Born in 1850 at Dunstable, William Webb came to Wellingborough in about 1872 and in 1874 he married Mary Wagstaff, daughter of William and Sarah, of Higham Ferrers. They had three children, Fred, Frank and Charles at Wellingborough, but then moved to Higham Ferrers, where they had George, Elizabeth, William, Henry, Ellen and Ralph. William was a saddler and harness maker by trade.

At Higham, William opened a saddler's shop in High Street, and then opened a second one in Rushden about 1890. In 1901 his son Fred was living at 49 High Street, Rushden, with his wife Lizzie, and the shop was next door at No. 51.

The shop continued to trade as William Webb until sometime between 1935 and 1940 the shop became Fred Webb and Son, and they began to concentrate more on sports equipment. In 1965 as S F Webb, they were now leather factors.