Welwyn Garden City Industrial Growth - pre 1940

 

Louis de Soissons plan - 1920

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Internal view of A Dawnays

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

A Dawnays from the main railway line.

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

A Dawnays showing rail access

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Feddon & Bond Hoisery Manufacturers

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Feddon & Bond - making stockings

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

British Lead Mills

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Inside a Sectional Factory Unit

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Sectional Factory Unit - Bridge Road East

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Sectional Factory Unit - Broadwater Road

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Sectional Factory Unit - Tewin Road

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Shredded Wheat Factory c1926

Campus West Library, Welwyn Garden City

 

Shredded Wheat Factory c1926

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

British Benzine Products Ltd - 1928

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Welwyn Garden City Factory Area - 1929

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Cresta Silks in Broadwater Road

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Cresta Silks, Broadwater Road

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Lincoln Electric

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Inside Murphy Radio 1930

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Murphy Radio, Broadwater Road - 1931

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Norton Abrasives internal

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

Norton Abrasives, Bridge Road East

Welwyn Garden City Library

 

A map of the Factory Area c1935

Welwyn Garden City Library

The growth of industries in Welwyn Garden City followed the growth and expansion of the town and its population.

In line with the Pioneers planning model, industry started to the east of the town and expanded north and south. Rail links were considered vital at the time which is reflected in the industries being adjacent to the existing rail system with new connections made into the industrial areas .

The early industries were mainly associated with the requirements of the growing town, but as the population grew, other industries developed. Although there were a number of purpose built factories, eg Dawnays and Shredded Wheat, the majority of the new factories were housed in Sectional Factory Units built in Bridge Road East, Broadwater Road, Hyde Way and Tewin Road. These Sectional Units were a standard configuration able to accommodate a variety of different industrial processes.

Many of the companies survived for only a few years to be replaced by new ones. However, a few did survive for decades, their products to become household names.

The following information is taken from the annual Welwyn Garden City Directories . The words quoted are as published at the time and reflect the feelings and thinking towards this new town.

Welwyn Garden City Directories quotes:

1926

The town is planned with an industrial area, which is specially laid out with railway sidings, roads, and public services.

The factory conditions are claimed to be ideal, and the factories are so placed that they have plenty of light and air with convenient access to the residential parts of the town and yet do not interfere with the town’s amenities. Indiscriminate factory development will not be permitted in Welwyn Garden City.

The Shredded Wheat Factory is a type of the handsome factory premises of the town. This factory may be visited at certain times.

New Companies:

1930

The industrial area has been laid out so that good roads, railway sidings, roads, and public services can be economically provided to sites of any required size. The factory conditions are ideal, and the factories are so placed that they have plenty of light and air and room for expansion and are convenient to the residential parts of the town and yet do not spoil the town’s amenities. Objectionable trades are not permitted.

During 1929 a larger number of new industrial firms have come to Welwyn than in any previous year and the number of people employed has very substantially increased. The new buildings include the factory of Messrs. Young, Osmond and Young Ltd., manufacturers of electrical heating apparatus which was removed from Bexley Heath, Kent; the factory of Kelacoma Ltd., built to develop an important new process of wall-tile manufacture; the ‘Talkie’ studio of British Instructional Films; Compound Gas and Power Co., Akis Chemical Co. Ltd., Captain H R S Birkin (the famous racing motorist) and a firm manufacturing silk stockings.

New Companies:

1931 

During 1930, a large number of new industrial firms came to Welwyn and the number of people employed increased substantially. Outstanding among the new buildings was the imposing works of the Norton Grinding Wheel Company, an American firm whose headquarters were at Worcester, Mass. The Welwyn factory of this firm stands on an 11 acre site with its own rail sidings and is a striking example of how utilitarian building can be dignified and architecturally pleasing.

New companies:

1932

An important new factory was erected in Broadwater Road for Murphy Radio Ltd with a floor area of over 17,000 square feet. Two new foodstuffs firms had also taken premises in Broadwater Road – Messrs Fostock Ltd who make irradiated poultry and stock foods and the Pure Extracts Company who produce vegetable extracts and other health foods.

1933

New Companies:

1934

Welwyn in common with industrial towns throughout the country has felt some effects of the depression and no large new factories have been built during 1933. On the other hand, a good number of firms have established themselves and have felt the need for larger premises. These included A Buchanan & Sons, British Lead Mills Ltd, Murphy Radio Ltd and Welwyn Foundry Ltd.

New Companies:

1935

New Companies

1937

New Companies:

1938

New Companies:

1939

New Companies:

1940

Industrial development continued unchecked during 1939 despite the effect of disturbed conditions in Europe.

Roche Products Ltd carried out substantial extensions to their pharmacological laboratories and ICI (Plastics) Ltd acquired a further four acres for future development. A new factory of striking modernistic design was completed for Barclay Corsets Ltd.

Local firms continued to expand and factory extensions were started or completed for: Biersdorf Ltd., Carnegie Chemicals (Welwyn) Ltd., Dawnays Ltd., General Stampers (Welwyn) Ltd., Murphy Radio Ltd., Wellinth Ltd., Welwyn Electrical Laboratories Ltd. And Welwyn Metal Products Ltd.

New Companies: