Bodill, William & Co., Great Hampton Row

[brummy-lad]

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.

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

 

[mikejee]

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

 

[Pedrocut]

Bodill, Parker and Co - Graces Guide

 

[Astoness]

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

 

[Pedrocut]

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.

 

[Pedrocut]

Some early adverts give 38 Great Hampton Row, so it may have extended over a few numbers ?

 

[brummy-lad]

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

View attachment 225587

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

 

[Pedrocut]

There are adverts around 1886 giving the address as Albion Works, Great Hampton Row.

 

[Astoness]

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

thanks john obviously i had the photo without the watermark but i cant locate it at the min so i have saved the one you posted..

lyn

 

[mikejee]

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:



The 1867 directory lists the company as William Bodill & Co

 

[Pedrocut]

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 ?

 

[mikejee]

The 1867 entry says William

 

[Vivienne14]

Is this any help in terms of the reference to William ?

Bodill Parker brassfoundry

 

[mikejee]

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

 

[Pedrocut]

The William refered to also had a younger son called Joseph.

The 1863 advert in Birmingham Daily Post…

 

[Pedrocut]

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.