John Hawley and Co (Walsall)
of Goodall Works, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, Staffs (now West Midlands). Telephone: Walsall Bloxwich 66251 (5 lines). Cables: "Rope, Walsall". (Marconi)
1837 John Hawley established a rope-making concern.[1]
1841 The business was in George Street in 1841.
By 1845 Hawley had moved it to Goodall Street.
1861 He was making rope, line, twine, sacking, oilcloth, marquees, and rick-cloths in Goodall Street.
By 1869 it had opened additional works in Tantarra Street.
c1879 The firm became John Hawley and Son.
By 1880 further works had opened in Selborne Street.
c1884 Became John Hawley and Co.
c1919 Became John Hawley and Co (Walsall) Ltd.
In 1928 the company moved its entire operations to the Goodall Works in Bloxwich Road.
1947 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Camp Beds, Ground Sheets, Couch Hammocks, Haversacks, Shopping Bags, Deck Chairs, Horse Clothing, Tarpaulins, Garden Chairs, Marquees, Tea-Cosies, Garden-Umbrellas, Pouffes, Tents, Garden Tents, Rucksacks, Travel-Bags. (Olympia, 1st Floor, Stand No. F.1837) [2]
Rope was made at the Goodall Works until 1948, but the firm's main interest had by then become tentmaking.
1964 Formed a new company called Hawley-Stacey Ltd. to be owned jointly with the American firm of Stacey-Gifford Company, Linden, New Jersey.[3]
1970s It made only tents and camping equipment.
1974 The company became Hawley-Goodall (Walsall) Ltd[4]; the constituent parts were:
- Hawley-Goodall Camping Ltd
- Hawley-Goodall Sports Ltd
- John Hawley (Engineering) Ltd
By 1978 Michael Ashcroft, having acquired 25 percent of the company, increased his holding to 47.5 percent[5].
1980 The company, as Hawley Leisure, became the major constituent of the Hawley Group