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The delivery wagon of 1908
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Harry Wells Chapman opened a small business in Mill Road, Wellingborough, in 1888 and began manufacturing rigid shoe boxes for the footwear industry. Ten years later, the firm had new premises in Stanley Road, Wellingborough and H W Chapman was sole proprietor of the business.
The firm became a Limited Liability company in 1908 and Mr Chapman was its Chairman and Managing Director and subsequently opened branch factories at Rushden, Wellingborough, Kettering, Earls Barton and at Old Street, London, due to the extension of the range of products when they began the manufacture of folding cartons. An organisation was also set up for the supply of all types of packing materials.
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This leather desk blotter declares "Branches — London,
Kettering, Rushden, Irthlingborough and Earls Barton."
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The first board consisted of five people, Messrs. H.W. Chapman, F.J. Burford; H. Simmonds; J.T. Lewis and F.J. White. The company secretary was Mr. E.M. Dexter and the firm's bankers were The London City and Midland Bank Ltd., Wellingborough and the accounts were audited by F. Roberts, F.S.A.A.; of Northampton.
One of Mr Chapman's three daughters, Miss E.A. Millicent Chapman became a director in 1913, and the following year Mr. Chapman retired to emigrate to South Africa. Miss Constance E. Chapman also joined the board, in 1953, and they both resigned in 1959 (to alleviate the effect of estate duty - the sisters were majority shareholders - to ensure a secure future for the company). Miss Helen Chapman, also a shareholder, was never a director.
During World War I, the factories were taken over for Government Contracts, and were used for packing cartridges.
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1929 certificate to start learning the box making trade
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After the war, the company management was rearranged, a new branch started in Raunds and the premises in Stanley Road became their Head Office. The box folding and printing department, also at Stanley Road, grew rapidly and new machinery was installed, and then outgrew the premises. The main factory, for carton production was moved to new modern premises in 1934, at The Embankment, Wellingborough, and incorporated the company's offices.
In 1939, the factory did some secret aircraft work, and the packaging machinery was moved out to the store in Stanley Road. The factory in Oak Street, Rushden was also taken over for Government work, as was Stanley Road, and a house, in Finedon Road, Wellingborough, was used as offices. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the factory in 1943.
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Advert for workers in 1953
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One of Chapman's delivery vans 1958
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The company was taken over by Bryant and May Ltd. (a subsidiary of the British Match Corporation) in 1959 and the chairman, Mr. H. Battson, then retired. The British Match Corporation merged with Wilkinson Sword to become Wilkinson Match, who then controlled Chapman's, although the firm still basically operated as a separate unit.
By 1967, it became necessary, for various financial reasons, to start a new company and H.W. Chapman (Holdings) Ltd. was formed. They took over H.W. Chapman Ltd. (the original company formed in 1888). H.W. Chapman (Holdings) Ltd. later changed its name to H.W. Chapman Ltd. (as a new company) and the original, dormant firm of H.W. Chapman Ltd. altered its name to H.W. Chapman (Holdings) Ltd.
The 57th Annual Ordinary General Meeting notice and Balance Sheet, was held 31st March 1965 as H.W. Chapman Ltd., the 58th on 31st March 1966 as H.W. Chapman (Holdings) Ltd. and the 1st Annual Meeting on 31st March 1967 once again as H.W. Chapman Ltd.
In 1977 H.W. Chapman Ltd. were manufacturers of a variety of cartons for a wide range of industries in Britain, using the Offset Lithographic Letterpress and Photogravure printing processes. The company was still manufacturing of shoe boxes and also did some embossing of the linings and socks of boots and shoes. The packing material department specialised in all forms of paper, printed and plain wrappings and all types of packaging materials.
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Photo of a pair of Chapman's vans, probably at one of the Wellingborough locations, in the late 1920s
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List of directors of H.W. Chapman Ltd. since 1888:
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| Mr. H.W. Chapman |
Founder of business 1888
Proprietor of business 1888-1908
Chairman & Managing Director of H.W. Chapman Ltd. 1908-1914 |
| Mr. J.T. Lewis |
Director 1908-1914
Chairman 1914-1933 (died) |
| Mr. H. Simmonds |
Director 1908-1950 (retired) |
| Mr. F.J. Burford |
Joined Company Director 1908-1911 |
| Mr. F.T. White |
Joined Company
Director 1908-1914
Managing Director 1914-1933
Chairman & Managing Director 1933-1934
Chairman & Joint Managing Director 1934-1937
Chairman 1937-1948 (died)
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| Mr. L. Jessop |
Director 1913-195O (retired)
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| Mr. A.P. Evans |
Joined Company 1913 Secretary 1929-1946 Director 1933
Joint Managing Director 1934-1937
Managing Director 1937-1946
Joint Managing Director 1946-1948
Chairman & Joint Managing Director 1948-1956(died)
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| Mr. C.F. Alsop |
Director 1933-1953 (died) |
| Mr. W.H. Fox |
Director 1950-1959 (resigned) |
| Mr. H. Battson |
Joined Company 1913
Director 1933-1946
Joint Managing Director 1946-1956
Chairman & Managing Director 1956-1958
Chairman & Joint Managing Director 1958-1959 (retired)
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| Miss E.A.M. Chapman |
Director 1913-1959 (resigned) died 22.1.1972 |
| Miss C.E. Chapman |
Director 1953-1959 (resigned) died 1.10.1966
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| Mr. H.F. Gummer |
Joined Company 1934
Director 1949
Joint Managing Director 1958
Managing Director 1960
Chairman & Managing Director Feb.1973
Retired 27.6.1973
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| Mr. G.D. Battson |
Joined Company 1946
Director 1953 |
| Mr. F.M. Philp |
Joined Company 1946
Director 1953 Retired 25.10.1972
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| Mr. P.F.S. Warren |
Director 1959
Chairman 1960
Retired March 1967 - Died 16.10.1975
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| Mr. E.L.C. Gwilt |
Director 1959
Retired March 1966 - Died 24.11.1976
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| Mr. D.H. Hale |
Joined Company 1946 (May)
Secretary 1946 (December)
Director 1963 |
| Mr. G.J.T. Parr |
Director 1965 (July)
Chairman 1967 (April) Resigned 23.2.1973 |
| Mr. D.P. Evans |
Joined Company 1.9.1955 (left 30.9-1961)
Wolverhampton Box Co. Ltd. (1.10.1961 to 31.7.1972)
Director 1.8.1972
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| Mr. J.D.M. Vita |
Joined Company 11.9.1972 Director 11.9.1972 |
| Mr. C.D.H. Rhind |
Joined Company 5.4.1961 Director 1.4.1973 |
| Mr. Jon Slaven |
Director 1.12.1973 |
| Mr. R.D. Barnes |
Alternate Director to Mr. J. Slaven 26.11.1974 Resigned 28.11.1975 |
| Mr. D. Hemming |
Alternate Director to Mr. J. Slaven 27.5.1976 |
| Mr. J.J. McNally |
Alternate Director to Mr. J. Slaven 25.5-1977 |
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