Henry Hope & Sons Ltd
Encyclopedia
Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a major manufacturer of metal components, including steel and metal windows, roofing, gearing and decorative metal ironmongery
(such as door furniture and lettering) based in Smethwick
, Birmingham, UK. Founded in 1818 as Thomas Clark as Jones & Clark, in Lionel Street, Birmingham
, they became known as "Henry Hope" in 1875 when Henry Hope, who had become a partner in 1864, became sole owner. Early works included manufacturing glasshouse
s and other major orders included all the bronze windows for Barry's new Houses of Parliament, London, in 1845 - 57.
The company moved to new works in Halford Lane, Smethwick (now part of the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell) in 1905. Following the First World War (1914 - 1918) the company became involved in the development of 'standard metal windows, along with other companies such as Crittall of Braintree, Essex
. Their metal windows were fitted to buildings such as the Bank of England, London, the League of Nations Building, Geneva, ICI House, London & the Iraq Parliament House in Baghdad
. In 1925 the company, who had long exported to the North American market, acquired the International Casement Company, Jamestown, New York
that became Hopes Windows Inc., in 1930.
Hope's Gearings, along with their metal glazing systems, were fitted to many major industrial plants such as the Ford Dagenham assembly plant
at Dagenham
, Essex, and power stations such as Cliff Quay, Ipswich
, Suffolk. In 1930 the company opened a hot-dip galvanising plant in Wednesbury
, Staffordshire and this was, in the post-WW2 period, to become the main plant for metal window production.
In 1965 the company merged with old rivals "Crittall Windows Ltd
" of Braintree and the combined "Crittall Hope Ltd" is still, after various takeovers and de-mergers, in business although now no longer carrying the name of Hope. Both the West Midland production plants, Halford Works & Wednesbury Works, are now closed.
Ironmongery
Ironmongery originally referred both to the manufacture, and the place of sale of iron goods produced for domestic rather than industrial use. The usage of the term has expanded in recent times to include consumer goods made of aluminium, brass, or other metals, as well as plastics...
(such as door furniture and lettering) based in Smethwick
Smethwick
Smethwick is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands of England. It is situated on the edge of the city of Birmingham, within the historic boundaries of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire....
, Birmingham, UK. Founded in 1818 as Thomas Clark as Jones & Clark, in Lionel Street, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, they became known as "Henry Hope" in 1875 when Henry Hope, who had become a partner in 1864, became sole owner. Early works included manufacturing glasshouse
Glasshouse
Glasshouse or Glasshouses may refer to:*Greenhouse, a building where plants are cultivated*Glasshouse , a 2006 novel by Charles Stross*Glasshouse , term for a military prison in the British Army...
s and other major orders included all the bronze windows for Barry's new Houses of Parliament, London, in 1845 - 57.
The company moved to new works in Halford Lane, Smethwick (now part of the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell) in 1905. Following the First World War (1914 - 1918) the company became involved in the development of 'standard metal windows, along with other companies such as Crittall of Braintree, Essex
Braintree, Essex
Braintree is a town of about 42,000 people and the principal settlement of the Braintree district of Essex in the East of England. It is northeast of Chelmsford and west of Colchester on the River Blackwater, A120 road and a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line.Braintree has grown contiguous...
. Their metal windows were fitted to buildings such as the Bank of England, London, the League of Nations Building, Geneva, ICI House, London & the Iraq Parliament House in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. In 1925 the company, who had long exported to the North American market, acquired the International Casement Company, Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
that became Hopes Windows Inc., in 1930.
Hope's Gearings, along with their metal glazing systems, were fitted to many major industrial plants such as the Ford Dagenham assembly plant
Ford Dagenham assembly plant
Ford Dagenham is a major automotive factory located in Dagenham, United Kingdom operated by the Ford of Europe subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company...
at Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
, Essex, and power stations such as Cliff Quay, Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, Suffolk. In 1930 the company opened a hot-dip galvanising plant in Wednesbury
Wednesbury
Wednesbury is a market town in England's Black Country, part of the Sandwell metropolitan borough in West Midlands, near the source of the River Tame. Similarly to the word Wednesday, it is pronounced .-Pre-Medieval and Medieval times:...
, Staffordshire and this was, in the post-WW2 period, to become the main plant for metal window production.
In 1965 the company merged with old rivals "Crittall Windows Ltd
Crittall Windows Ltd
Crittall Windows Ltd is a notable English manufacturer of steel-framed windows, today based in Witham, Essex, close to its historic roots in the county...
" of Braintree and the combined "Crittall Hope Ltd" is still, after various takeovers and de-mergers, in business although now no longer carrying the name of Hope. Both the West Midland production plants, Halford Works & Wednesbury Works, are now closed.