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HOLBROOKS
- Thread starter Astoness
- Start date
Thomas Carlyle came to recuperate in a house which was on the site of what became Holbrooks general office at the factory , according to a booklet published by holbrooks just after the war. Originally the firm was Tompson, Berry & Tompson , later renamed the Birmingham vinegar company. W.D. Holbrook was merely the Manchester rep. however he mde a special sales effort for a new sauce and ended up taking nearly half the total orders for the sauce. In a sales meeting about 1880 it was said that "Holbrook's sauce orders are amazing" On a whim the M.D. (or whatever he was called then) ordered labels for "Holbrooks Worcestershire Sauce". Later all foriegn orders , which were a large percentage of the ntotal, were labelled Holbrook & Co, or a varient, although apparently this name was never registered. however holbrook had a disagreement with the firm and left it. There was a court case that Holbrook lost, and the judge allowed the company to still use the name, even though he was no longer with them.
Younger people will probably not know the name, in the same way as they will soon wonder what "Rowntrees" or "Frys" were.
Below are two representations of the factory in 1871 and 1940 and athe vision of Manzoni of the redevelopment of the area. The Holbrook factory was to be at the road junction. It shows that Manzoni wasn't just rubbish at city centres, but was absolute rubbish at factories.
Mike
Younger people will probably not know the name, in the same way as they will soon wonder what "Rowntrees" or "Frys" were.
Below are two representations of the factory in 1871 and 1940 and athe vision of Manzoni of the redevelopment of the area. The Holbrook factory was to be at the road junction. It shows that Manzoni wasn't just rubbish at city centres, but was absolute rubbish at factories.
Mike
superdad3
master brummie
Holbrooks
Just read the thread under “Birmingham Blitz” and the bombing of the Holbrooks factory. Searched on forum and amazed at how much info there is on Holbrooks under different headings. Also lots of info on Google.I didn’t realise just what an iconic Birmingham product Holbrooks Worcester Sauce was. Short timeline may be of interest.
1866: John Tomson established a malt vinegar brewery in Ashted Row
1875: Production of pickles & sauces started.
1879: Now (re)known as Birmingham Vinegar Brewery
1880: The famous Worcester Sauce Introduced [Holbrooks Worcester Sauce].
1888: Advertised as “best and cheapest” at half the price of Lea & Perrins.
1900: Name changed to Holbrooks Ltd., to reflect their most important product.
1910: Factory
1914: Factory employed nearly 600 people mainly women.
1942: Condiment factory destroyed by German bombers on 30th July. Does this pic show the bomb damage?
1951: Over 300 million bottles of Worcester Sauce had been sold by now.
1954: Birmingham factory compulsorily purchased by BCC for redevelopment of the area – end of Holbrooks in Birmingham.
Just read the thread under “Birmingham Blitz” and the bombing of the Holbrooks factory. Searched on forum and amazed at how much info there is on Holbrooks under different headings. Also lots of info on Google.I didn’t realise just what an iconic Birmingham product Holbrooks Worcester Sauce was. Short timeline may be of interest.
1866: John Tomson established a malt vinegar brewery in Ashted Row
1875: Production of pickles & sauces started.
1879: Now (re)known as Birmingham Vinegar Brewery
1880: The famous Worcester Sauce Introduced [Holbrooks Worcester Sauce].
1888: Advertised as “best and cheapest” at half the price of Lea & Perrins.
1900: Name changed to Holbrooks Ltd., to reflect their most important product.
1910: Factory
1914: Factory employed nearly 600 people mainly women.
1942: Condiment factory destroyed by German bombers on 30th July. Does this pic show the bomb damage?
1951: Over 300 million bottles of Worcester Sauce had been sold by now.
1954: Birmingham factory compulsorily purchased by BCC for redevelopment of the area – end of Holbrooks in Birmingham.
MWS
from Bham
The photo of the possible bomb damage appears to be a wider (better) shot of the one I posted on the other thread.
Though not required for the 1911 census my great grandad fortunately listed employer as well as occupation, and my grand aunt is listed as working at Holbrook's, as a Case Maker I think it says.
Though not required for the 1911 census my great grandad fortunately listed employer as well as occupation, and my grand aunt is listed as working at Holbrook's, as a Case Maker I think it says.
A Sparks
master brummie
Very interesting.
Here's a bit more I found about the company...
Here's a bit more I found about the company...
Holbrook & Co. (Holbrook’s Worcestershire Sauce)
The “Holbrook” story got its start in the West Midlands of England in the late 1860’s with a company that manufactured vinegar called Tompson, Berry and Co. Also referred to as th…
baybottles.com