Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

Registered UK Charity (No. 115342)

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 164,585 pages of information and 246,144 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

W. Crumblehulme and Sons

From Graces Guide
1885 Crumblehulme.jpeg

of Derby Ironworks, Rothwell Street, Bolton, Lancashire. Telephone: Bolton 111. (1937)

1879 Hiton and Brown came up for sale - so William Crumblehulme, who had been a travelling saleman for that company and then had his own business in Manchester, returned to Bolton, took over the foundry which became known as W. Crumblehulme and Sons.

The Emblem Street works were extended several times, now incorporating premises at Every Street. The reputation of the firm grew because of the quality of their products which included stoves, kitchen ranges, ovens, domestic boilers and steam washers. Especially popular was the Whitaker patent convoluted stove with automatic regulator, and the Otto stove adapted for Turkish baths and hydros, both of which were greatly improved by the firm. They obtained many high class awards at exhibitions held throughout the country leading to a great increase in demand for their goods. These were installed in cathedrals. churches, chapels, colleges, hotels, institutions, public baths and theatres all over Great Britain - and Ireland.

They also specialized in ornamental cast and wrought-iron palisading with gates to match. Other work included Jacquard machines, general mill work, and gas lamps (which were only ever made at Emblem Street).

William bought Messrs. Howarth and Cryer, Lodge Bank Ironworks, Rothwell Street, Bolton. This foundry had its own branch railway line which was of great value to Crumblehulme's, both for sending orders out to customers and for taking in delivery of coke, pig iron, limestone and other materials needed in the foundry. This became their main depot and was known as the Derby Iron Works, with the Emblem Street foundry becoming the branch works.

1895 The firm became W. Crumblehulme and Sons Ltd.

1900 They celebrated their 'Silver Jubilee'. At the Co-operative Hall in Bridge Street, Bolton, 570 persons sat down to tea, including customers, friends, workers and wives.

1900 They received their most prestigious order for the 'improved hot air heating system' which was installed at Woolwich Arsenal allowing the words "Contractor to Her Majesty's Government" to be put on all their business correspondence.

1901 William retired to Southport leaving the management of the business to his eldest son John. The firm (apparently) continued to grow and prosper; at this time all six of his sons were involved in the running of the foundry and all seemed to be going well.

1911 Only 5 months after William died, the business was in deep trouble and went into receivership. On 31 May, W. Crumblehulme and Sons Ltd was put up for auction but there were no bids, it was later offered for sale as a going concern by Public Tender but without success.

1912 On the 13 August, the Company was sold piecemeal.

1913 By the 1st January Emblem Street had become Bolton Moor Foundry Co. A different name, but the same directors - James Crumblehulme, William Crumblehulme Jnr and the foundry doing the same work.

1918 William Crumblehulme Jun was the last Crumblehulme connected with the foundry, so he went into partnership with Thomas Brown and John Briggs (coal and coke merchant) and the firm became known as Crumblehulme Ltd.

1925 This company lasted until 1925 when it went into liquidation. After this there were many business using the old foundry buildings for different purposes, but for many years the world famous Bolton Turntable Co occupied the premises and they are still there today.

Brothers John, James and William Crumblehulme Jun. bought the Rothwell Street part of the business back. They paid £9,500, for which they wanted the goodwill and also to trade under the name W. Crumblehulme and Sons Ltd, so the foundry carried on as before but on a smaller scale.

1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. a splendid exhibit of Modern Cooking Ranges in many designs, showing colour effects in vitreous porcelain enamel in plain and mottled colours. (Stand No. A.626)

1958 The company was purchased by Messrs. Hargreaves Hamilton (Engineers). They bought Crumblehulme Ltd because they needed a small foundry to produce textile castings. They asked Mr. Norman Robinson to go into partnership with them and run the foundry.

Hargreaves Hamilton bought old and unwanted textile machinery from mills which they would refurbish for re-sale both at home and abroad especially to India and Pakistan. The new parts for this machinery were made at the foundry which had changed from being a 'casting foundry' to becoming a 'craft' or 'jobbing' foundry, which was capable of producing castings of up to 4 tons by the installation of two overhead travelling cranes.

1979 Ircast bought Crumblehulme Ltd from Hamilton Hargreaves as their own foundry was under a compulsory purchase order, changing the name Crumblehulme Ltd to Ircast. Ircast were the manufacturers of precision shell moulded iron castings as used in Perkins Diesel engines. They were major suppliers to the Automotive, Pump and Valve, Textile Machinery, and Electrical trades. There was more automation now, using a conveyor belt system to facilitate in the production of castings.



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