Industry
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 |
|
L28.293 Auctioneers
W24.2 Film studios
W24.95 Explosives/munitions manufacture
W26.5 Glass & Pottery