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about squire / squire history
Squire History |
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Henry Squire and Sons Limited - Independent family owned lock manufacturers since 1780.
William Squire began making locks in the mid 18th century. By the time his son Thomas joined him, his locks were famous enough for the company to be formally incorporated in 1780.
The late 18th century saw the growth of the Industrial Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars which fuelled demand for the company's locks.
Wealth was spreading throughout the population and with it came higher standards of living and increased ownership of property and furniture - all requiring locks on a previously unknown scale.
By the end of the 19th century, the company had added another three acres to its expanding factory site to meet increased demand for its popular range of door locks, padlocks and in particular furniture locks.
The First World War (1914-1918) saw it manufacturing munitions. After the War, great changes took place in the furniture industry. Plywood began to replace solid timber in furniture, which reduced demand for mortise furniture locks because they could not be mortised into plywood. Germany began to subsidise its industries, including lock making, and could land locks in England at the same price as the raw material cost of the company's products.
The search for new markets led the company to develop its now long-established padlock range, as well as adding new hardware products to replace the rapidly declining furniture lock production. A new factory was built in 1937. Later, the Second World War saw the company diversifying to make precision gauges, machine gun links and torpedo parts, as well as some padlocks.
After the War, the company expanded its padlock range and added bicycle and motorcycle locks and accessories, as well as hardware products.
By the 1970s, the labour force had peaked at 350 and stayed at this level until the 1980s. This meant new additional buildings and car parking was needed to accommodate its sizeable labour force.
In recent years, the company's production of high quality security padlocks and accessories has expanded considerably.
The company's focus is now on high quality product innovation and new technology. New products are being introduced each year and the company's future will be secured by its superior design capabilities, its unrivalled skill base and its state-of-the-art production methods.
Original factory site from 1780-2008, home of Henry Squire and Sons Ltd for 228 years
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