Walsall is usually remembered as the centre of an extensive leatherworking industry, but in reality there was much more. It used to be known as ‘The town of a hundred trades’, which included all kinds of metalworking, tube making, iron and brass founding, electrical engineering, car and motor scooter making, chain making, lock making, and much more.

Walsall became a wealthy Black Country town because of its many industries that flourished, thanks to the hard-working, and skilled labour force. At the beginning of the 19th century the principal trades in the town were as follows:

awl blade makers buckle makers bradoon makers bridle bit makers bit makers bone and ivory turners brush makers brass coach founders bridle cutters bridle and harness tongue makers carpenters’ tool makers coopers’ tool makers curb makers curriers coach bit makers   coach harness makers iron founders dog chain makers factors locksmiths nail makers platers saddler’s ironmongers spur makers spur rowel makers stirrup makers snaffle makers saddle tree makers set makers.

In 1864 William Franklin wrote a paper about Walsall's trades as part of a government report. Read his paper

Leather Trades

The industry started from small beginnings in the early 19th century. The 1801 census lists the occupations of the heads of households, and acts as a rough guide to the number of people employed in the industry. The following list is based on the information in the census:

The number of people employed in the saddlery and harness trades rapidly increased during the 19th century:

Before the leather trade developed in the town, Walsall was well known as the centre of the lorinery trade. Since the 16th century Walsall’s blacksmiths had been producing hand-forged bits, buckles, saddle trees, spurs, and stirrups etc. Some loriners diversified into saddle and harness making, as a way of extending the range of their products. It seems likely that saddle and harness making in Walsall developed as a result.

Heavy industry and large scale manufacturing came to Walsall in the 19th century thanks to the building of the Walsall branch of the BCN, the Wyrley & Essington Canal, improvements to the roads, and the advent of the railway.

The heaviest industry in the town was iron-making, which developed due to improved transportation, and copious supplies of local coal, iron ore, and Wenlock Limestone, used as a flux in the smelting process. Walsall like many other Black Country towns had several ironworks and non ferrous metalworks.

	Walsall's Ironworks and Metalworks
	Foundries
	T. Partridge & Company Limited. Structural engineers
	Johnson Brothers & Company Limited. Fencing, railing, gates
	Swallow Motorcycles
	Swallow Sports Cars
	Kirkpatrick Limited

Other Industries

Chain making

In the middle of the 19th century, chain making was a significant industry in Walsall, particularly chains associated with horses and carts. As the demand for such chains fell in the 20th century, the industry declined, but in the 1970s Walsall still had five chain makers, 3 making harness and dog chains, and two making chains for industrial applications.

William White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire published in 1851 lists the following manufacturers:

Dog and Light Chains Thomas Clark, Wisemore Samuel Cooper Rycroft George Griffiths, Stafford Street Benjamin Harmes, Hammer Forge Lane Joseph Kendall, Bank Street Stephen Parker, Stafford Street Thomas Reynolds, Stafford Street Joseph Richardson, Wisemore Joseph Russell, Ryecroft Street James Shale, Stafford Street and Blue Lane Elijah Whitehouse, Stafford Street Edward Wilkes, Lower Rushall Street Cart Harness Chains John Adams, Birchills Lane Thomas Boot, Lower Rushall Street Davis Dewsbury, Wisemore John Emery, Pool Street Joseph Moseley, Church Street Henry Shelley, Green Lane Samuel Stephens, Ablewell Street John Watkins, Nichols’ Yard Edward Webster, Green Lane Edward Wilkes, Lower Rushall Street Curb Chains William Barnett, New Street John Beebee, Wisemore William Bellingham, Upper Rushall Street Joseph Butler, Stafford Street Joseph Cooper, Stafford Street Samuel Cooper, Ryecroft Thomas Cooper, Ryecroft   Curb Chains cont. Daniel Derby, Wisemore George Evans, Thurstan’s Buildings George Griffiths, Stafford Street James Hale, Ablewell Street Isaac Hanby, Lower Hall Lane Charles Hanby, Hill Street James Hawcroft, Caldmore John Hickin, Bank Street James Holden, Townend Bank Joseph Lowbridge, Hammer Forge Lane Joseph Lowbridge, Blue Lane Thomas Mills & Son, Albert Street Richard Morroll, St. Pauls Street George Noke, Green Lane John Osborne, Blue Lane Samuel Osborne, Blue Lane James Parker, Day Street Stephen Parker, Stafford Street Charles Reynolds, Stafford Street Charles Ridding, Stafford Street Edwin Roper, Hill Street John Russell, St. Pauls Row Joseph Russell, Ryecroft Street Richard Shelley, Marsh Lane Joseph Somerfield, New Street Thomas Swan, Caldmore Charles Webster, Caldmore John Webster, Green Lane John Webster, Marsh Lane William Webster, George Street Charles Whitehouse, Wolverhampton Street Thomas Whitehouse, Marsh Lane James Williams, St. Pauls Row Simon Williams, Fieldgate

By 1935 the number of manufacturers had greatly reduced. The following list is from the Walsall Red Book for that year:

Chain Makers P. Bull & Son, Margaret Street W. J. Burns, 12 Carless Street J. H. Carter, 16 Butts Road J. A. Dewe, 72 Bath Street O. D. Guest Limited, 51 Vicarage Street J. H. Hawkins & Company, 16 Station Street J. T. Hyde, 1 Caldmore Road H. D. Jackson Buckle Company Limited, Hospital Street F. Martin, Vicarage Place S. Middleton, Back 18 Burleigh Street H. Noakes, 77 Regent Street, Brownhills T. Russell, 75 Regent Street, Brownhills Stokes & Sons, Northcote Street F. H. Tomkins Limited, 14 Caldmore Green S. Venables & Son, 20 Shaw Street Walsall Locks & Cart Gear Limited, Neale Street Job Wheway & Son Limited, Birchills Chain Works, Green Lane

Awl blades

Awl blade manufacturing began in the town in the late 18th century, and concentrated in the Bloxwich area. Awl blades were a necessity in the leather and saddlery trades until the introduction of stitching machines which greatly reduced the demand. A few manufacturers survived in the Bloxwich area, but by the mid 1970s only one still survived, Thomas Somerfield & Sons Limited, Clarendon Street, Bloxwich.

An advert from 1935.

William White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire published in 1851 lists the following manufacturers:

The manufacturers in 1935. From the Walsall Red Book:

Lock Making

In the 19th century, Walsall had a number of lock manufacturers, mainly specialising in cabinet locks, and padlocks. In the 20th century the number fell. Only four remained in the 1970s, and about the same number remain today.

William White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire published in 1851 lists the following manufacturers:

Manufacturers in 1935. From the Walsall Red Book:

Brush Making

Brush making became an important industry in Walsall in the late 19th century. It began in the 1760s with just a handful of makers including Joseph Nightingale, who had a workshop in Chapel Street; Hannah Reynolds; George Reynolds, based in Church Street; and Simon Burrowes whose premises were in Rushall Street. James Pigot’s Commercial Directory for 1818 lists the following makers:

The industry slowly grew. William White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire published in 1851 lists the following manufacturers:

By the mid 1860s around 100 people worked in the industry, making brushes of all kinds, ranging from paint brushes, clothes brushes, and shoe brushes, to hair brushes. In the latter part of the century the industry was mechanised, and production vastly increased. Most of the factories were near the town centre, but three were in Bloxwich.

The number of manufacturers slowly fell, and by 1921 only nine were left. The number continued to fall to leave only three in the 1960s: Bradnack & Son at Defiance Works in Birmingham Road, Busst & Marlow in Lower Rushall Street, and Vale Brothers in Green Lane. In 1967 J. Brierley & Sons Limited moved to Forest Works in Forest Lane from Birmingham, to produce industrial brushes and personal giftware.

Busst & Marlow closed in the early 1970s, and Vale Brothers acquired Bradnack & Son, and moved to Defiance Works to concentrate on production of grooming brushes for animals. The company is now based in Long Street and also makes horse-whips,

There was also the United Society of Brushmakers, which met at The Prince in Delves Road.

Manufacturers of Clothes

By the late 19th century Walsall was at the centre of a large clothes manufacturing industry. The best known manufacturer was Shannons, founded by Scottish draper John Shannon, in 1826. In 1845 he opened a shop in George Street, on land he leased from Lord Bradford, and in 1870 opened a workshop there. The business employed 20 people to make men’s clothing for the local market. He was mayor of Walsall in 1850-51. After his death in 1875 he was succeeded by his son Edmund John, who greatly expanded the firm, mainly due to the recently invented sewing machine.

By 1887 the workshop had become too small and so the impressive four storey Shannon’s Mill was built. The brick building was in three parts, two of eight and eleven bays, and a central part with eight bays and elaborate stone stringing.

Around 1890 the firm became John Shannon & Son Limited, and at the turn of the century the building was greatly extended. By 1905 Shannons employed over 2,000 people, mainly 14 to 25 year old girls who operated the 300 or so machines. The girls started work at the age of 13 or 14 and were not paid at all for the first two years. Before they were paid they had to learn all aspects of the trade and assisted other workers. After two years they could earn between 7 shillings and 12 shillings a week.

Shannon’s products included wholesale clothing manufacture, and high quality ready to wear men’s and boy’s suits, and ladies’ costumes. In 1913 Edmund Shannon was succeeded by his son John C. Shannon.

After the First World War there was a depression in the trade, which in 1926 resulted in the resignation of John Shannon, and the company going into liquidation. The company managed to survive, and went public to become John Shannon & Sons Limited with the Shannon family as major shareholders.

During World War 2 Shannons produced large numbers of military uniforms and the future looked bright. After the war rates of pay slowly increased, and as Shannons were unable to pay higher wages, the number of employees fell, and the company reduced in size.

In 1973 Shannons still occupied the massive old works, and so the decision was taken to let parts of the building to other companies, including part of the Walsall leather goods firm W. A. Goold (Holdings), the saddlery firm E. Jeffries & Sons, the jewellery division of Pearmak, and Leonard Neasham, the gentleman's outfitters.

Shannons ceased trading in 2000 and the building remained empty for several years. It was due to be the centrepiece of a £53m regeneration project for St Matthew's Quarter, but on Friday 3rd of August, 2007 the mill suffered badly from a mindless arson attack.

The building was badly damaged, 60 percent of it collapsed. It had been the largest fire in the town for 25 years. By the end of the month the dangerously unsafe building had been demolished. A sad end to such a wonderful local landmark.

An advert from 1953.

Another clothing manufacturer, Stammers was founded in 1904. The firm was initially based in Dudley Street, but in 1906 moved to New Street after becoming a subsidiary of the Foster Bros. Clothing Company Limited of Birmingham. The factory was extended around 1925 and specialised in men's and boys' clothing.

The 1935 Walsall Red Book lists the following manufacturers:

There were ten clothing manufacturers in1963, but only six by 1973.

One of Walsall’s most famous manufacturers was J. A. Crabtree & Company Limited based at Lincoln Works in Beacon Street.

The business was founded by John Ashworth Crabtree who was born in Broughton, Lancashire, just north of Preston on October 24th, 1886. His father died when he was just five years old, and his mother and her family moved to Yardley in Birmingham. John’s career began as an engineering apprentice.

After working in Tucker’s workshops, he moved to the drawing office, and whilst there invented, and patented an improved type of switch. John decided to start his own business, to manufacture the patented quick make and brake switch, after Tuckers refused to do so.

In 1919 he founded J. A. Crabtree & Company in a small disused leather works in Upper Rushall Street, Walsall. The switch became a great success, orders poured-in, and the company soon outgrew the small factory.

In 1923 the firm acquired seven acres of land in the Chuckery, alongside Beacon Street and Lincoln Road, where a new factory called Lincoln Works was built.

John Ashworth Crabtree.

Lincoln Works. From the 1974 Walsall Handbook.

By 1926 around 600 people were employed on the site. The business prospered, and in 1929 John Crabtree developed the first plastic moulded switch which he called ‘The Lincoln Switch’.

The plastic that he developed was called ‘Jacelite’ to distinguish it from bakelite.

By the early 1930s Lincoln Works had grown into the best equipped factory of its kind in the country, and employed around 1,000 people.

In the autumn of 1935 John went to America on a business trip, and caught pneumonia, from which he died on November 27th, at the age of 49.

After John’s death, his widow took a leading role in the company, and in 1944 her son Jack joined the Board after graduating from Queen’s College, Oxford. He became Chairman and Managing Director in 1958.

An advert from 1974.

In 1961 the company launched the UK’s first circuit breaker, and continued to produce vast numbers of plugs, sockets, switches, and motor control gear. By the late 1960s the workforce had grown to over 3,000.

An advert from 1935.

The earliest electrical engineering company in the town was possibly the Walsall Electrical Company founded in 1884 by Frederick Brown to make bells, electrical fittings, fuses, indicators, lamps, and switches. It had an office at 57 Bridge Street, a factory at the rear of 57, 59, 61 and 63 Bridge Street, and became a limited company on the 2nd December 1892. There were three directors; Frederick Brown the Managing Director and major share holder, John Hildick the Chairman, and Henry Nicklin. There was also an office in Birmingham.

The Managing Director's salary was £350 per year, plus 25 percent of the profits. The authorised capital of the company was £10,000 in £10 shares. Brown applied for, but did not always register the patents for the numerous electrical instruments and appliances that he developed, including advertising signs, galvanometers, lamps, medical induction coils, switches, and voltmeters.

Frederick Brown was born in Pensnett in March 1848. He was a member of an old Quaker family, and educated at the Friends School, Ackworth in Yorkshire. He began his career as a photographer with a Mr. Draycott at their premises at The Bridge. In 1881 he became manager of the National Telephone Company, and left in 1884 to set up the Walsall Electric Company.

An advert from 1954.

In 1891 he became an electrical engineering consultant to Walsall Council to advise on the method of power transmission to be used by the South Staffordshire Tramways. After a fact-finding trip to America, he submitted his report in July 1891, and was later appointed to supervise the installation of the overhead cabling for the trams.

In February 1893 Brown was appointed by the council to advise on their electric lighting scheme. He became a leading member of Walsall Chamber of Commerce, and was President in 1910 and 1911. 

By 1901 the firm had appointed agents in London and Liverpool, and after making an initial loss became profitable. John Hildick resigned from the Board in November 1908, and was replaced as Chairman by Henry Nicklin. At the same time a new director, James Osmonde Dale was appointed.

Frederick Brown died on 8th August, 1913 at Streetly. He was replaced by F. Bailey.

The company managed to survive, and changed its name back to the Walsall Electrical Company Limited. The product range was extended to include crane plug boxes. The business again became profitable, employing around 50 people.

View some of the company's products from the 1947 and 1961 catalogues

In 1949 the company registered the 'WALTRIC' trade mark, but unfortunately the firm failed to invest in research and development, and so the products became outdated as technology changed. The products in the 1947 catalogue appear to be from the early 1930s rather than the late 1940s. In 1983 the firm took out a medium term loan to finance the development of a range of panel meters, which were quite successful. In 1992 the business merged with Beacon Instruments Limited to provide a wider product range, but suffered from increased competition from cheaper products made in the Far East and India. In 2002 the business was put up for sale, but little interest was shown, and it closed in 2004.

There were several other electrical manufacturing companies in Walsall including Bayley Bros., the Central Manufacturing Company, The Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Company (Walsall) Limited, and Electronics Design Associates.

An advert from 1976.

Other Locally Made Products

An advert from 1902.

Packing cases and cardboard boxes have been made in Walsall since the 19th century. In 1834 packing cases were being made by James Rooker Mason in High Street, and Mary Silleter in the Square.

In 1935 they were produced by T. Ginder & Son Limited of Whittimere Street, and Bradford Street; and John York of 19 Goodall Street.

In 1935 cardboard boxes were produced by Mrs. F. Burton, 33 Hart Street; B. Fenton, Midland Road; G. Parsons & Company, Back 33 Station Street; A. Platt, 115 Bridgeman Street; and The Walsall Box Company in Bank Street.

Other products included India rubber goods, rubber stamps, rope and twine, riddles and sieves, and plastic mouldings, which were produced by E. Perkins & Company Limited in Selborne Street, and the Plastics Products Company in Midland Road.