War and the Home Front at Hay Mills

War and the Home Front at Hay Mills

The company’s long history means that it has continued trading throughout much social and technological change; through economic difficulties; as well as through many periods of war. It is inevitable that this history will include direct and indirect links to the...
Hay Mills Family Histories

Hay Mills Family Histories

John Webster (1687-1757) John, the founder of the business in 1720, was born in Normanton-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire. He was the second son of Thomas Webster, who was born in London but moved to Normanton after 1680. John’s great-grandfather, William was a London...
The Atlantic Telegraph Cable

The Atlantic Telegraph Cable

A wealthy American entrepreneur, Cyrus West Field (1819-1892), dared to dream of creating a Transatlantic Telegraph Cable between the United States and Europe. Since the first successful commercial cable between Dover and Calais in 1851, submarine telegraph cables...
Manufacturing Innovations

Manufacturing Innovations

Manganese Crucible Steel John Webster, the founder of the business, began as a stockholder of bar iron and a retailer of iron and brass manufactured goods. Much of his stock of nails, fish hooks and pins were made from wire and Webster began drawing his own wire at...
A Birmingham Company

A Birmingham Company

Although Joseph Webster and James Horsfall entered into partnership in 1855 to become, Webster & Horsfall and then, 40 years later amalgamated with Latch and Batchelor the origins of the business can be traced back to the 1720s. The names of Webster, Horsfall,...