Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

Registered UK Charity (No. 1154342)

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 167,719 pages of information and 247,131 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.

Somervell Brothers: Difference between revisions

From Graces Guide
PaulF (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(4 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:1862CatSomervell.jpg |thumb| From the 1862 London Exhibition Catalogue]]
[[Image:1862CatSomervell.jpg |thumb| 1862 ]]
[[Image:Im18990114ILN-K.jpg|thumb| January 1899. ]]
[[Image:Im19000714ILN-K.jpg|thumb| July 1900. ]]
[[image:Im19531003Pic-KShoeMakers.jpg|thumb| October 1953. ]]


of Netherfield, Kendal, Makers of '''K Shoes'''.
of Kendal and later of Lancaster also. Makers of '''K Shoes'''.


1842 '''Robert Miller Somervell''' opened a "Shoemaking Accessories Merchant and Leather Factor" business.
1842 [[Robert Miller Somervell]] opened a "Shoemaking Accessories Merchant and Leather Factor" business.


1845 The company moved to Netherfield in Kendal.
1845 The company moved to Bridge End, Netherfield, Kendal.


1848 The company became '''Somervell Brothers''', a partnership between brothers '''Robert''' and '''John Somervell'''.  
1848 The company became '''Somervell Brothers''', a partnership between brothers [[Robert Miller Somervell]] and [[John Somervell]].  
 
1853 Purchased the whole Netherfield site
 
1857 Introduced sewing machines


1865 The company, now a manufacturer of shoes, began to use its "K" logo.
1865 The company, now a manufacturer of shoes, began to use its "K" logo.


c1900 The '''Somervell''' brothers died, the company was by this time manufacturing 175,000 pairs of shoes a year.
1871 Employing 500 people.<ref>1871 Census for John Somervell</ref>
 
1875 Registered the trademark 'K'
 
1899 Company now employs 600 persons.<ref>Robert's Obituary</ref>
 
c1900 The company was by this time manufacturing 175,000 pairs of shoes a year.
 
1915 Became a limited company


1920 A new factory was built in Lancaster.
1920 A new factory was built in Lancaster.


1949 Company becomes '''K Shoes Ltd'''.
1927 London office opened
 
1937 With [[C. and J. Clark]] the took over the failing Abbots retail chain
 
1949 Became a public company: '''K Shoes Ltd'''.


1953 Acquired the footwear manufacturing subsidiary of [[W. Abbott and Sons]]<ref>The Times Apr. 30, 1953</ref>
1953 Acquired the footwear manufacturing subsidiary of [[W. Abbott and Sons]]<ref>The Times Apr. 30, 1953</ref>
1951 Opened a factory at Low mills, Kendal. later opened others at Askam-in-Furness, Workington, Millom, Shap.
1961 Acquired [[W. H. H. Clarke]] of Norwich


1981 Company merged with [[Clarks Shoes]].
1981 Company merged with [[Clarks Shoes]].
2003 Production ceased.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
Line 27: Line 52:
<references/>
<references/>
* Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5
* Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5
* [https://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/a-z-of-industries/footwear/k-shoes/ Cumbria Industries]


{{DEFAULTSORT: }}
[[Category: Town - Kendal]]
[[Category: Town - Kendal]]
[[Category: Footwear]]
[[Category: Town - Lancaster]]
[[Category: Footwear‏‎]]

Latest revision as of 15:42, 3 August 2023

1862
January 1899.
July 1900.
October 1953.

of Kendal and later of Lancaster also. Makers of K Shoes.

1842 Robert Miller Somervell opened a "Shoemaking Accessories Merchant and Leather Factor" business.

1845 The company moved to Bridge End, Netherfield, Kendal.

1848 The company became Somervell Brothers, a partnership between brothers Robert Miller Somervell and John Somervell.

1853 Purchased the whole Netherfield site

1857 Introduced sewing machines

1865 The company, now a manufacturer of shoes, began to use its "K" logo.

1871 Employing 500 people.[1]

1875 Registered the trademark 'K'

1899 Company now employs 600 persons.[2]

c1900 The company was by this time manufacturing 175,000 pairs of shoes a year.

1915 Became a limited company

1920 A new factory was built in Lancaster.

1927 London office opened

1937 With C. and J. Clark the took over the failing Abbots retail chain

1949 Became a public company: K Shoes Ltd.

1953 Acquired the footwear manufacturing subsidiary of W. Abbott and Sons[3]

1951 Opened a factory at Low mills, Kendal. later opened others at Askam-in-Furness, Workington, Millom, Shap.

1961 Acquired W. H. H. Clarke of Norwich

1981 Company merged with Clarks Shoes.

2003 Production ceased.

See Also

Loading...

Sources of Information

  1. 1871 Census for John Somervell
  2. Robert's Obituary
  3. The Times Apr. 30, 1953
  • Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5
  • Cumbria Industries