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Henry Hope & Sons, Lionel Street

A Sparks

A Sparks

master brummie
I don't think this company has been mentioned before on the Forum.

Last weekend I went for a visit to a building in my local area of London as part of a local history festival. It was originally built as an extension to what was the German Hospital in 1935 (the original buildings on the site are from 1856 built to serve the German community living in London). It's now been converted into flats but we were able to walk round the common areas.
The building has the original metal window frames but they are not Crittall, our guide told us they were made in Birmingham by a company called Hall and were apparently better as the metal is thicker.

Of course I had to look that up when I got home! I couldn't find anything under the name Hall but, doing a wider search, I found Henry Hope & Sons which I think was probably the company he meant. They were in Lionel Street with an office in London and here is their entry in Graces Guide which confirms they made steel window frames in the 30s although by that time the company had moved to Smethwick.


Here is a picture of part of the building and windows..
GH8.jpg
 
Wikipedia says…. “Founded in 1818 as (by ?) Thomas Clark as Jones & Clark, in Lionel Street, Birmingham, they became known as "Henry Hope" in 1875 when Henry Hope, who had become a partner in 1864, became the sole owner…”

As on many occasions Wiki is not always accurate and does not tell the whole story.

The earliest mention I can find is an advert in 1819 telling the public that Jones & Clark have recently set up a manufactory at the Top of Lionel Street. Later address given as 55, Lionel Street. In 1827 Thomas Clark continued the business under the same name, while John Jones set up on his own as John Jones & Co. in Mount Street, formerly Jordan & Timmons.

Clark and Hope are advertising as early as May 1863, but in 1862 a William Shakespeare had written to the Birmingham Daily Gazette thanking his customers of his 10 years as a Hot house builder at 55, Lionel Street. He was having to leave the premises due to the owner, Thomas Clark, refusing to renew the lease in order to put his own son in the trade.

If I can find any further on this story I will post later.
 
WELL…..back 10 years from 1862 Thomas Clark issues a thanks to customers for their patronage over the past 34 years (confirming the 1818 founding). He is selling the business to Will Shakespeare, who he recommends as his successor !
 
The earliest advert by Clark & Hope is in Dec 1862, some 3 months after poor Will Shakespear was chucked out. It looks like it was 1862 when Hope joined what was probably Thomas Clark’s son in the business ?
 
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