Hardy & Padmore - Carst iron makers Four Flags Sauce label Steward's Chemists - Finest Glycerine & Rosewater label
Stretton & Co. - Worcestershire Sauce label
 
Welcome to Worcester City Museums and Galleries
SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE EXHIBITION - ENGINEERING
 
Lea & Perrin's - Worcestershire Sauce label Waldron & Co. - Mandarin Sauce label Waldron & Co. - Worcestershire Sauce label
Hill, Evans & Co. - Malt Vinegar label
 
 
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The Commandery  
 
William Blizzard Williamson (1811-1878) - Click on image for a bigger picture

W.B. Williamson and Sons

The Providence Works, founded by W. B. Williamson in 1858 - Click on image for a bigger picture

A japanned, tin plate cup made by W. B. Williamson and Sons - Click on image for a bigger picture
William Blizzard Williamson began a small business manufacturing a wide range of articles in sheet steel and tinplate. By 1858 he was able to build a new factory called the Providence Works in the blockhouse. From here the company was able to extend its range of products and became particularly well known for the method of Japanning. This was the process of giving a high gloss finish to tin plate using lamp black, turpentine, oils, pitch, resin and wax. It imitated the fashionable finish of Japanese lacquerware.
In 1878 due to William's death the business was taken over by his two sons, William and George, who could both see the potential for using tins for storing food products. William developed the 'lever lid' tin, which is still used today with products such as paint, custard powder and treacle, while George invented the 'cutter lid tin' for cigarettes and tobacco. This allowed tobacco to be kept fresher than ever before. Wig box made by the Providence Works for London wigmakers - Click on image for a bigger picture
In 1890 William left the business leaving George to form a limited company G.H Williamson and Sons Ltd. This in turn, was taken over by his son George upon his death in 1918. George developed the potential for using mass production techniques and set up a new canning factory in Worcester.
The Metal Box Factory in 1963 - Click on image for a bigger picture During the 1920's several independent tin-plate manufacturers joined together in order to fight off overseas competition and called themselves Metal Box. 1930 saw George Williamson joined them as their director, bringing enough capital to develop a brand new open top canning factory. This factory still produces millions of cans today at Perry Wood.
There were several other heavy industries that played a vital role in the economy of the city as well. The machine tool industry during the 1800's was particularly important to Britian and many machines were made in Worcester.
McKenzie and Holland - Railway Engineers. The Vulcan Iron works, Shrub Hill, was established in 1857 and was later taken over by Mackenzie and Holland who used the foundry to produce products such as railway signals. The firm's interlocking railway system revolutionised the world's railway network and allowed safer railway travel. The Vulcan Iron Works in the 1850's - Click on image for a bigger picture
Heenan and Froude, famous for building the Blackpool Tower during the 1880's, moved its main works to Worcester in 1903.

James Archdale and Co., famous for being one of the best equipped and most prestigious machine tool factories in the world. The Blackpole branch was built in 1925 and closed in 1972.

J.L Larkworthy & Co. - an agricultural engineering firm based in Lowesmoor.

The Mining Engineering Co. (MECO) Ltd brought a branch of their business to Worcester in 1925.
Cast iron fountain donated to the City of Worcester by Richard Padmore in 1858 - Click on image for a bigger picture Hardy and Padmore - famous for their cast iron products which ranged from benches to fire surrounds, manhole covers and fountains. They specialised in decorative lamps and were famous for the dolphin lamps on the Thames embankment in London. Inside Hardy and Padmore's pattern shop, around 1903 - Click on image for a bigger picture
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INDUSTRIES
Brewing
Engineering
Glove Making
Pottery Making
Shoe Making
Wine & Sauce Making
Introduction
COMPANIES
Cinderella 's
Britannia Brewery
Dent Allcroft & Co.
Courtney's
Four Flags
Fownes Gloves
Hardy & Padmore
Harper & Co.
Heenan & Froude
Hill, Evans and Co.
James Archdale and Co.
Joseland & Sons Larkworthy & Co.
Lewis Clarke & Co.
Lea and Perrins
McKenzie and Holland
Mellor & Co.
Metal Box
Mining Engineering Co.
Robert Allen & Co.
Royal Worcester Spreckley Brothers Ltd. Stretton and Co.
Waldren and Co.
Williamson & Sons
History of Worcester
Old Maps & Plans
Old Photographs & Paintings
Social History Collection
Gallery Plan