Industry in Waltham Forest


We do not see Waltham Forest as a great centre of manufacturing these days, however there are stil significant business in the area, and many more in the past. The folllowing list is of a some of the names for which there is material in the Waltham Forest Local Studies Library, provided by Steven Gardner.
Some files consist of a few items, others are more extensive. It should be noted that the presence of a file in the Local Studies Library does not mean that the archives of an organisation are held by the Waltham Forest Archives.

To find out more about the extent of the material and to view it, you should contact the Archives and Local Studies Library on 020 8496 4381 or [email protected]. Opening hours are Thursday to Saturday, 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm and it is necessary to make an appointment to view material.

Company
Lib Ref
Abbey Injection Moulding Company, Higham’s Park Building file
Achille Serre (dry cleaning & dying)
Est. c1880 White Post Lane, Hackney Wick; moved 1928 to Uplands, Blackhorse Lane E17, closed c1970.
W23.6
Advance Components Ltd, Marlowe Road E17
W25.1
Aerodyne Radio
W25.1
AEC (Buses), Forest Road E17. Closed 1933?
W25.4
Aldridge, Laurie (glassworks), Leyton Building file
Allied bakeries
see L23.1
Argos, 50a High Street E17, Opened 1975, at 207 High Street in 2018 W28.23
ASEA (Electrical engineering) 1898-194
see also Fullers
W25.1
Athmac Motor Company
The Athmac was a short-lived cyclecar which was manufactured by Athmac Motor Company of Leyton, Essex in 1913. The friction-driven car, named 10/12, was propelled by a 1,110 cc four-cylinder engine. It featured final drive by long belts to the rear axle and was supposed to sell at 120 guineas, but production never quite got off the ground
L25.4
Austin, F (Leyton) Ltd (furniture mfrs.), Argall Avenue Estate E10 (closed 1986). Trade name: Austinsuite.
Aytac Foods Ltd, Argall Ave, E10 see L23.1
Building File, L24.4
Baird & Tatlock (London) Ltd, ‘Higham House’, Walthamstow.
see also W24.95 and W26.5 - Duroglass
Building File
Banghams, A. E. & Co. Ltd. Spotlight on Industry 1949 (W24p) - at Grove Rd E17 (1925), Borwick Ave (1936). Staff 100+ 100 home workers.
Kelly’s London 1956 - Abco works, Borwick Avenue E17 & Wood Street - “Carnival novelty mfrs”

Bawn’s Factory (W. B. Bawn), Blackhorse Lane E17. Building File
Benbros (London) Ltd, 145 Gosport Road E17 & 4 Sutherland Road E17 (Toy manufacture)
W24.8
Bluestone & Elvin (Beeanese works, Blackhorse Lane, E17) Furniture manufacture
W24.4
Book Protectors & Co., South Grove, Walthamstow. Building File
Britains, Sutherland Road E17 (Toy manufacture). Britains Ltd, Blackhorse Lane E17. Est. 1893 in Hornsey, Britain Petite from 1987, closed 1991, moved to Nottingham W24.8
British Animated Productions

British Celilynd, Burwell works, 97 Lea Bridge Road E10 (corner of Burwell Road)
Cardboard box manufacture.  Est. 1924 as D. Smith & Sons (1924) Ltd; 1934 became D. Smith & Sons; 1959 became Celilynd.
Moved from Leyton to Birtley, Co. durham in 1965 ; went into receivership 1969. See Wstow Guardian 19/6/1970 p. 13
L24.5
British & Colonial Kinematograph Ltd, Hoe Street E17
W24.2
British Xylonite Co. Ltd, Halex factory, Hale End Road (Plastics, established 1877). Building File. Xylonite magazine 1946-65, later BXL review 1965-73 (incomplete series)
W24.5
Broadwest Film Company, Wood Street E17
W24.2
Brown & Sharpe,  see Chamberlain Industries Ltd

Buck, Joseph H.
568 High Road, Leytonstone bakers, (1908-14) later burton & Meade (1922), Burton & Buck (1939), Elms Bakery.
See Biography File; see also WF23.1 Cottage Loaves & Plain bricks
WF23.1
Bush Boake Allen Ltd, Blackhorse Lane E17 W23.1
Caribonum Ltd, Etloe Road/ Laura Road, Leyton     (Carbon Papers and Inked Ribbons, est. 1908)
Publications:
Caribonum: from war to peace, 10pp + pull out chart of company organisation, published by the Company 1945
Caribonum 1908-1948, 67pp, b & w ill., published by the Company 1948
Caribonum Ltd: Makers of the world’s finest Carbon Papers and Inked Ribbons, product catalogue, 20pp, col. ill., published by the Company c1957
1912 Kelly's Directory of Essex gives the address as Etloe Road.
1939 London and Suburbs Trades' Directory provides the address Laura Road.
A patent application dating 1958 gives the address as Laura Road, Leyton.
Laura Road was a non-residential road, which was laid out about 1903 as a turning off Etloe Road. It ceased to exist from 1965 onwards.
L24
Chamberlain Industries Ltd, (“Staffa” motor) Argall Avenue E10
Developed Staffa motor in Leyton in 1955. Taken over by Brown & Sharpe in 1979. Production transferred to Plymouth 1982
 L25
Chappell, G. H. Ltd, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton        Machine-tools, est. 1879.
L25.2
Collier Brothers, Bruner Road E17, see Essex Brewery

Cooper’s (Tools) Ltd, 222 High Road, Leyton E10 (Ironmongers, c1957) L28.263
Cork Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Langite Works, Hall Lane, E4 (Cricket balls, cork gasket manufacture – trade name “Langite”). Est. 1922, moved to Hall Lane 1940, closed 1983.  Associated with Flexo Plywood Industries Ltd.
C24.5
Cowlans (Walthamstow) Ltd, 357 Forest Road E17 Electrical contractor 1926-1996. Buildings File
Crawford Glass W26.5
H. Crowe & Co., blouse & gown mfr., Park works, Pearl Road E17

Crusader manufacturing Co. Ltd, Berwick Road E17 now KMP Crusader (Typewriters, 1897-)
W24.6
I. B. Davidson, 588 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton (Film studios)    Ceased 1924
W24.2
Davis & Timmins Ltd, see Walthamstow Turned Parts

De La Rue / National Plastics Ltd.  Est. 1819, Shernhall Street  1911; Walthamstow Avenue factory  built 1936-38, National Plastics Ltd 1947, taken over by Courtaulds Ltd 1959, closed 1982
W24.5
Devonshire Farm Dairies, 145 Coppermill Lane.
Buildings File
Ditchfields, 790-794 High Road, Leyton (Toy shop). Buildings File
Dunhill Pipes Ltd, 32 St. Andrew’s Road, E17 6BQ. Listed in Kelly’s Post Office London Business Directory 1990. See also Parker-Hardcastle (Hardcastle pipes, Forest Road)

uroglass, Blackhorse Lane E17 (c1915 -1960’s)
ee also W24.95 Baird & Tatlock
W26.5
Electro Signs Ltd. See God’s Own Junkyard
W23.7
Herbert Elliot & Son, cabinet makers, 31 Orford Road E17, (1956 – 1968), now Village PH
Source: Kelly’s Post Office London trade directories.
Essex Brewery, Collier Brothers, Bruner Road E17

Evans, Warren see Warren Evans
Ever Ready, Forest Road E17    Opened 1933, on former AEC site, closed 1971
W25.1
Everett’s Stores Ltd, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55 & 69 St. James’ Street, 142 & 144 Northcote Road, 262 & 306 Hoe Street, Model Bakery 74, 76 & 78 St. James’ Street, 93 Black Horse Road (Warner Estate branch, corner of Courtney Road) 483 Forest Road c.1899-1914
W28.231
Faerie Glen (Doll’s clothes & toys), Walthamstow. (Photo by William Vanderson/Getty Images 1967, from web, see W24.8p) Not in Kelly’s London 1956, 1967, 1973.
W24.8
Falcon Gun Co.
W24.95
Penny Fielding Gallery & Interiors, 34 Orford Road E17 2004-14. See Biography File – Fielding, Penny

Flexo Plywood Industries Ltd, Hall Lane, E4 (Plywood, trade names “Flexene”; “Zest”). Associated with Cork Manufacturing Co. Ltd, see above.
C24.4
Ford Motor Co., Blackhorse Lane, E17, a subsidiary engineering plant, est. 1947, ceased c1967

Fuller Electric Ltd / ASEA (Fulbourne Rd E17, 1898- ) (Electrical engineering)
W25.1
Gillards (pickle sauces/later meat pies)
Est. 1867, Vintry Works, 213-5 High Street E17 from 1882, entrance later in Westbury Rd. Closed 1990’s.
W23.1
D. Gilson & Co Ltd. See Walthamstow Turned Parts

Gnome et le Rhone / Peter Hooker Ltd.
See also Buildings file - Gnome House, Blackhorse Lane
W25.6
God’s Own Junkyard/ Electro Signs Ltd (Vallentin Rd + Shernhall Street from 2014
W25.1
R. M. Gray and Co.
W24.95
Grovewell Ltd (rubber & plastic toys), 656 Forest Road, E17. Kelly’s London 1956

Hammon Brothers, Elmsleigh Works, Edinburgh Road E17. Kelly’s Essex 1926, listed under “Toy Maker

Hammond & Champness (lift mfrs., c. 1963-8), Blackhorse Lane E17.
W25.1
Hardcastle pipes, Forest Road E17. See Dunhills, Parker-Hardcastle

Harris-Lebus    see Lebus

Haskins (rolling shutter mfrs.), Gnome House (c. 1964), Blackhorse Lane E17

Hawker Sidley Power Transformers Ltd (Electrical engineering)
W25.1
Hitchmans Dairy / St. Ivel.
Opened 1867, St Ivel took over in 1920’s, Hitchman’s taken over by Unigate in 1963
W22.11
Holmes Brothers (London) Ltd) (Furniture manufacture) est. 1867, Co. formed  1884, from 1922 at Billet Rd, E17
W24.4
Holmes Bros. (London) Ltd (‘Holbro’), (drawing office materials mfrs.) Stirling Works, Flempton Road E10
Kelly's London Directory 1956 lists 4 associated companies under Holmes Brothers (London) Ltd:
Radio cabinet mfrs, 37a Skelton's Lane E10
Repetition woodwork, Holbro works, Billet Rd, E17
Drawing office materials mfrs., Stirling Works, Flempton Road E10
Drawing instrument mkrs, 221 Lea Bridge Road, E10
Publications: “Holmes Brothers (London) Ltd: Walthamstow & Leyton, London 1867-57”. Published by the company: 1957, 8pp, 22cm, b&w photos.
L24
Hooker, Peter Ltd
W25.6
G. Houghton & Son, solicitors, 294-8 Hoe Street E17. Est. 1843. Closed 2014
W33.8
Houghtons - Butcher / Barnett Ensign Ross (Camera manufacturers). Clifford Road/Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, formerly Spratt Brothers Ltd (est. c1908)
W24.1
Huntingford, Roy (Organ builder, Walthamstow). Formerly apprentice to R. Spurden Rutt in Leyton W24.91
Imperial Plant Exports Ltd, machinery merchants, 99 Belmont Park Road E10 Kelly’s 1982, Kelly’s 1986, for previous history see Lyon, A. S. & Sons Ltd below Site replaced by row of houses 2008.
Ingle, Percy (bakers), Leyton. Est. 1954. “A family history of Percy Ingle” (The company, 2016) 12pp, b & w. ill., 21cm, pbk
L23.1
ITS Co. Ltd (originally Industrial Tools Supplies (London) Ltd), power tools supplier Est. 1979
1981, first shop opened in Leyton; 1984, moved to High Road, Leyton. Now at 479 Lea Bridge Road; Unit 11, Waltham Park Way, Walthamstow, also Harlow and 2 distribution warehouses in Loughton (2018)
A. S. Jasper, St. James Street & Billet Road E17 re-polished radio cabinets for British Relay Radio, a radio rental firm 1940’s – 1960’s. JAS “A Hoxton childhood & the years after”
W96
G. H. Jarvis, Midland Station Approach, Leytonstone E11 (1927) (Auctioneers)
L28.293
Kreochyle Co, Leytonstone, it was part owned by photographer Alfred Wire, 1883
L24
Laboratory furniture (Furniture manufacture) W24.4
Laburnum Moulding Mills Ltd (Sutherland Rd, E17) (Furniture manufacture)
W24.4
Lack Brothers, drapers. High Street, E17
Building File
Latter, Owen Alfd, pinarette mfr, 106 Harrow Road E11 - a pinarette is a short pinafore. According to reader they made parachutes during WW2. Not listed in Leyton & Leytonstone Trade Index 1949.
Lea Bridge Soda water manufactury/Mineral water Co./Goody & Co, Knotts Green
Leyton Kellys Street Directory George Hurst 1886; Salmon 1891; Goody & Co 1894 & 1907
Lebus (Harris-Lebus) (Furniture manufacture) (at Tottenham Hale, not in WF)
W24.4
Leslies Ltd, 76 Higham Hill Road, E17
Est. 1823: Originator of the Zinc Oxide medical plaster –trade name Zopla; Factory partially destroyed by fire 1967
W24.96
Leytonstone Jig & Tool Co. Ltd, 606 High Road, Leyton E10 (Precision tools, brand name “Leytool”) Est. 1932- c1957, also Works in Hollingbury, Brighton L25.1
Lidstones (drapers) 2, 4, 13, 15, 17 High Street E17. Est. c1899 W28.233
London Co-operative Society Ltd. dairy, 220 Wood Street E17. See Parkers Dairy

London Gates & Grilles Ltd, 758 Lea Bridge Road E17 est. c 1999
London Glassworks, Unit 15, Forest Trading Estate, Priestley Way E17 (moved to Chatteris, Cambs Spring 2012) W26.5
London Rubber Company (3 files) Hall Lane, E4
C24.5
Lotery, H & Co. Ltd (Clothing manufacture, 1897 – c1939) St Mary Road, E17 Building File
Lyon, A. S. & Sons Ltd, wholesale confectioners, 99 Belmont Park Road E10
Electoral register 1934: Alfred Stafford Lyon, Emma Mary Lyon, William Joseph Lyon, Alfred William Stafford Lyon married Ivy Maud Trott 1934 and lived at 105 in 1935
Kelly’s 1956, Kelly’s 1979, by Kelly’s 1982 Imperial Plant Exports Ltd see above
Mann, Hugh Thomas 78 Lansdowne Rd, Leytonstone, Kelly’s Essex 1912, listed under “Toy Makers”

Markhouse Motorcycles,109 Markhouse Rd, E17 (c1960-83) W28.254e
Thomas Maynard, Undertaker, followed by Robert, 31 Orford Road E17, (1896 -1914), now Village Pub. Source: Kelly’s directories.
Meadows, J. C., Removals, 25 Crofton Grove, Chingford E4 6NY. Est. c1911, formerly at 40 Beulah Road, Walthamstow e
Mears & Gold factory, Flempton Road , Leyton. Destroyed by fire 2003. Buildings File
Micanite & Insulators Co. Ltd (Empire Works, Blackhorse Lane E17, 1901-67) (Electrical engineering) W25.1
Murex Welding Processes Ltd (Ferry Lane Works, Forest road E17)
Site became Ferry Lane Industrial Estate, demolished 2016. Company founded 1907 at Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex, moved to Waltham Cross in 1938
W25.2
National Gauge Factory, Walthamstow (Newall Engineering Co.?) W24.95
National Plastics Ltd.  See De La Rue/National Plastics Ltd

Nevill, H. W., South Access Road, Walthamstow.        Buildings File

Newall Engineering Co., see National Gauge Factory above
Nichols Bros. (Wood Turners) Ltd, 2a Milton road, E17.  Est. 1949
W26.6
Noble Bros., 53 Markhouse Road, E17    Kelly’s London 1956, listed under “Toy Makers”

Noton, S. (travel goods mfrs.), Endurance Works (c. 1964) Industrial estate being demolished 2015

Parker- Hardcastle, St. Andrews Road, Walthamstow.    Buildings File

Parkers Dairies, 220 Wood Street E17. Dairy on site 1899, Kelly’s 1956-86 listed as London Co-operative Society dairy

Parrott, E (Furniture manufacture)
W24.4
Afred Jn Payne, baby carriage manufacturers, London, 1900-69: catalogues and printed papers.
XD 1 Payne
Philips Records. See Polygram Records

Pocklington & Johnson Ltd. See Spring Steel Productions Ltd

Polygram Records, Walthamstow Avenue. Buildings File
Precision Film Company, Whipps Cross
W24.2
Prekalp of London (furniture mfrs.)
L24.4
Puddicombe, R. W. and I. (Milliners, Leytonstone)
“The romance of the business of R. W. and I. Puddicombe, 1889-1934” The firm, no date, G. F. Tomkin, printer, Leytonstone, 8pp, ill.
L28.23 PUD
Rael Brook factory, 26-30 Forest Road (corner of Blackhorse Road) E17.  Opened 1964, closed 1986. Buildings File. Outfitters at 842 High Road, Leyton (Kelly’s 1965)

Rapid Radio (electronics shop) closed 2016. See Building File - Forest Road, E17

Rooney’s brush mfrs.

Rummages (furniture mfrs.)
L24.4
Rumsey’s (furniture store)  c.1963. 290-298 Hoe St E17 & 84-90 Leytonstone Road (Thatched House) E15
W28.244
Rutt, R. Spurden & Co. Ltd, 490 High Road, Leyton E10 (organ builders) est. 1902 L24.91
Sanders Bros (Stores) Ltd
Established 1887 in Bethnal Green by Thomas & Joseph Sanders. By mid-1920’s there were over 150 shops in London & the suburbs. Entered liquidation in 1953 and most of the stores were sold by ’54.
Kelly’s Directory of Walthamstow, Leyton & Leytonstone 1908 lists: Sanders Brothers, corn and flour merchants, 64 High St & 110 Wood St, 28 St. James’ Street & 16 Hoe Street, Walthamstow
595 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, 591 High Road, Leytonstone
Neil Tyler “Sanders. Bros. - The rise and fall of a British grocery giant” History Press, Stroud, Gloucestershire;  2014; 192pp; ill. some col. ISBN: 9780750956215
WF28.231
Sema Printing Ltd, 83 Grove Road, E17 (Kelly’s Post Office London trade directory 1980) (old sign at no. 81)
Short & Mason Ltd (Meteorological & other scientific instruments), Aneroid Works, Hale End Road, E17 (Brand name – Tycos)
W24.1
Shortlands Press (printers) 650/652 High Road E10 (Leyton).
L24.6
D. Smith & Sons (1924) Ltd. See British Celilynd

Solmedia Ltd Laboratory Supplies, 31 Orford Road E17, (1969 – 1988), now Village PH Source: Kelly’s Post Office London trade directories.
Spratt Brothers Ltd, Clifford Road/ Fulbourne Road (est. c1908). See Houghton-Butcher

Spring Steel Productions ltd (incorporating Pocklington & Johnson Ltd), West Works, Fulbourne Road E17 c.1900-80
W25.2
Staffa Products. See Chamberlain Industries Ltd

Tenby & Penny (Stained glass manufacturers), 38A Beulah Road, E17    Est. 1963
W26.5
Thomas De La Rue. See De La Rue/ National Plastics Ltd

Tomkin, G. F. Ltd (printers), 501-507 Grove Green Road E11 c1939-1967, Photo, Kelly’s to 1967 L24.6
Tower Press Ltd
W24.8
Turnidge Ltd (furniture mfrs.)
L24.4
Turkentine, R. W. (Cable rollers, jointers’ & contractor’s trucks and accessories).
36 Byron Road E17 Est. 1897.  Kelly’s Essex 1912 lists as Turkentine, Robert William, farrier, 182A and 400 Hoe Street & 36A Byron Road
W26.7
Unichem (Pharmaceuticals) W24.96
Walthamstow Turned Parts, from 1961, moved to Hoddesdon in 1973, part of Astonia group. Previous names: 1909, D. Gilson & Co Ltd; Davis & Timmins Ltd.
Components for the electrical industry & the assembly of plungers for lamp-holders
W25.1
Warren Evans (Bed manufacture)
Est. 1978, Bethnal Green, factory at Blackhorse lane 2007, PLC 2013, closed 2018
W24.4
Wells-Brimtoy, Progress Works, Stirling Road, E17 (Toy manufacture)
W24.8
Wild Card Brewery
W23.7
Wrighton, F & Sons Ltd (Billet Rd, E17) (Furniture manufacture)
W24.4
Young & Marten Ltd (builders merchants & iron founders, c.1900), in W & Leytonstone. Catalogue.
W26.1
Zopla. See Leslies Ltd





L23.1 Food & drink manufacture & distribution
L28.293 Auctioneers
W24.2 Film studios
W24.95 Explosives/munitions manufacture
W26.5 Glass & Pottery