Alfred Herbert Ltd

When was that Berjay. Don't remember it myself (was on the shop floor, bay 4, from about '71 to '77).

Hello Kimbo, it would be about '48 or 50. Again I'm not too sure about this but it's so ingrained in my memory that I really think that it's a fact, perhaps someone has a better one!! By the way I see that you were in bay4, so you might have known my father-in-law. Joe Williams, he was the charge-hand miller (don't remember the bay, was right down the other end being in Bay 19 or so the wiring and initial test bay) And its all gone!! best regards Bernard

Nope. Wally Grewcock was my chargehand initially - then Johnny Olner. Bit after your F-in-L's time?

Apart from the Edgewick site, did Herbert's have any branch factory sites in and around Coventry in the 1930's? I am thinking specifically of Blackhorse Road Exhall, where I am told my father started to work at that time, although I have no way of confirming this. I am also told that around this time there was an American Forces depot of some kind on Blackhorse Road,(possibly on the later Charrington's site, now cleared). I would be grateful for any information on these issues.

There is a book on Google books "Alfred Herbert Ltd British Mcahine Tool Industry 1887 to 1983" which says that they had a factory at Exhall for small tools including taps, dies, chucks and threaded equipment, also one at Lutterworth.

An old friend of mine who is no longer with us told me that during the Second World War Alfred Herberts moved to temporary accommodation, Bayton Rd, Exhall after their main factories had been bombed. They were housed in the redundant buildings from the Exhall Colliery which had closed in about 1938. My old mate's connection came after the war when his boss was called in to purchase the steel swarf which had been chucked out the back for a number of years. It was said to be the size of several football pitches and quite high. A price was agreed for the scrap steel and it was loaded into lorries and taken to Foleshill Goods Yard and then by rail to the steel makers in the Black Country. In the middle of the steel swarf they struck brass! Needless to say the much more valuable brass came out of Herberts in the same lorries as the steel which was then picked up by a magnetic grab at Foleshill. Dear me, that left a layer of brass behind - I was told that the scrap man and his trusty workers did quite well out of this job. The American army were in what was the oil depot in Blackhorse Rd - just before you get to the level crossing, on the left, when approaching from Coventry Rd, Exhall. All long before my time, just what I was told. At the very end of Alfred Herbert's existence they had a relatively small factory unit in Wilsons Lane, Exhall, in what is now a small industrial estate next to the Novotel. Coming from Coventry on Bedworth Rd, go through the Iron Bridge (which is now concrete), turn immediately left into Wilsons Lane, and then immediately left into the factory. I recall the factory signs being painted in a fetching shade of pink. Hope this helps.

A lot of my late family worked at Edgwick site - my uncle Bert Styles, my nan Alice Beck worked in the offices with Flo Thomas and her daughter Sue. City players used to visit there many a time in the 60's, I even sat on Ronnie Rees's knee one day

Mass walkout from Nov 1963, filmed on Cross Road

Thank you Annewiggy, Not Local and Deanocity3 for this very interesting information which provides more twists and turns in my ongoing genealogical quest, as I have other information that my father worked at the Dunlop at this time! (Perhaps he had two jobs!) However the fact that Herbert's used old Exhall colliery buildings is fascinating because my father first worked for that colliery in the toolroom, and maybe just stayed there when Herbert's took over! I am glad that the American army connection is confirmed also. I have always thought that the old Exhall Methodist Church building looked to be 1930's or '40's prefab-type architecture, and I am pretty sure that this building links to the American depot.

David, I think the reason that Herberts were able to move into the old colliery buildings in 1940 was because they were empty and unused. I agree that the old Exhall Methodist Church in Blackhorse Rd does have the look of a wartime building, I think it is a children's nursery now. Regards. Roger

My father-in-law spent his working life at Alfred Herberts, 1925-about 1970. He left before the final collapse, he was latterly head of Tooling Development, his name was Cecil Price, but everybody, for some reason, knew him as Sammy. Does anyone remember him?

I worked at Alfred Herberts from 1953 until 1956. I learned shorthand and typing in their training school at Edgwick. We worked at our lessons in the morning and then went round the different departments in the afternoon to learn office routine. Mr Hemmings from Burns Road in Coventry took the classes. After my training I went to work at the Small Tools Department in Red Lane as a secretary. I worked for Mr Blecksley and Mr Norman amongst others and was in the Correspondence Department. I remember that when Sir Alfred had his ninetieth birthday everyone had a bonus depending on their length of service. I did not get much as I had not been there very long and I think I was on one shilling and one pence per hour!

Do you remember many of the girls in the Corres' Whitefriars? I used to have to walk to Red Lane from Edgwick every lunchtime alongside the canal with Pat Moss. I remember Mr. Hemmings, and worked for the Secondhand Dept, Mr. Willison and Mr Coker, and Mr. Shaw. I started there in '54 and left in '61. I also did some work for the Small Tools Dept. Small world isn't it?

Hello Dreamtime. I remember Mrs Whittaker and Mrs Goosey who sat at the front of the Corres. I sat with Norma Munt, Beryl Twyneham, and Ada Morgan. They came to my wedding in 1956. There was also Joyce Cobden and Brenda Miles amongst the typists. I also worked for Mr Coker when his secretary was away - that must have been you! I also worked for Norrie Jones and John (?) Baker. I remember Mr Bradford, he may have been over the Small Tools Department. I remember Nat Mooney. Brenda Miles used to go to Priory High School for Girls with me and we have met up over the last few years a couple of times a year with a few other girls for lunch. As you say - small world. Actually my granddaughter has been in Australia for the last three months, backpacking, she will be home in four weeks but has to fit Thailand in first! Even smaller world!

Hi Whitefriars, thank you for your response. I do remember Ada very well, such a nice girl, well we were only girls then. What about Elsie Allen and that window she would always insist on having open, even during the winter months. I used to sit just behind the open door behind Irene Lockhart. I always had runny eyes after coming out of the Blueprint Room. Lots of memories from Herberts and I enjoyed every one of them. I hope your granddaughter will have many happy memories from Australia and wish her a safe journey home.