The company was founded as a manufacturer of guns made in Shotley Bridge, County Durham, by Henry Nock in London when he opened premises in Ludgate Hill. 1804, James Nock was appointed Gun Maker to George III. The business passed to his son-in-law James Wilkinson and then in 1824, to his son, Henry.
Gunsmiths of Regency London give the Ludgate Hill (or 'Street' which was its previous name) address as number 10, and also explains "While Nock had no legal heirs, it is believed he had essentially adopted Ann and her brother, John, when their father, one of Nock’s workers, died." Ann went on to marry James Wilkinson who ".. had been foreman and general manager of Nock’s many workshops all over London."
We found an 1840 image of 10 Ludgate Hill at Look and Learn but it's an elegant 'India shawl warehouse' with shawls displayed in the large windows. Seems that by 1840 Wilkinsons had already moved on.
Besides guns, the company has also produced swords, bayonets and products such as typewriters, garden shears, scissors, bicycles, motorcycles, cars and tractors. By 1900, the production of firearms had ceased as government factories had taken the main business.
The company has manufactured its products in three UK locations over the years: in London (Chelsea and Acton), Cramlington in Northumberland, and Bridgend in Wales, where it made gardening tools.
Needing a larger site the factory was moved in 1899 from the City to Chelsea. You’ll read that it moved to Oakley Street but we think that is a mistake, based on the name of the factory, the Oakley (Small Arms) Works. In 1903-4 it moved to Acton and then closed in 2005. The brand still exists but all the manufacturing has moved abroad.
Information from Wikipedia and Acton History and History of the Wilkinson Sword Company.
This image is an extract from the Goad Insurance Plan of London Western District Vol. A: sheet 41-1, showing the Chelsea site.
