Cook, Son and Co
of 21-26, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, E.C.
Manufacturers, Warehousemen and Shippers.
Established in the first decade of the nineteenth century by William Cook, under whose name alone the business was conducted until 1825. Thereafter, Cook & Gladstones, until 1836; Cook, Son & Gladstones, until 1843; Cook, Son & Co. since 1843. Present Principals: Sir Frederick Lucas Cook, Bart. (Viscount Monserrate, Portugal), George James Gribble, J.P., Herbert Frederick Cook, M.A., F.S.A., Percy John Howes, and Sir George Pragnell, D.L. The late Wyndham Francis Cook, who died in May, 1905, was also a partner for twenty-three years up to that date. Partnership Succession: The succession in the founder's family has been as follows:—(1) William Cook, b. 1784, d. 1869; (2) Sir Francis Cook, second son of founder, b. 1817, d. 1901 (first Baronet; first Viscount Monserrate; partner over sixty years); (3) Sir Frederick Lucas Cook, eldest son of above, b. 1844 (second Baronet; second Viscount Monserrate); (4) Herbert Frederick Cook, M.A., F.S.A., eldest son of above, b. 1868. In the family of Howes:— (1) Groome Howes, b. 1797, d. 1866; (2) John Groome Howes, b. 1834, d. 1904, who succeeded his father; (3) Percy John Howes (present partner), b. 1873, son of above, and succeeded his father. George James Gribble, J.P., is nephew of Sir Francis Cook, first Baronet. Sir George Pragnell was General Manager for several years before being made Managing Partner in 1907.
1914 Premises: One of the largest warehouses in the wholesale textile trade. Four main blocks, opening on eight streets, and connected by eighteen bridges and tunnels. Present front warehouse rebuilt, 1852; central warehouse encloses Knowles Court, of date 1707; warehouse joining on east former G.P.O. Factories at Ireland Yard, E.G., and near the Tower, London, E.; also at Chatham and Northampton. Staff: Over 1,500 regular employees. House Club: The Ravensbourne Club and Provident Fund (for employees of the firm). Specialities: Woollen, Linen, Silk, and Cotton Goods, and all made-up articles connected therewith. The firm are wholesale dealers in these goods, doing a very large home and export trade; are also manufacturers of Men's Clothing, chiefly for colonial export, also of Blouses and Skirts of C.S. Pattern.
1959 Merged with S. and J. Watts and Co, of Manchester.[1] The combined group renamed Cook and Watts.
1961 Sold its London warehouse on Carter Lane for £1 million.[2]
1963 Sold the lease on its Manchester warehouse for £215,000, and entered into a joint arrangement with St. Martins Property Corporation to redevelop the site.[3]
1967 Cook and Watts acquired by Courtaulds.[4]