been in this case liberally interpreted.
In 1871 John Spencer started in business with his son John and John's brother at Waterloo shed on Trafalgar Street with 110 looms. The business grew substantially over the years and at one stage had over 2,000 looms, but along with the rest of the textile industry in the County ran into hard times. The firm was wound up in 1971, but family interest was maintained and reflected in the name of the new company John Spencer (Textiles) Ltd.
The decision was made that the new business would concentrate on a wide range of fabrics but not more than 10% of any one particular type of cloth, thereby avoiding an over reliance on a small number of large buyers who were increasingly sourcing their products from cheaper options abroad.
In 1991 a major fire engulfed the mill and everything was destroyed except one weaving shed. This became the core centre for production over the next few months, but with the money received from the insurers a modern £million mill has been developed.
Six generations of the family have experience in weaving the finest quality fabrics from a huge variety of different fibres. The company proudly boasts that, "If it can be woven, then we can probably weave it!"
The business produces woven fabrics for industry, furnishing, fashion, shirting, suiting, military, protective clothing, workwear, laminating, coating, filtration and a wide range of other end-uses.
John Turner & Sons
Preston Road
Grimsargh
Preston
PR2 5SD
Website www.johnturner.co.uk
Established 1907
The company is a building and civil engineering contractor that operates throughout North West England.
The website states that the company has divisions covering construction, joinery manufacturing, electrical services and development, and that the company has acquired a wealth of experience and a proven track record within the construction industry. The Main Contracts division represents about 80% of the firm's activity and undertakes most types of building works, valued between £500,000 to £10 million per project.
Joseph Metcalf Group
Brookside Lane
Oswaldtwistle
Accrington
BB5 3NY
Website www.gemgardening.co.uk
Established 1887
The Joseph Metcalf Group is said to be the UK's largest privately owned fertilizer and compost producer. It is a family-owned business priding itself on providing an uncompromising level of service and product quality to all its customers.
The company has a wide product portfolio range enabling it to service three distinct markets: professional horticulture; professional amenity and local authority markets; and retail gardening.
To serve these sectors, it has created three divisions, all identified under the Gem brand umbrella. Gem Gardening manufactures fertilizers, composts, bark and sundries that are available through independent garden centres. Gem Horticulture offers crop-specific composts to peat dilutants and prescription mixes. Gem Professional has its own manufacturing base and supplies a wide range of products manufactured specifically for the amenity market direct to the end user. Customers include golf clubs, cricket clubs and bowling clubs, local authorities, landscapers and contractors.
J Robinson & Sons (Plasterers) Ltd
4 Eshton Terrace
Clitheroe
BB7 1BQ
No website
Established c. 1850
The company does not have a website but the firm has done work for Ribble Valley Borough Council's Surveyors Deptartment, who have kindly confirmed that it is an independent trading company.
The firm states that it is an established family business that is over 150 years old and which is involved in plastering, roof, floor and wall tilers and slating for new work, housing, schools and general repairs.
J Wareing & Son
Whinbrick Works
Blackpool Road
Kirkham
Preston
PR4 2RJ
Website www.wareingbuildings.co.uk
Established 1909
Wareing Buildings is a specialist supplier of steel framed structures for an extensive number of applications.
The family business is said to have earned a reputation nationally and internationally based on quality and craftsmanship. Initially, the company was founded to supply products to the agricultural sector but has successfully marketed its expertise to the commercial sector with contracts as far afield as the Falkland Islands and the Sudan.
Today it manufactures purpose-built premises such as storage units, leisure and sports facilities, warehouses, agricultural buildings, stables and retail premises.
Lambert Howarth Group PLC
Healey Royd Works
Burnley
BB11 2HL
Website www.lamberthowarth.com
Established 1895
The age of the company was confirmed by the Regeneration and Economic Development Unit of Burnley Borough Council, who maintain a database of local companies that includes information on date of establishment.
The firm's website states that Lambert Howarth is a design, resourcing and distribution business supplying footwear, accessories and homeware of own label and branded lines to retail customers. The group operates three divisions: private labels, brands and Orient.
The company is focused on being design- and product-led with emphasis on sourcing from the leading specialist facilities around the world.
Leyprint
Leyland Lane
Leyland
PR25 1UT
Website www.leyprint.co.uk
Established c. 1900
Leyland Printing Company Ltd, universally known as Leyprint, owes its existence to Thomas Edward Mould, the grandfather of the present directors. At the turn of the century he set up a small printing business in Sandy Lane, Leyland, that is still run by the same family.
Since 1956, Leyprint has been on Leyland Lane, but has expanded dramatically over the years. In 1970 a decision was made to change the main printing process and re-equip for offset sheet-fed litho printing. At the same time the firm started to look into packaging work and now, 20 years on, approximately 50% of the capacity is in folding box work, with the balance being mainly large-sheet colour work, which is usually folded and finished on the premises.
Lupton & Place Ltd
Athletic Street
Burnley
BB10 4LR
Website www.lupton-place.co.uk
Established 1897
The date of establishment was confirmed by the Regeneration and Economic Development Unit of Burnley Borough Council.
The website states that Lupton & Place has developed from its roots in the textile industry to become one of Europe's leading subcontract diecasting manufacturers, forging sole supplier partnerships throughout the automotive, white goods and electronics industries, and supplying direct to line in many others.
Despite such firm roots in the past, Lupton & Place has remained committed to the future. Ongoing investment in state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and the ability to successfully retain flexibility within a large customer base has allowed Lupton & Place to succeed.
Marland Builders & Contractors Ltd
Eden Street
Leyland
PR25 2FR
Website www.marlandbros.co.uk
Established 1909
The website confirms that it is a long established family firm that looks to maintain the best tradition of the building trades together with the high standards.
The company carries out work on a wide range of projects for a large number of clients in and around the Preston area and throughout the North West region.
Mere Brow Smithy (Ironworkers)
29 The Gravel
Mere Brow
Preston
PR4 6JX
Website www.merebrowsmithy.com
Established 1875
The origins of the firm were in two separately run smithy and wheelwright businesses located in adjoining buildings. They merged in the early 1900s, and were owned by local man Thomas Moss, then by his sons Sam and John who took over in 1950. The two brothers were skilled craftsmen and much in demand in a largely agricultural area of heavy horses which needed shoeing and even heavier machinery which needed mending.
By the late 1990s the smithy's function had changed with, ornamental metalwork being the mainstay of the business when brothers Tom and Danny Murphy took over in 2000. The business now specialises in fashionable and artistic metalwork for the home and garden.
Mitchell Interflex Ltd
County Brook Mill
Foulridge
Colne
BB9 7LT
Website www.mitchell-interflex.co.uk
Established 1907
Mitchell Interflex is a family-owned company that celebrates its centenary in 2007.
The Weaving Department has modern productive capacity to meet customer needs. Many of the fabrics produced require a brushed surface and in 1998 a custom-built Raising Department was commissioned. The Raising Department is situated on the M65 at Nelson and has excellent distribution through the motorway network. The raising factory has the best machinery available for raising both woven and non-woven fabrics with suitable ancillary equipment for crease and lapping and making up.
Ouzledale Foundry Co. Ltd
Long Ing
Barnoldswick
BB18 6BN
Website www.ouzledale.co.uk
Established 1854
The company's website states that it has been making cookers and stoves longer than any other manufacturer, and in comparison with a number of other old established firms, the company has a very colourful past. Details of the firm's history (and its association with famous people) are worth studying in full on the website. The website details the path from its beginnings with the establishment of a hardware store in Jackson, Mississippi, by Scottish entrepreneur James Smith, to it becoming a Lancashire business in 1984 when it was acquired by the Ashby family who owned the Ouzledale Foundry Company in Barnoldswick.
Page & Taylor Ltd
Watery Lane
The Docks
Preston
PR2 2XH
Website www.pageandtaylor.co.uk
Established 1872
Page and Taylor Ltd is an established company of timber importers and sawmillers. The company has always operated from premises in Preston, initially in a yard in Deepdale Mill Street and from 1903 onwards at its present six-and-a-half acre site in Watery Lane, Ashton, which adjoins the dock development.
With their strategic position opposite the dock estate, the company made full use of the port facilities. Many thousands of "Standards" of timber were imported from Russia, Canada, Poland and Scandinavia.
The mid-fifties and early seventies saw the boom years in the building trade with Page & Taylor supplying the goods for new houses, schools and hospitals.
In November 1985 the company was acquired by the present management, who then embarked on a massive investment policy. This investment has resulted in modern timber merchants with a 20,000 sq.ft. sales area capable of dealing with both the building and the DIY trade. The company supplies everything applicable to the timber trade including timber, doors, a wide range of hardwoods, ironmongery and joinery tools.
Striving to achieve the "Three R's" has always been the company's main aim: "The right product at the right price, with the right service".
Pincroft Dyeing & Printing Co. Ltd
Market Street
Adlington
near Chorley
PR7 4HE
Website www.pincroft.com
Established c. 1900
The company website states that the firm has over a century of tradition, but there is no confirmation of the actual date of establishment or if the firm is still trading as an independent company. The lack of any mention of being part of a larger organisation leads to the assumption that they qualify for an entry.
Pincroft Dyeing & Printing Co. Ltd has for the last 25 years specialised in the production of workwear fabrics and is said to be an acknowledged leader in this field.
In comparison to other websites there is not a wealth of information, but what clearly comes across is the pride the business has in emphasising its environmental credentials. The firm has invested heavily in state of the art machinery that has lead to dramatic reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The investment also allows Pincroft to recover energy from wastewater used during processing and from the hot exhaust air of the drying and finishing equipment.
RH Slater & Son Ltd
Loud Bridge
Chipping
Preston
PR3 2NX
Website www.rhslater.co.uk
Established 1905
The website contains a comprehensive history that charts the family involvement in the firm from its formation to the present day. The company has carried out a variety of work over the years, but the mainstream business is nowadays one of building contractor and joinery manufacture.
Reed Family Linens
2 Gisburn Road
Bolton-by-Bowland
Clitheroe
BB7 4NP
Website www.reedfamilylinens.com
Established 1852
The website provides details of the five generations of the same family that have managed the business since its inception. The firm has claimed to be synonymous with superior linens for the home and hotels ever since its beginnings as a cottage industry in Nelson. The motto "Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better best" is used as a guiding principle that underpins the development of the business in striving for higher quality and comfort.
R Kirk & Sons
Riverside
Bridge Street
Colne
BB8 0DR
Website www.r-kirk.com
Established 1907
The firm does not have a website but confirmation that it has a heritage dating back to when it started as a blacksmiths in 1907 and therefore is 100 years old in 2007 was provided by a Lancashire County Council press release commenting on how in 2006, the company accessed a Rosebud Fund loan from the County Council's economic development company, Lancashire County Developments. Rosebud loans are designed to help small and medium sized businesses, which can sometimes find it hard to raise all the investment they need from traditional sources such as banks.
The company has over the years developed into a specialist in water management and water treatment solutions and is now leading the way in its field delivering first class products to the whole of the UK and exporting its technology around the world.
Alan Kirk, the grandson of the founder of the firm, the major shareholder of the company is scaling back his involvement in the company and transferring day to day responsibilities and majority ownership to his management team.
Ritherdon & Co. Ltd
Lorne Street
Darwen
BB3 1Q
Website www.ritherdon.co.uk
Established 1895
The company website asserts that Ritherdon & Co. has been operating in Darwen for many years, supplying quality sheet metal work both locally and nationwide.
The company specialises in manufacturing enclosures and control panel metalwork, particularly for the electricity distribution industry, but also numbers many other nationally recognised names among its customers.
It states that it is now the largest supplier of steel domestic meter boxes and meter box refurbishment units to the UK's regional electricity companies as well as supplying control and regulator boxes to many other electrical and electronic outlets.
RK Timber Engineering
Wigan Lane
Duxbury
Chorley
PR7 4BU
Website www.rktimber.co.uk
Established 1814
The website states that the company has been established since 1814 and is one of the UK's largest manufacturers and suppliers of timber engineered products for the construction industry.
Unfortunately, the website does not offer further information about the heritage of the company nor does it clarify the ownership of the firm. In the absence of any contradictory data however, it is assumed that the company is entitled to an entry as an independent Lancashire firm.
R Slinger & Son Ltd
Ribble Saw Mill
Paley Road
Preston
PR1 8LT
Website www.slingers1858.co.uk
Established 1858
R Slinger & Son Ltd was founded in 1858 by Richard Slinger and is today run by the sixth generation of the family. The website states that, "We are Architectural Ironmongers who specialise in door scheduling from our team of Guild of Architectural Ironmongers trained staff".
The company has over 10,000 lines in stock and its office and warehouse in Preston includes a large trade counter and extensive display.
Shirley's Ltd
24-26 Canterbury Street
Blackburn
BB2 2HP
Website www.shirleyswastepaper.com
Established 1900
The company specialises in recycling so does not fit exactly into any of the broad industrial and commercial sectors used to classify the firms in this article.
The company was founded in 1900, when Thomas Shirley inherited a house at 26 Canterbury Street with an adjoining small warehouse.
The website states that, with the advent of machinery together with the erosion of values of recyclable materials, survival has depended on bulk handling and specialisation.
The company now has a site of 4,000 sq.m. and can process well in excess of 2,000 tonnes of waste of paper and cardboard per week. As part of its continuing growth, and to meet customer requirements, the company also provides general waste services and plastic recycling.
T Snape Printers
Boltons Court
Preston
PR1 3TY
Website www.tsnapeprinters.co.uk
Established 1858
First established in 1858, the company now has an exceptionally long tradition of providing innovative quality work within specified timeframes. T Snape Printers is a traditional commercial printer that produces a wide range of printed products and one that specialises in the production of magazine and book work.
The firm boasts large premises on two floors providing the full spectrum of services that its customers demand.
Although long established, the company is not stuck in the past, and continues to reinvest in state-of-the-art equipment to provide a faster more convenient method of satisfying customer requirements.
Turners Sunblinds Ltd Direct
226-228 Shear Brow
Four Lane Ends
Blackburn
BB1 8DS
Website www.turnerssunblinds.co.uk
Established 1908
Interior and exterior blinds manufacturer.
The website confirms the age of the company but provides no information regarding its ownership and history. The contact details are the Blackburn address so it is assumed that it is an independent local company.
The website states that Turners Sunblinds Ltd has been supplying quality blinds to homeowners and companies and can now offer the same high quality blinds on the internet.
Ward Knowles Ltd
Brookside Lane
Oswaldtwistle
Accrington
BB5 3NY
Website www.wardknowles.co.uk
Established 1904
Ward Knowles Ltd has over the years developed from general printer to a specialist business forms printer. For many years a family company, the firm was bought by four senior managers in 2000, and since then it has undergone significant changes and investment in new technology. All the company's products are printed and finished in house at its 80,000 sq.ft. manufacturing facility in Oswaldtwistle.
The firm has no direct sales force but instead relies entirely on the major print management companies for its growth. The company states that it is one of the UK's largest manufacturers of business forms. Their philosophy is said to be one of sticking to what they are good at whilst striving to increase capacity and improve efficiency.
Waterloo Timber Co. Ltd
Waterloo Road
Clitheroe
BB7 1LR
Website www.waterlootimber.co.uk
Established 1860
Waterloo Timber Co. is an independant timber supplier since 1860 that supplies a range of imported hardwoods and sheet materials including softwoods, blockboard, chipboard, mouldings and architraves, hardware and tools. The company also manufactures window frames, doors, stairs, balustrades, conservatories and summerhouses.
Woodhey Engineering Co. Ltd
Wardle Street Industrial Estate
Stacksteads
Bacup
OL13 0HB
Website www.woodheyengineering.co.uk
Established unknown
The company states that it has been in business for more than a century but the exact year of establishment is unknown. Woodhey Engineering is said to be a family-owned precision engineering company that has maintained a reputation for personal service and dedication to its customers. Today, in a modern facility and with the very latest technology, it claims to continue to uphold the traditional values on which the company was built.
From 3D design to CNC milling, boring and dynamic balancing, the company offers a comprehensive range of engineering services, all carried out in strict accordance with the demands of BS EN ISO 9001, the international standard for quality assurance.
4.2 Food and Drink Sector
It is perhaps not surprising that this sector should a include a number of firms. Across the country there are examples of long-established local brewers, local food retailers and traditional suppliers of food products that have been around for generations. Lancashire has its fair share of companies in this sector that includes the Daniel Thwaites brewery that celebrates 200 years of trading in 2007. James Baxter & Son is also a family firm that can also trace is history back over a couple of centuries. Also of note in this sector is the Food retailer Booths. This company still successfully competes against the giants of the industry and has a strong focus on sourcing products locally, to the benefit of Lancashire firms.
One important Lancashire firm that may be entitled to an entry in this sector but is as yet not included is RS Ireland in Bacup. This family-run company is famous for its Black Puddings and the website states that it still uses the original recipe dating back to 1879. The site however does not confirm whether this was the actual date of establishment of the company.
Althams Catering Butchers
Northgate
White Lund Industrial Estate
Morecambe
Website www.j-c-althams.com
Established 1856
Established in 1856 by local farmer Thomas Altham. who opened a butcher's shop in Morecambe. His widow Mrs JC Altham took over the business and opened three more shops with her two sons, Thomas and John Robert.
In 1975, the running of the farming and butchery business was taken over by one of the present directors, the great-grandson of the founder. The company, seeing a decline in retail trade, expanded further into the catering sector, moving further afield to service hotels in the Lake District and surrounding areas.
The development of the catering business was so successful that the company moved the butchery business to larger premises on White Lund Industrial Estate.
As a result of being a specialist supplier to the catering trade of the north's leading supplier of quality meat, game, poultry etc., the company's profile among the general Lancashire public is somewhat lower than other firms that sell direct to the public.
Cowmans
13 Castle Street
Clitheroe
BB7 2BT
Website www.cowmans.co.uk
Established unknown
The exact age of the company is unknown but since the family butchers business is now run by the fifth generation of the family, it is assumed that the firm belongs in the list. Each generation has built their success on the knowledge passed down to them and the firm now has a nationwide reputation for its extensive range of quality sausages. The firm prides itself in never having to diversify or lower its standards and has dedicated employees who share in this pride.
One interesting fact about this company that was kindly confirmed by Ribble Valley Enterprise Agency is that it has only been in Clitheroe since 1959. The company started trading in Prestwich in Cheshire before moving to Lancashire. It first set up in the County in Whitworth before moving north to Nelson and then finally moving once again a few miles further west to Clitheroe.
Daniel Thwaites PLC
PO Box 50
Star Brewery
Blackburn
BB1 5BU
Website www.thwaites.co.uk
Established 1807
The brewery industry has seen enormous change over the past few decades, but up and down the country there are still small- and medium-sized locally run businesses that have long and distinguished trading histories.
Daniel Thwaites PLC is one of the oldest Lancashire firms, being founded in 1807 and incorporated in 1897. It remains an independent family-controlled business operating from its original town centre site in Blackburn.
The principal activities of the brewery division are brewing, canning, bottling, wholesaling and retailing of beers, wines and spirits. It operates over 420 tied houses and the group's hotel division, Shire Hotels Ltd, operates eight hotels throughout England and owns the Stafford Hotel in London.
D Byrne & Co.
Victoria Buildings
12 King Street
Clitheroe
BB7 2EP
Website www.dbyrne-finewines.co.uk
Established 1871
Considered by many wine aficionados as a little gem of a company, this family firm has been purveyors of fine wine and spirits since 1871. The shop and cellars are packed with an extraordinarily long list of fairly priced wines from both the New and Old Worlds.
EH Booth & Co. Ltd
4 Fishergate Lane
Preston
PR1 3LI
Website www.booths-supermarkets.co.uk
Established 1846
Founded in 1846, the company is still owned by the Booth family. It opened its first shop in Blackpool, and nowadays has more than 25 modern food stores across Lancashire, Cumbria and beyond. It continues to abide by its long-standing philosophy to "sell the best goods available, in attractive stores, staffed with first class assistants", and also specialises in offering locally-sourced products. According to the firm, at least 25% of the products in Booths at any one time are locally produced. 100% of the company's fresh meat comes from Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria and Cheshire and the company is also strong in local fresh fruit and vegetables.
An efficient company making a success in a sector that contains such big rivals and has been around for so long cannot have avoided coming to the notice of its major competitors. The company has never accepted any takeover approaches and its continued survival is due to the strong family tradition and the overriding passion to continue with that tradition.
Fitzpatrick's
5 Bank Street
Rawtenstall
Rossendale
BB4 6QS
Website www.mrfitzpatricks-cordials.com
Established 1890
Fitzpatrick's Temperance Bar in Rawtenstall has been making soft drinks for more than 100 years. The shop is believed to be the last of the original temperance bars that were set up as alternatives to pubs in the 1890s.
The Fitzpatricks were a family of herbalistswho emigrated from Ireland to Lancashire in the 1800s. They opened a chain of shops throughout Lancashire selling herbal remedies and gained popularity through the temperance movement. At their peak the Fitzpatricks owned a total of 24 shops.
The Rawtenstall shop has managed to survive through the dedicated support of the local community and the affection they have for both the shop and its drinks. The proud tradition is continued today by the new owners, with a new dream to make Fitzpatrick's cordial available to all.
Frank Littler & Sons Ltd
Stall 129
3-day Market
Blackburn
No website
Established 1860
The Yellow Pages advert for the business confirms the date of establishment and the stall sign on Blackburn Market asserts that it is the oldest family butchers in the town.
Frederick's Ice Cream Ltd
Bolton Road Dairies
Heath Charnock
PR7 4AL
Website www.fredericksicecream.co.uk
Established 1896
Frederick's is proud to have been in business as a family-run firm for over 100 years. Frederick's Ice Cream is the North West's leading family-owned and -managed ice cream company, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing Italian-style ice cream.
The family originated from a small village in north west Italy and the company was established in 1896 by Mattia Federici and his brothers when they arrived in England. Mattia's son, Matthew, married May Amelia Massa, whose family had been making ice cream in the Chorley area since 1892. When they married in 1936, they were bought the shop as a wedding gift and the company is run by their descendents.
The site on Bolton Road is the base for all manufacturing and wholesaling for the company and is also the site of the flagship ice cream parlour. The company also has ice cream parlours in central Chorley and in Wigan.
Frederick's Ice Cream currently produces over 112 different flavours of ice cream with new ones being added constantly. Every year Frederick's Ice Cream enters the National Ice Cream Competition. The company has been delighted to receive many awards including Diplomas, Diplomas of Merit and Special Diplomas of Merit.
George Haffner (Foods) Ltd
14 Keirby Walk
Burnley
BB11 2DE
Website www.haffners.co.uk
Established 1889
George Kristian Haffner, a German immigrant, arrived in England in 1879 and in 1889 he opened a pork butcher's shop in Burnley. The company's website charts the family's involvement in the business up to the present day and the fortunes of the business, which nowadays has three outlets in Burnley.
The company sells all kinds of meat and states that it takes particular care to buy from local wholesalers and farmers. In addition to the retail trade, the company also supplies local caterers such as restaurants, public houses, residential homes, canteens, etc.
The website states that the seasoning recipe for the sausages remains the same as the one brought to England from Germany by John's great-frandfather in 1879.
George Speight & Sons Ltd
Queen Street
Lancaster
LA1 1RX
Website www.georgespeights.co.uk
Established 1889
The company specialises in supplying fresh fruit, vegetables, potatoes and par-fry chips directly to companies. Since the firm does not have a retail presence, it is somewhat less well known than many other old Lancashire firms.
The website states this is a family-run firm that has customers throughout the North West of England.
James Baxter & Son
Thornton Road
Morecambe
LA4 5PB
No website
Established 1799
Bob Baxter's family has been potting shrimps for 200 years. Whereas the family once ran their own boats, had a wet fish shop and employed a large staff, the owner now buys his Morecambe Bay shrimps, though they are still processed in the same time-honoured way.
J Atkinson & Co. Ltd
China Street
Lancaster
LA1 1EX
Website www.atkinsonsteaandcoffee.co.uk
Established 1837
The company was orignally established as the Grasshopper Tea Warehouse and has occupied these premises on China Street since 1901. It has been supplying tea and coffee to the citizens of Lancaster since its inception.
According to their website, five generations of continuous trading in the city have resulted in a marvellous collection of tea and coffee artefacts, such as tea cannisters from the 1820s, an original spice drawer-run complete with uranium glass knobs, and in the window the famous small roaster dating from just after the Second World War that still wafts its delicious aroma out into the streets of Lancaster today.
Everything from scoops to scales have been lovingly mended and cared for over the years and are still very much in use on a daily basis.
Lofthouse of Fleetwood Ltd
Maritime Street
Fleetwood
FY7 7LP
Website www.fishermansfriend.com
Established 1865
Perhaps more than any other long-established Lancashire firm, Lofthouse of Fleetwood has managed to carve out a distinct market niche with a well-known product.
The company makes the famous Fisherman's Friend Lozenges. It was founded by James Lofthouse, a resident of Fleetwood who created an extremely strong liquid containing menthol and eucalyptus, which helped fishermen working in freezing conditions. To make it easier to transport, the liquid was made into small lozenges.
The company remains family owned and is still resident in Fleetwood where it is a significant local employer.
Mitchells of Lancaster (Brewers) Ltd
11 Moor Lane
Lancaster
LA1 1QB
Website www.mitchellsbrewery.co.uk
Established c. 1865
Mitchell's of Lancaster is a well established family owned pub and hotel company, operating seven individual, quality hotels and 55 traditional inns in North Lancashire and Cumbria.
Established for over 140 years, the company was founded by William Mitchell and is now run by the founder's great-great-grandchildren. The story goes that a chance meeting with a friend provided the money William needed to build his own brewery. Once the brewery was built, William went on to build a number of large hotels and inns, strategically sited within the Lancaster and Morecambe area. The company no longer brews its own beer, but maintains the family traditions of running good quality establishments offering an excellent range of cask ales, fine wines and home-cooked food in comfortable surroundings.
Moorhouse's
4 Moorhouse Street
Burnley
BB11 5EN
Website www.moorhouses.co.uk
Established 1865
William Moorhouse founded Moorhouse's in 1865, in premises not far from the present production site, on the opposite side of Accrington Road in Burnley. He produced mineral waters, which were sold in bottles and half-gallon jars. By 1870 the business was doing so well that William decided to build his own premises and relocated to the building that is today occupied by the company. By the early 20th century the company was producing hop bitters that were low in alcohol, less than 2% abv, and deemed to be "non-intoxicating liquours".
The company remained in the hands of the Moorhouse family until 1978 and then entered a short period of constant change of ownership. In 1982 a local businessman, Alan Hutchinson, bought the business and, with the introduction of Pendle Witches Brew, production grew steadily. Unfortunately Mr Hutchinson died quite suddenly in 1985 and Moorhouse's was faced with extinction. The company was saved by William Parkinson, who originated from Burnley, and who since then he has invested in a new brew plant in 1988 and a new warehouse/distribution depot in 1995.
According to the website, the company has six pubs and supplies beers to Free Trade outlets within a 50-mile radius of the brewery. It also enjoys national distribution through a comprehensive wholesale network including the local supermarket chain Booths.
WH Oddie Ltd
129 Scotland Road
Nelson
BB9 7XR
No Website
Established 1905
Manufacturer and retailer of bread and flour confectionery, with shops across East Lancashire.
Platt's of Preston
82 Fishergate
Preston
PR1 2NJ
Website www.peterdraper.co.uk
Established 1832
Platt's the Pen Shop has been situated on Fishergate in central Preston since 1832. Originally a printers, it moved to new premises in the same street around ten years ago.
The firm are agents for Parker, Waterman, Cross, Lamy, Mont Blanc, Caran d'Ache, Pelikan, Fisher Space Pen and Lalex pens, and sell a vast selection of fountain pens as well as ballpoint pens, pencils and rollerballs.
Roberts & Co.
The Coffee Roastery
Cedar Farm
Back Lane
Mawdesley
L40 3SY
Website www.e-coffee.co.uk
Date of establishment 1891
The firm has its headquarters in Lancashire, though much of its heritage originates from outside the county.
This family business has been involved in the tea and coffee trade since the present owner's grandfather, who originated from North Wales, moved to Liverpool to work in the tea trade. The business originally targeted markets back in North Wales but slowly the port of Liverpool became the main area of business.
Famous shipping lines like Cunard, Blue Star Line, Elder Dempster and others were customers, along with the Navy and numerous ship stores and chandlers. From around 1960, the decline of the port and the advent of supermarkets meant that new markets had to be found
The growing catering trade became the biggest element of sales and the company moved into speciality tea and coffee shops in the 1980s. Shops were opened in Wigan, Chester, Manchester, Southport and London. Cedar Farm in Mawdesley is the main base for the company from where its direct by mail order/internet and wholesale.
Reuben Marsden Ltd
210 Pall Mall
Chorley
PR7 2LH
Website www.reubenmarsden.co.uk
Established c. 1896
Reuben Marsden Ltd has been family owned and run for four generations. The company has an in-house bakery and all meat is farm assured and of the highest quality and fully traceable. The company has four branches in the Chorley area.
TG Clarkson & Son
346 Leyland Lane
Leyland
PR25 1TR
Website www.clarksonbutchers.co.uk
Established 1902
The website states that TG Clarkson & Son is a family run business that is dedicated to providing its customers with the finest quality fresh meats and foods from around the world. The firm asserts that it is able to supply any size of restaurant, hotel or industrial food producers with a wide range of products.
The Grove (Café Bar & Restaurant)
3-5 Pedder Street
Morecambe
LA4 5DY
Website www.grovemorecambe.co.uk
Established 1895
The website confirms the date of establishment, but there are unfortunately no further details of the company's heritage prior to the present owners taking over in 1999.
Close to Marine Road Central, the Grove Restaurant specialises in traditional British cuisine that includes Morecambe Bay Shrimps.
The Old Sweet Shop
4-6 Pedder Street
Morecambe
Website www.oldsweetshop.com
Established 1903
One of the few remaining traditional sweetshops left in the UK, the business was originally established in 1903 as a newsagent and sweet shop and continues to the present day with a range of 250 loose sweets. It is now possible to place orders online which are usually processed within 48 hours.
4.3 Wholesale and Retail Sector
Another sector that contains a number of old Lancashire companies. The customer goodwill that develops over the years from a long trading history allows a number of local retailers to successfully compete in selling products and services in areas that are dominated by large multi-nationals. Of particular note in this section is Althams Travel which over the years has grown in to a reasonably large travel agent covering East Lancashire, Greater Manchester and parts of Yorkshire.
A company not included in the following list but which is probably entitled to an entry is Stringers Department Store. This locally well-known Lytham store has been in the hands of the present owners since the 1950s, but has a trading history that goes back much further. The website does not provide details of the exact age of the company therefore it has been excluded from the main list.
Also worth a mention is Whewells of Accrington, which is a long-established family firm of Timber & DIY Merchants. The website does not however confirm whether the trading history is long enough for inclusion in this list.
Ainsworth Jewellers
Darwen Street
Blackburn
BB2 2BW
No website
Established 1870
A family jewellers based in central Blackburn since 1870 that specialises in gem-set rings, quality gold and silver jewellery, watches and clocks etc.
Altham and Sons (Lancaster) Ltd
Anchor Buildings
Penrod Way
Heysham
LA3 2UZ
No website
Established 1856
This company does not appear to have their own web presence so there may be some inaccuracies in the following details.
A chandling service was started from a warehouse on St Georges Quay, Lancaster, to service the increasing number of vessels into Heysham Harbour. 1965 saw the move to larger premises in Morecambe for the ship stores.
A company directory states its business activity as 'Ships store merchants and bonded warehousemen'.
It would appear that the company has a common history with the Althams catering business mentioned earlier. From the limited amount of information to hand it appears that the butchery and chandling businesses seem to have been separated in 1975.
Althams Travel
Riverside Office
Netherwood Road
Burnley
BB10 2AN
Website www.althams.co.uk
Established 1874
Althams Travel is an independent travel agent established in 1874. This family run business has grown from its initial founder Abraham Altham's vision into a large network of travel shops across Lancashire and Yorkshire. The Althams Travel booking line, the 31 holiday shops throughout Lancashire and Yorkshire plus the website all mean that customers can either click, call or come in.
Bambers of Preston
102/104 Friargate
Preston
PR1 2ED
Website www.bambersofpreston.co.uk
Established 1909
The website states that the firm sells quality furniture from all over the world, and offers a valued friendly service that is consistent with its family values. The business was originally founded by a Richard Bamber, with his son and grandsons later joining the firm.
Bodens Cycles
14 Station Terrace
Off Lytham Road
Blackpool
Website www.bodenscycles.com
Established 1896
The website proudly asserts that it is the best little bike shop in the North West. The site also confirms the long trading history of the firm but no limited information on the ownership of the business. Given the size of the company, the assumption is that it is still locally owned.
The business has two showrooms and offers a selection of cycles and accessories from state of the art racers to the humble but still popular shopper bikes. There is also a workshop that does anything from replacing inner tubes to rebuilding wheels and most other repairs.
Dan Kerr Brides
49-51 Preston New Road
Blackburn
Website www.dankerr.co.uk
Established 1897
Dan Kerr Brides is a family firm that is now under the direction of the third and fourth generations.
The firm states that they are probably the largest stockist of wedding and bridesmaid dresses in Lancashire, and also specialises in men's formal suit hire.
Dysons
14 Lee Street
Barrowford
BB9 8NP
Website www.dysonarts.co.uk
Established 1878
The website confirms the date of establishment, but has no details of the firm's heritage prior to it being taken over by the Davies family in the 1950s.& Now run by the third generation of the family, the business moved from Nelson to Barrowford in September 2004, and opened a second Gallery in Clitheroe in April 2006.
The two galleries feature original paintings and limited edition prints and photographs from local, national and international artists. The firm also offers a picture framing service and stocks a wide selection of artist materials.
Edmondson's (Blackburn) Ltd
99-119 Darwen Street
Blackburn
BB2 2AH
Website www.edmondsonsfurniture.co.uk
Established 1898
Edmondson's is an independent furniture store specialising in the middle to top end furniture market.The showroom is located close to the town centre and has more than 10,000 sq.ft. of display area.
Entwistle Guns
254 Plungington Road
Preston
PR2 3PQ
Website www.entwistleguns.com
Established 1895
The company can trace its origins back to 1895 and has had a number of owners. It was originally started by Stephen Troughton who opened a shop in Alfred Street, Blackpool. The Entwistle name first appeared around 1930 when Troughton's nephew Sam Entwistle took over the business and moved a few yards around the corner to 151 Church Street.
After Mr Entwistle, the business was purchased by Eddie Miller, a former journalist from Lytham. The firm prospered and a branch shop was opened in 1968 on Preston's Cattle Market. The current owner, Mike Mogilnicki, ran the Preston end of the business until 1981 when Mr Miller retired. Mike and Margaret Mogilnicki purchased the company at that point and have successfully developed the country clothing side. In July 2002 a major step was taken when the company moved into larger premises on Plungington Road in Preston.
E Taylor Sons & Co. Ltd
691/693 Bacup Road
Waterfoot
Rossendale
BB4 7HB
Website www.taylorsthedecoratingstore.co.uk
Established 1899
The website states that this is an independent family business that values top quality and personal service, and that has been trading for over 100 years. The www.ukdata.com website gives the year of incorporation of the company as 1899.
The firm suppliers Paints and Wallcoverings, and are paint tinting specialists, using the latest computer technology to satisfy specific customer requirements. The firm stocks a range of Brushes, Rollers, Tools, Adhesives and Fillers etc., and supplies both trade and retail customers.
George Anderson Stationers Ltd
36 Standish Street
Burnley
BB11 1AP
Website www.ganderson.co.uk
Established 1721
One of the oldest Lancashire firms still trading, the informative website provides comprehensive details of the history of the firm. The firm is named after George Anderson who joined the business as an errand boy in 1866.
The firm has now been at the Standish street address for around 20 years and is under the ownership of the fourth generation of the Anderson family.
Its product range includes office machines and supplies, printer ink and refills and craft products etc.
Halewood & Sons
37 & 68 Friargate
Preston
PR1 2AT
No website
Established 1867
The business was initially founded by William Halewood as a second hand bookshop, and is still run by the descendents of the original owner. Nowadays, the company sells to academics worldwide and has vast range of stock covering an enormous range of topics. The company states that they are 'Antiquarian, New and Export Booksellers since 1867'.
HM Sowerbutts & Co.
10 King Street
Clitheroe
BB7 2EP
Website www.sowerbuttsfurniture.co.uk
Established 1870
Clitheroe is a thriving market town in the Ribble Valley that contains an impressive collection of long-established family firms. One of the most prominent is the home furnishings store HM Sowerbutts & Co., now run by the fifth generation of the family. The store is situated in an old five-storey corn mill right in the centre of Clitheroe. The website states that they have comprehensive displays of both contemporary and traditional upholstery, beds, cabinets and occasional furniture, together with a wide range of carpets to suit all tastes.
Hesfords DIY, Gardening & Housewares
Moorgate
Ormskirk
L39 4RU
Website www.hesfordsdiy.co.uk
Established 1903
Hesfords has been a family concern since it was founded. The company began by specialising in agricultural engineering, but in 1983 the grandson of the founder decided to set up a retail outlet to supply domestic customers.
The business has been trading from its present location since 1978 and the firm's products range from screws, washers and paint to household and gardening tools. In addition, the company supplies gas air products such as: welding gas, cooking gas and balloon gas.
Wm Hobkirk & Son
118-128 Darwen Street
Blackburn
BB2 2AJ
Website www.hobkirk.co.uk
Established 1903
Founded by Mr William Hobkirk, the company began trading from the Salford area in central Blackburn. William was joined by his son Edgar Hobkirk then in the 60's by Edgar's son and William's grandson Peter Hobkirk.
The company then expanded having another retail shop on Darwen Street on the opposite side of Blackburn's town centre which to this day is the company's head office.
During the '70s and '80s it was Peter Hobkirk who expanded the chain of domestic shops and the 1980s also saw the introduction of industrial sewing machines to the companies already vast range of sewing products, along with the appointment of Mr Brian Buttress as Industrial Technical Director.
2001 saw the opening of 'Hobby's Art and Craft Store' (run by Gillian Holden) which has gone from strength to strength and more recently has doubled in size to expand the range of products on offer.
Mark Hobkirk and Alison Pettinger joined the company in 1993 and in June of 2005 they became Sales Director and Financial Director with Peter Hobkirk as Company Chairman.
The company continues to trade from their head office on Darwen Street, Blackburn, and has reduced the number of satellite branches from six to two.
James Hall & Co. (Southport) Ltd
89-91 Blackpool Road
Ribbleton
Preston
PR2 6DY
Website www.jameshall.uk.com
Established 1863
The company's aim is, "To build lasting partnerships with our SPAR members. We will work hard to provide quality products and to give excellent service at reasonable prices. We will continually strive to develop a business environment where we and our SPAR partners can successfully grow together."
James Hall & Co. (Southport) Limited was founded by its namesake in 1863 when Mr Hall opened a bacon cutting business and retail shop in Southport. The business prospered and the company began to supply other shops with its products.
By the 1950s, the third generation of the family had assumed control, and in 1966 the company consolidated its operations into a single new warehouse on Blackpool Road, Preston.
It was among the first five distributors to be instrumental in introducing SPAR to the UK, and has over the years expanded its operation to cover the whole of the North of England. The company announced in 2006 that it has plans for a £30 million relocation to a state-of-the-art facility on Bluebell Way near Junction 31a of the M6.
JH Blakey & Sons
Burnley Rd
Brierfield
Nelson
BB9 5AD
Website www.jhblakey.net
Established 1905
The company continues the codes of practice laid down by the founders of the company, James Henry and Mary Blakey and which are now practicsed by the grandson of the founder: honesty, quality and value coupled with excellence of service.
The company boasts vast showrooms that display all types of locks, handles and safes to suit all applications. Services include trained locksmiths, the design and construction of locks under license, key cutting, exit devices and door controls.
J Webster & Sons Ltd
94 Church Road
Tarleton
Near Preston
PR4 6UP
Website www.jwebsterandsons.com
Established 1889
J Webster & Sons was established by Joseph Webster, the Great Grandfather of the current directors Joseph and Jonathan. The company has built a reputation around supplying their customers with the highest quality furniture and furnishings available.
The company's philosophy is to supply the very best to its customers. The website states that the showroom is an emporium of everything to furnish and decorate your home.
JS Walker & Sons Ltd
Albert Square
Fleetwood
FY7 6DH
Website www.jswalker.co.uk (www.menswear.co.uk)
Established 1859
Menswear.co.uk is the Internet arm of JS Walker & Sons Ltd.
The business was founded James Shaw Walker. The shop originally sold Mr Walker's work, but soon expanded to stock a wider range of gentlemen's outfits. In 1889 his two sons joined the firm and the name was changed to JS Walker & Sons. The business continued to prosper and remained in the family through three generations; the last of the Walker line being Douglas and Arthur, who were great-grandchildren of the founder.
ln May 1964 Les Farquhar joined the firm and as neither Douglas nor Arthur had sons to follow them, the control and ownership of the business was gradually transferred to Les, who was joined in 1975, by his son Paul.
Nowadays, the Internet allows the business to service markets in UK and beyond. The firm states that latest sales figures suggest that half our business is done through the Internet and half through the shop itself.
K Supplies Ltd
Hill End Lane
Cloughfold
Rossendale
BB4 7PP
Website www.ksupplies.co.uk
Established 1880
The company has seven outlets, five of which are in the Lancashire administrative area. The website gives the phone number of the Rossendale branch as the contact for new accounts, therefore it has been assumed that this is the head office.
K Supplies Ltd is a company able to trace its origins back to when William Edward Kay first set up in business. It remains a family owned business, which continues to provide customers with a competitive personal service. Its policy of working closely with customers and suppliers is said to have produced continuous growth, and has led to K Supplies Ltd becoming the leading independent, industrial distributor in the North West.
The company's buyers are said to deal only with leading manufacturers and suppliers when purchasing top quality branded tools, machinery and equipment, which helps the company maintain a consistently high level of service at competitive prices.
The company prides itself on being the best source for unusual items as well as the more common ones. Computerised stock control locates tools and equipment held by the company at the touch of a button. The fleet of vans gives a twice-daily delivery service from most branches guaranteeing a rapid response to our customers' demands.
Lawsons Gift Shop
28 New Street
Lancaster
LA1 1EG
Website www.lawsonsgiftshop.com
Established 1837
The website states that shop is a family run business dating back to the same year that Queen Victoria became monarch. Now run by Matt and Liz Mackay the business has said to have been developed with quality and service in and offers an eclectic mix of products for the home, travel, business, fun and leisure. Lawsons is now in a modern unit within the city centre pedestrian zone to project its 21st century image.
Leonard Dews
43-47 Market Street
Blackpool
FY1 1SU
Website www.leonarddews.co.uk
Established 1877
The firm has premises in Blackpool and Lytham and also Places in Blackpool and Lytham and there is also an affiliate business in the Isle of Man.
The website states that company has been operating as a family business since the 1920s, but offers no details of the firm's history prior to this date. In addition to offering jewellery, timepieces and diamonds, it also provides repairs and valuation services.
Mears H (Furnishers) Ltd
The Oaks Business Park
Longridge Road
Ribbleton
Preston
PR2 5BQ
Website www.mearscarpets.co.uk
Established 1802
The company website states that the business is now under the control of the sixth generation of the Mears family. Originally brush manufacturers and wholesale and retail hardware merchants, the company soon added other ranges including toys, carpets and house furnishings. After a fire in 1984 that severely damaged their town centre premises, the company carried on trading from their warehouse and started to specialise solely in carpets and floor coverings. In 1999 they moved to their present site on the Longridge road close to junction 31A of the M6.
Mercer & Sons Ltd
21-27 Northgate
Blackburn
BB2 1JT
Website www.mercer-sons.co.uk
Established 1840
Mercers has been established since 1840 and is still successfully trading from the original site. Traditionally an ironmongers, Mercers has diversified to become a Department store and trade centre. The company's town centre store supplies a range of quality goods including — Giftware-Cookware-Tools-Garden Supplies-DIY Products, and has a Toy and Hobby section.
Nield Group PLC
Metcalf Drive
Altham Industrial Estate
Accrington
BB5 5TP
Website www.nieldgroup.com
Established 1899
The company heritage can be traced back to two family businesses that began outside the present local government administrative area of Lancashire, but which now has its headquarters in Accrington.
The family firm of JJ&L Nield began by supplying goods to local corner shops in Royton near Oldham. Over the years the choice of goods widened along with the delivery area to include most of Oldham. Meanwhile in Manchester, Edward Clague established his own family business, first as a greengrocer, then as an ironmonger. In 1967 he bought JJ&L Nield, and began transforming the company, and in 1975 it left behind its Royton roots and moved into custom-built central Manchester showroom.
In 1979, the company switched to trading on a cash and carry basis, supplying retailers throughout the North of England. After further expansions the company went public in 1990 and now trades as The Nield Group PLC. In August 1993 the continued expansion led to a new 16,000sq ft headquarters in Accrington which was built adjacent to one of the Groups other cash and carry sites, Profit Cash and Carry. The website states that over the last few years the Nield Group of companies has continued to grow at an impressive rate.
S&A Blackwell Ltd
10 Market Square
Lytham
FY8 5LW
Website www.sandablackwell.com
Established 1869
The company was for more than 100 years run by the Blackwell family, but in 1972, the present business was formed following the takeover of the family firm.
The firm has customers worldwide and supplies a comprehensive range of metals, chemicals and minerals. It also offers packaging and re-packing services, grinding, blending and storage services etc.
Samuel Cooke & Co. Ltd
Wyre Street Oil Depot
Padiham
Burnley
BB12 8DF
Website www.cooke.co.uk
Established 1845
The Samuel Cooke group of companies is one of the largest independent fuels, fuelcards, lubricants and energy suppliers in the UK. The current product portfolio encompasses fuel cards, fuels (road, industrial, marine), home heating oil, lubricants and greases (automotive, industrial, metalworking and food safe), process oils and construction lubricants.
The Samuel Cooke group of companies is determined to remain a privately owned entrepreneurial independent group, and its mission is to be the best in its chosen fields of operation. This will be achieved through the application of consistent values, customer focus and determination across all disciplines.
The Samuel Cooke Group has been in existence since 1845, when the Burnley based Wholesale Chemists Richard and James Thomas expanded their business to blend lubricating oils for the Lancashire weaving industry. Samuel Cooke joined the oil business established by the Thomas brothers and in 1881 took over the business and changed the name of the company. Family members ran the business for many years, but over time control passed to other senior individuals involved with the company.
S Carr & Son
High Street
Garstang
PR3 1FA
Website www.carrsjewellers.co.uk
Established 1820
The logo in the top left hand corner of the website is the source of the establishment date. S Carr & Son is a family Jewellers with a wide selection of jewellery in gold, silver and platinum, along with diamond rings and gem set rings and jewellery.
The company has an extensive collection of wedding rings, watches, quality giftware and are trophy-makers and engravers. With hand making jewellery on the premises we are able to create your own unique piece of jewellery.
The Sutcliffe Tool Company Limited
Burnham Trading Park
Blannel Street
Burnley
BB11 4AA
Website www.sutcliffe-tools.co.uk
Established over 100 years
The website does not confirm that the business is an independently owned company, but without any evidence to the contrary it has been assumed that it is entitled to an entry. Sutcliffe Tools has been supplying tools to trade and public for over 100 years and claims a high level of product knowledge, service quality, excellent prices and has an online ordering facility.
Thomas Banks & Co. Ltd
Deepdale Street
Preston
PR1 5BD
Website www.thomasbanks.net
Established 1862
Thomas Banks & Co. Ltd is a family firm still managed by members of the Banks family. The company specialises in the sale of coal, and oil for domestic heating needs and also offers a comprehensive spare parts service for domestic heating appliances.
Tom Barron Group Ltd
Square Lane
Catforth
Preston
PR4 OHQ
Website www.tombarrongroup.co.uk
Established c. 1900
The website contains comprehensive details of the firm's formative years, but like most businesses connected to farming, the exact date of establishment can be difficult to identify. The details do however confirm that the firm is well over 100 years old.
The company was founded by Tom Barron, who began as a pioneer of commercial poultry keeping in Lancashire. From keeping a few hens to supplement his earnings as a cobbler, he built Catforth Poultry Farm into a major business. The website contains a wealth of information regarding the growth of the firm over the years and the awards gained and technical advances introduced.
The website also emphasises how the firm has diversified over the years into new areas of operation. The group now incorporates the UK's largest producer of quail and quail eggs, along with Clifton Dairies and a wide range of horticultural and agricultural products derived from the farming activities of the Group.