- Rotherham & Sons in 1851
- [Spon Street factory]
Rotherham's former headquarters
26-28 Spon Street
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the Rotherham's Spon Street factory in 1946 |
The central part of this block -- now listed Grade II -- is 18th century and the later flanking parts occupy the site of earlier houses; in bright sunlight, the difference in the brickwork can be clearly seen. No. 27 was the Rotherham family home and the enlarged building became the family firm's offices. The workshops, in the rear, were converted into a true factory in 1884 when John Rotherham introduced power. At that time, the workforce of 500 was exceptional for a watchmaking company. In more recent years, the firm turned to other precision work, the local watchmaking trade having largely failed by the 1930s. The firm's bicentenary was celebrated in 1950, but in March 1969, the engineering division moved out of Spon Street, and the plastic division had left by 1971.
Back to Rotherham's team
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the former Rotherham's factory in August 1998 |
