Thomas and Isaac Bradley
of Caponfield, Bilston
Thomas Bradley and Isaac Bradley made pig-iron and other castings at Caponfield Furnaces.
1870 Walter Smith Bradley joined his father’s firm after leaving school.
1872 Walter established Bradley's at the Albion Works, at about the age of 18. At under 21 he was, in the law of the time, a minor, unable to buy land and with limited powers to enter into contracts. His father probably backed him. The industrial boom in the UK helped the hollowware trade to expand, but it is not known what the company made at first. The firm employed about 25 sheet metal workers and produced pans, bowls and galvanised buckets. They rapidly expanded to cover almost anything which could be produced in sheet metal.
1883 Owners of blast furnaces in Staffordshire South
1883 the Darlaston site of Darlaston Iron and Steel Co was leased to I. and T. Bradley, and B. G. and W. H. Bradley.
1900 T. and I. Bradley and Sons, pig iron manufacturers, Darlaston Green furnaces, Darlaston[1]
1906 T. and I. Bradley and Sons Ltd was incorporated to acquire the blast furnaces, ironworks, plant, etc. known as the Darlaston Blast Furnaces at Darlaston Green and take-over as going concern the business of pig iron manufacturers; William Henry Smith Bradley was one of the directors; other members of the Bradley family (Bernard Grove Bradley, Barbara Beatrice Bradley) were also shareholders and there were a number of other shareholders.[2]
1921 Petition by creditors to wind up Thomas and Isaac Bradley Ltd[3] which was then instituted; W. J. Foster was chairman[4]
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Local History