Hulme, Manchester - old business Till & Whitehead Limited

[spadmore]

I am trying to pull together scraps of any "history" I can on this business which was established in Hulme, Manchester in 1876.  It still trades in Bolton. For such an old business there are precious little details of anyone who worked at the business since 1876, and there is not even a picture/photo of the founders of the business, Thomas Till and Frederick Whitehead surviving.

The business was located on Chester Road Hulme, adjacent to St Georges Church ( the business occupied converted Victorian townhouses which were demolished in 1966 ).

So, I am reaching out for any RootsChat readers who may be able to help.

Thank you

[sarah]

Hi and Welcome to RootsChat,

I used to visit this company around 2000-2006 when it was in Hulme, but it was in a small street off chester road Hulme Hall Road.

Have you tried the photo achieve at Manchester Library ? https://images.manchester.gov.uk


Regards

Sarah

[spadmore]

Thank you Sarah. Yes, it was located on Hulme Hall Road / Ellesmere St.  I worked in the building there and the business moved in 2008 quite close, but without the main Chester Road view. 

I have seen some images on the Manchester Archives.....thanks.  Am hoping that there will be some RootsChat people who may just have some relations / ancestors who worked at Till & Whitehead and maybe some photos....

Kind regards  Stuart

[garstonite]

possible abode for Thomas Till ??

Baptism: 29 Dec 1889 St Matthew, Stretford, Lancashire, England
George Frederick Till - [Child] of Thomas John Till & Emily
    Abode: Harriett Street
    Occupation: Ironmonger
    Baptised by: Dudley Hart M A Rector

Baptism: 28 Oct 1891 St Matthew, Stretford, Lancashire, England
Thomas Scholes Till - [Child] of Thomas Till & Emily
    Abode: Brooklyn Villa Harriet Street Stretford
    Occupation: Ironmonger
    Baptised by: W. J. Gardner
.............................................................................
Brooklyn Villa ?  is it still standing ?
...........................................
Baptism: 13 Feb 1879 St Peter, Oldham, Lancashire, England
Wilfred Whitehead - [Child] of Frederick Whitehead & Emma
    Born: 20 Dec 1878
    Abode: King St.
    Occupation: Ironmonger

so the obvious question is - was the business an Ironmongers - if so these may be Thomas and Frederick
if not - post and I will delete this post 

[spadmore]

oh wow, thank you !

Yes, Till & Whitehead were - and still are - ironmongers.   Those details looks spot on - I know one founder was Thomas John Till and I know that Frederick Whitehead - the other founder - was married to an Emma, and lived in King St Oldham.   

I can't find Harriett Street in Stretford -  will have to do some research on that !

Appreciate your help.   

[mckha489]

yes they are Ironmongers
Manchester Courier 12 August 1893  - Thomas John TILL and Frederick WHITEHEAD trading as Till and Whitehead.

[mckha489]

Manchester Courier 02 March 1896

TILL AND WHITEHEAD LIMITED
MANCHESTER

This company was registered on February 24th, with a capital of £20,000 in £50 shares, to acquire the business carried on at 88, 90 and 94, Chester-road, Manchester, as 'Till and Whitehead", and to carry on business as ironmongers, iron founders, iron, steel, and metal merchants, gas, steam and water engineers, fitters, tool makers, metallurgists, &c. The subscribers are:-

T. J. Till, 580, Stretford - road, Manchester, merchant 1 (share)
Mrs E. Till, (same address) 1
F.W. Till, 46, School-lane Sale, Traveller 1.
F. Whitehead, Windsor-road, Oldham, Merchant  1.
Mrs E. Whitehead, same address 1.
J.P. Osbaldeston, 318, Waterloo-road, Cheetham, cashier. 1.
A. Daniels 183, Stamford-street, Brook's Bar, salesman. 1.

The number of directors is not to be less than two nor more than 5:. The first are T.J. Till and F. Whitehead; qualification, 10 shares: remuneration £200 each per annum

registered office, 94, Chester road, Hulme, Manchester

[spadmore]

Thank you for this, interesting to see the founding shareholders.  It started as a partnership in 1876 but Till and Whitehead had a big row and falling out over a fountain pen ( would you believe ! ) and Till went off to form Till & Kennedy in Manchester City Centre, but when it was made a limited company in 1896 - per your post - he retained a shareholding.  The "Daniels" guy ( his name was Arthur ) mentioned was later the Managing Director.     

[spadmore]

Any newspaper extracts would be gratefully received, please.  I know of only two other "incidents" worthy of newspaper reporting since 1876 - one was an industrial accident where a grinding wheel shattered ( 1891 I think ) and one where a vehicle crashed into the Chester Road building in the 1950's ( but I haven't seen the report on the latter ).