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Bodill, William & Co., Great Hampton Row

brummy-lad

brummy-lad

master brummie
This company was based at 35 & 36 Great Hampton Row. They now trade as Bodill Parker based in Tipton. The website says the company roots date back to 1860, certainly they are listed in directories from1867 to 1955 based in Great Hampton Row, the company is not listed on the 1964 directory and I do not possess Kelly's between 1955 & 1964.
88 years (at least) trading in Great Hampton Row is incredible.

bodill-parker.co.uk

Our History | Established in 1860 | Bodill Parker

Discover the history of Bodill Parker, a proud British manufacturer with roots dating back to 1860 and a legacy of quality, consistency and craftsmanship.
bodill-parker.co.uk bodill-parker.co.uk
 
They are not listed in the 1956 Kellys. Between 1955 and 1956s the number of businesses in Great Hampton Row listed goes down to half of what is listed in 1955
 
The company website say the firm dates back to 1860, but Grace Guide say 1863. The earliest mention I can see is 1863 and they are advertising for tin-plate workers accustomed to ship lamps.
 
Astoness said:
i posted this on the great hampton street thread many years ago and believe it to be bodhills brass founders dated 1959...it says its no 37 and called albion works

lyn

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Thanks Lyn, I used your image to do a google reverse image search and found the identical photo without the photobucket watermark
 

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The link to the firm's history states that the firm had roots back to 1860 and was founded by Joseph Bodill. There is no Bodill listed in the 1862 Corporation directory, but the 1861 Corporation directory lists a Francis Bodill at 12 Francis Street, Edgbaston. The 1862 version does not list a person there, which may mean he has died , or perhaps just moved. but the 1961 census lists William Bodill at 12 Francis Street. Cannot quite make out his occupation:

ScreenHunter 2253.jpg

The 1867 directory lists the company as William Bodill & Co
 
The 1863 quoted in Grace’s is for Joseph Bodill & Co. This name is backed up by advert in 1863 with the address as Great Hampton Row.

In the thread title it says Bodill, William and Co. So who was William ?
 
In the Ancestry 1861 census there were only 3 Joseph Bodills in the uk., one child, one railway labourer, and the son of William at Francis street, who was 21 and a solicitor's clerk. Viv's link makes it clear to me that the company was founded by William for his son in his son's name, but he died. His occupation as a solicitor's clerk would have given him good training for his hoped-for later career
 
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Viv’s link informs “ William (Sr) Bodill set up or took over and ran a brass works which they called Bodill & Co., Ltd. ,Broad Street Metal Works.”

A quick look, Broad Street Metal Works shows as T Bolton and Sons from somewhere as early as 1850 and as late as 1866.
 
mikejee said:
The link to the firm's history states that the firm had roots back to 1860 and was founded by Joseph Bodill. There is no Bodill listed in the 1862 Corporation directory, but the 1861 Corporation directory lists a Francis Bodill at 12 Francis Street, Edgbaston. The 1862 version does not list a person there, which may mean he has died , or perhaps just moved. but the 1961 census lists William Bodill at 12 Francis Street. Cannot quite make out his occupation:

View attachment 225591

The 1867 directory lists the company as William Bodill & Co
Click to expand...
I think it says "one of the messengers to the court of bankruptcy"
So not sure it is the right person

1849 entry in White's Directory of Birmingham
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Looking at the censuses William Bodill Snr was an Inspector to the Court of Bankruptcy.

In 1861 his elder son William was Clerk to Inspector, and Joseph the younger son was a solicitor’s articled clerk. Joseph died in March 1865 and William Snr later in 1865.

In 1871 William Jnr is listed as Eyelet maker and landowner while his mother is noted as income from lands.

In 1881 he is Brassworker employing 5 men,11 women, 1 boy and 4 girls.
William Jnr died in 1897.
 
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