H. Gradidge and Sons

of 36 Artillery Place, Woolwich, London, SE18. Telephone: Woolwich 0293. Cables: "Gradidge Wool"

1870 The company was founded by Harry Gradidge.

Later he was joined by his sons and the company became known as H. Gradidge and Sons.

The company specialised in the manufacture and distribution of cricket bats and was renowned for their quality and expertise in producing some of the finest bats of the time. (Their most famous player was Len Hutton who played for England and Yorkshire).

The company produced almost anything related to sport and kitted-out teams with all their sporting needs. A pricelist from 1911 for local football teams showed that "Jerseys are from 2/-, Footballs are from 7/6 and boots from 6/6 per pair."

1929 Listed Exhibitor. Manufacturers of Cricket Bats, Balls, Lawn Tennis, Real Tennis, Hard and Squash Rackets, and Balls. Badminton Rackets. Fives Balls. Hockey Sticks, Balls. Footballs and every sporting requisite. Factories: Woolwich, Tonbridge and Bolton. (Stand No. AB.17)

1931 Gradidges was acquired by Slazenger Ltd; it became part of the Slazenger, Sykes, Gradidge and Ayres group of companies.

1935 Gradidges entered into the field of golf club production and at the time their products were well regarded by golfers world-wide. Within a few years the brand and products had a strong following and quickly established itself on the world scene.

Their two most famous golfers were Reg Whitcombe, winner of the 1938 British Open (and runner up in 1937). The second, perhaps more famous, was Bobby Locke - four-time winner of the British Open and nine-time winner of the South African Open.

WWII The factory produced many hundreds of thousands of precision rifle stocks essential for the war effort, until it was destroyed in direct and heavy bombing by the Luftwaffe.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• James Gradidge via email.
• [1] Wikipedia