Alexander Tom Cussons
Encyclopedia
Alexander Tom Cussons. Born in Holbeck
, Leeds
, England
to Thomas Tomlinson Cussons
(1838–1905) and his wife Elizabeth Cussons (née Ashton, 1843–1905). Alexander was the Chairman of Cussons Sons & Co, maker of the brand Cussons Imperial Leather
and other toiletries.
. He then moved to Swinton
, Salford
with his parents. There Cussons worked in partnership with Ernest Jonathan Lake in the firm of Lake, Cussons, and Company. The firm operated as a wholesale druggist until the 25th of January 1894 when the partnership was dissolved.
Tom then continued in business with his father. In 1905 his father died and Alexander took complete control of the Cussons Company. Under Tom Cussons the company grew. In 1917 Marks & Spencer
penny bazaars began to stock Cussons products. In 1920 Cussons established a soap factory in Kersal
Vale, Salford
where production continues today. In 1921 he acquired Bayleys of Bond Street. In 1946 he made Cussons Sons & Co into a public company. He also made Cussons into a multinational company, with sales in many Commonwealth countries.
Cussons established the company head office at 84 Brook Street
, London
in the district of Mayfair
. Tom Cussons is best known for manufacturing Imperial Leather soap. However he also manufactured a number of soaps which have since been discontinued. These included Apple Blossom, Linden Blossom, Lilac Blossom and Blue Hyacinth, and beautiful rose perfumed soap that led to the naming of the famous Wendy Cussons Rose. The rose was bred by Gregory & Sons of Nottingham, and was intended to be named after Tom's wife, but instead he asked for it to be named after his son's wife, Wendy. The rose was extremely successful over many years, winning awards, and is still available in 2009, over 50 years after its introduction. Another rose, Julie Cussons, a beautiful salmon coloured floribunda bred by Gareth Fryer of Knutsford, was named after Tom's great grand child, Julie, who died at the age of two in 1986.
Cussons was also a collector of tropical fish
. They were kept within his orchid houses. His interest in tropical fish resulted in Cussons Sons & Co issuing a series of adverts; the adverts featured Imperial Leather soap surrounded by tropical fish. Later a book inspired by his collection was published.
Cussons was also interested in rugby, and supported the Swinton
.
. The property was within walking distance of Cussons' factory. However Oaklands was severely damaged in The Blitz
of 1941, and Tom Cussons later moved to Hale
, where he owned a house next to the cricket club, and not far from the then small Manchester airport, called Ringway, converted after the war into civilian use.
Holbeck
Holbeck is a district in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The district begins on the southern edge of the Leeds city centre and mainly lies in the LS11 Leeds postcode area. The M1 and M621 motorways used to end/begin in Holbeck. Now the M621 is the only motorway that passes through the area since...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to Thomas Tomlinson Cussons
Thomas Tomlinson Cussons
Thomas Tomlinson Cussons born in Kingston upon Hull, England. Son of George Cussons and his wife Jane Cussons . Thomas was the Chairman of the British soap manufacturing company Cussons & Son...
(1838–1905) and his wife Elizabeth Cussons (née Ashton, 1843–1905). Alexander was the Chairman of Cussons Sons & Co, maker of the brand Cussons Imperial Leather
Imperial Leather
Imperial Leather is a brand of soaps, toiletries and healthcare products manufactured by PZ Cussons. The brand originates in Britain and is now available in a number of other countries including Australia, Denmark, Germany , Pakistan, India, Kenya, South Africa, iran and Dubai...
and other toiletries.
Career
Tom Cussons was apprenticed in the town of OssettOssett
Ossett is a market town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on junction 40 of the M1 motorway, half-way between Dewsbury, to the west, and Wakefield, to the east. In the 2001 census, it was classified as part of the West Yorkshire...
. He then moved to Swinton
Swinton, Greater Manchester
Swinton is a town within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located on the A6 road it stands on gently sloping ground on the southwest side of the River Irwell, and within the bounds of the orbital M60 motorway. It is west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
, Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
with his parents. There Cussons worked in partnership with Ernest Jonathan Lake in the firm of Lake, Cussons, and Company. The firm operated as a wholesale druggist until the 25th of January 1894 when the partnership was dissolved.
Tom then continued in business with his father. In 1905 his father died and Alexander took complete control of the Cussons Company. Under Tom Cussons the company grew. In 1917 Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
penny bazaars began to stock Cussons products. In 1920 Cussons established a soap factory in Kersal
Kersal
Kersal is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The centre of Kersal is northwest of Manchester city centre, and north-northwest of Salford's conventional centre at Greengate....
Vale, Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
where production continues today. In 1921 he acquired Bayleys of Bond Street. In 1946 he made Cussons Sons & Co into a public company. He also made Cussons into a multinational company, with sales in many Commonwealth countries.
Cussons established the company head office at 84 Brook Street
Brook Street
Brook Street is one of the principal streets on the Grosvenor Estate in the exclusive central London district of Mayfair. It was developed in the first half of the 18th century and runs from Hanover Square to Grosvenor Square. The continuation from Grosvenor Square to Park Lane is called Upper...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the district of Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
. Tom Cussons is best known for manufacturing Imperial Leather soap. However he also manufactured a number of soaps which have since been discontinued. These included Apple Blossom, Linden Blossom, Lilac Blossom and Blue Hyacinth, and beautiful rose perfumed soap that led to the naming of the famous Wendy Cussons Rose. The rose was bred by Gregory & Sons of Nottingham, and was intended to be named after Tom's wife, but instead he asked for it to be named after his son's wife, Wendy. The rose was extremely successful over many years, winning awards, and is still available in 2009, over 50 years after its introduction. Another rose, Julie Cussons, a beautiful salmon coloured floribunda bred by Gareth Fryer of Knutsford, was named after Tom's great grand child, Julie, who died at the age of two in 1986.
Interests
Cussons was a collector of rare orchids. He was a member of the Manchester Orchid Society, since renamed the North of England Orchid Society (NEOS). He was also a founding member of 'The Orchid Club' in 1924, which has since been disbanded. Through his company he donated a trophy to The Orchid Club. Today the trophy is used by the North of England Orchid Society. Cussons put his collection up for sale on the 24th of February 1948. At that time the collection amounted to over 6,000 plants. The collection was kept at Vine Street in Kersal, Salford. Cussons' interest in orchids resulted in Cussons Sons & Co issuing adverts featuring the flower. The adverts showed a picture of Imperial Leather soap surrounded by orchids, with the tagline 'both equally exquisite'. Regretably the whole collection was destroyed by a bomb that landed at the bottom of the garden in 1941 and exploded, splintering the glass houses the orchids were kept in and completely shredding the collection. Profoundly affected by the destruction of the collection, he moved away from Salford to South Manchester, where he considered it safer.Cussons was also a collector of tropical fish
Tropical fish
Tropical fish include fish found in tropical environments around the world, including both freshwater and salt water species.Tropical fish are popular as aquarium fish, due to their often bright coloration...
. They were kept within his orchid houses. His interest in tropical fish resulted in Cussons Sons & Co issuing a series of adverts; the adverts featured Imperial Leather soap surrounded by tropical fish. Later a book inspired by his collection was published.
Cussons was also interested in rugby, and supported the Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
.
Residences
Tom Cussons owned a Victorian mansion in Kersal, Salford called 'Oaklands', which was the former home of the Victorian chemist Edward SchunckEdward Schunck
Henry Edward Schunck was a British chemist who did much work with dyes.-Early life and education:Henry Edward Schunck was born in Manchester, the son of Martin Schunck, a German merchant. He started studying chemistry in Manchester with William Henry...
. The property was within walking distance of Cussons' factory. However Oaklands was severely damaged in The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
of 1941, and Tom Cussons later moved to Hale
Hale, Greater Manchester
Hale is a village and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It is contiguous with the southeast of Altrincham, approximately southwest of the city of Manchester....
, where he owned a house next to the cricket club, and not far from the then small Manchester airport, called Ringway, converted after the war into civilian use.