Group    From 1772 

Wilkinson Sword Company

Categories: Commerce, Industry

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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Wilkinson Sword Company

Commemorated ati

Oakley works

The Oakley Small Arms Works moved to Acton from Chelsea in 1904, and was situ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Highgate's original Gate House

Highgate's original Gate House

Erected at the entrance to the Bishop of London's Park.

Building, Commerce

1 memorial
President Hotel

President Hotel

2018: The Imperial Hotel Group includes: London City centre Hotel, County Hotel, President Hotel, Tavistock Hotel, Bedford Hotel, Imperial Hotel.

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Highbury Barn

Highbury Barn

Long a rural pleasure resort for Londoners it became notorious in 1861, when Edward Giovanelli demolished the old buildings and built a lavish pleasure ground which attracted large crowds, includin...

Place, Commerce, Food & Drink, Theatre

1 memorial
Frederick George Lucas

Frederick George Lucas

Chairman and managing director of the Brilliant Sign Company. He purchased the company in 1902 and served as chairman for more than fifty years.

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Lloyds TSB Group

Lloyds TSB Group

In 1765 John Taylor and Sampson Lloyd set up a private banking business in Birmingham. In 1810, the Reverend Henry Duncan of Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire, set up a bank to help his poorest parishioners...

Group, Commerce

1 memorial

Previously viewed

BBC Television Centre - Harry H. Corbett

BBC Television Centre - Harry H. Corbett

W12, Wood Lane, BBC Television Centre - Star Terrace

The plaque on the brick wall in the picture reads: The BBC Star Terrace, "Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love" Sylvie Dee. De...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Sir Louis Stanley Johnson

Sir Louis Stanley Johnson

Solicitor and Conservative Party politician. Member of Hackney Council. Mayor of Hackney 1914-19. MP for  Walthamstow East 1918-24. Knighted 1920. Died by suicide with a gun to his head, at his hom...

Person, Politics & Administration, Tragedy

1 memorial
Violet Bonham-Carter

Violet Bonham-Carter

W2, Gloucester Square, 43

Lady Violet Bonham-Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury, 1887 - 1969, politician and writer, lived here. English Heritage

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
P. S. Astbury

P. S. Astbury

Name on one of the main panels of the East Ham WW1 memorial.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Wesleyan Schools, Leswin Road - plaque 01

Wesleyan Schools, Leswin Road - plaque 01

N16, Leswin Road, 41

Above the entrance at the left: "1883". above the two large windows: "Wesleyan Schools". Now, 2021, residential. The plaques, which we h...

1 subject commemorated