Martin Field

Martin Field was born on 23 May 1831 and baptised in the Wesleyan Church in Kidderminster, Worcestershire on 26 August. His father, whose name was also Martin Field (as was his grandfather!), was a Woolcomber, having completed his apprenticeship in Buckfastleigh, Devon, right on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. When trade was so depressed (perhaps there was no longer work in Kidderminster for hand Woolcombers as the process was mechanized) they moved to Bradford in 1837 where trade was flourishing.
He also attended the Baptist Sunday School in Leeds Road. To further his education, he attended the Leeds Road school, became a teacher there, then being associated with it for about 50 years.
In 1841 they were living at Ackroyds, Bradford. Martin Field (Snr) was a Woolcomber, baptised on 2 March 1788 at the Anglican Church in Dean Prior, near Buckfastleigh, Devon, the son of Martin & Ann Field; his wife Elizabeth, bap. on 1 June 1790 at Denby near Derby, Derbyshire; they were living with 4 daughters: Millicent bap. 6 July 1815 at St Alkmund’s Church, Derby, Jane b. 1821, Eliza bap. on 23 June 1822 and Caroline, b. 17 May 1824, bap. on 25 July 1824, both at Kidderminster, all Worsted Weavers, and 2 sons: George b. 15 March 1826 and bap. on 7 May 1826 at Kidderminster and (of course!) Martin, and both Woolcombers.
They had another daughter Ann b. 10 Sep 1820, bap. 15 Oct 1820 at the Wesleyan Chapel, Stourport, Worcestershire who unfortunately died in 1830 (buried on 20 August 1830 at Kings-Norton, Worcester.)
Martin (Snr) had married Elizabeth Hall on 28 December 1814 at All Saints Church, Derby, Derbyshire.

Martin (Jnr) attended the Quaker Day School at Eastbrook until he reached the age of 11. He was then put to work at his father’s business for 3 years.
The family was a poor working-class family with Martin senior and his two sons working as Woolcombers and the girls as Worsted Weavers.
Martin became an apprentice in the print trade when 14 (in 1845), attending classes at the Mechanics Institute in the evenings.
For reasons unexplained, George and his younger brother Martin abandoned textiles and instead entered the world of paper. George became a commercial traveler in paper, whereas Martin became a printer, employed in the printing business in King’s Court, Northgate, continuing on to became a pressman and compositor.
Eliza Field, in December 1847, with two female and one male accomplice, were charged with robbing Joseph Smith of £10. The police investigated and arrested two of them, with Eliza and a female accomplice being discharged. She, of New Leeds, Bradford, died in 1850 and buried on 20 April 1850.
In 1850, the Company of Field, Sons & Co. Ltd., Lidgate Green printers, was set-up in Godwin Street, growing to become a company of 900 of which 500 were women.
In 1851:
At 73 Birk Street, Bradford, was Martin Field, a Woolcomber, his wife Elizabeth, with daughter Millicent, a Worsted power loom weaver and son Martin, at the age of 19, a Printing pressman & compositor. They had a lodger Maria Settle from Leeds, also a Worsted power loom weaver.
At 27 Birk Street was William Noble b. 1822 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, a Wool Comber, with his wife Jane, a Worsted Power Loom Weaver, with their daughter Caroline b. Jan-Mar 1848 in Bradford. Jane Field had married William Noble Jul-Sep 1844 in Bradford. He was bap. on the 26 May 1822 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, the son of Jeremiah, a Wool Comber, & Frances Noble of Worcester.
At 25 Birk Street was Joseph Kershaw, Manager of a Worsted Mill, (b. 1826 at Clayton, Bradford, bap. on 15 May 1826 at St Peter (Bradford Cathedral) to Betty Kershaw, Spinster), his wife Caroline, a Milliner & Dressmaker, son James, b. Apr-Jun 1850 and 6 months-old daughter Eliza, b. Oct-Dec 1852, both in Bradford. Caroline Field of New Leeds had married Joseph Kershaw, Overlooker of Allerton on 4 July 1848 at Eastbrook Chapel.
George Field was one of 7 Servants to Joshua Pollard, JP & Iron Master, at Scarr Hall, Pollard Lane, Bradford.

A patent dated 2 March 1959 for Joseph Kershaw of Allerton, Bradford, Overlooker (or foreman) at The Penny Oaks Mill, New Leeds was sealed on 4 June 1859 for an invention of improvements in means or apparatus employed in weaving.
It was however as a Band of Hope worker that Martin was best known and his connection with the Bradford Band of Hope Union dated back to its formation. In 1857 the first Band of Hope Union in the Kingdom was established in Bradford and Martin became an active worker in connection with it. He served on the Executive Committee for the Union until 1863.
In Bradford on 1 November 1859, at Westgate Chapel, Martin married Emma Jane Taylor of Horton bap. 8 June 1833 in the Baptist Chapel in Bradford.

In 1861:
Now at No. 69, 2 doors from where they were, in Birk Street, Bradford, was Martin Field (Snr.), formerly a Woolcomber, his wife Elizabeth, with daughter Millicent, a Worsted Weaver and son George, a Commercial Traveller in a Paper Mill.
At 37 Victoria Street, Bradford, was Martin Field, Letter Press Printer, with his wife Emma Jane. They went on to have 6 children, all born in Bradford: Mary Ann, b. Jan-Mar 1860, sadly died Jul-Sep 1860; William Taylor b. Jul-Sep 1861, Annie Bertha b. Jan-Mar 1863, Clara Jane b. Apr-Jun 1864; Edgar Martin b. on 3 November 1866, and Ida Elizabeth b. Jan-Mar 1869.
At 27 Albert Terrace, Windhill, Idle, was William Noble, a Tea Dealer, with his wife Jane, a Worsted Power Loom Weaver, with their daughter Caroline, a Worsted Power Loom Spinner, and son Alfred b. Jul-Sep 1853 in Bradford, a Scholar.
At 334-6 Leeds Road, Bradford, was Joseph Kershaw, Worsted Manufacturer & Linen Draper, his wife Caroline, son James and daughter Eliza, both Scholars, now with daughters Emily b.1853 in Bradford and Bertha b. 10 June 1854 and bap. 3 September at the Prospect Chapel (Wesleyan Methodist), Allerton. [There were 2 households at the address]

Martin’s father, Martin Field of Birk Street, Bradford, father of Messrs. Martin & George Field, printers of Bradford, died on 7 January 1862. He was buried on the 9 January aged 74 in New Leeds Chapel.
Martin’s mother, Elizabeth Field died in March 1862 in Bradford.
In 1863 Martin was appointed Hon Secretary of the Bradford Band of Hope Union and fulfilled the duties of the office until 1894. He was also elected a member of the Executive Committee of the United Kingdom Band of Hope Union.
Millicent Field married Edwin Sharp on 13 May 1865 at the Register Office, Manor Row, Bradford. He was b. 1819 in Keighley and bap. on 15 August at St Peters (Bradford Cathedral), Bradford.
On 17 October 1865, George Field of Bradford married Miss Mary Ann Watson of Horton Hall at All Saints Church, Bradford. She was b. 1830 in Birstall, Yorkshire. Prior to her marriage, she was a House Servant (1 of 4) at Horton Hall, Little Horton Lane, Bradford, where Samuel Hailstone, Attorney at Law, lived. [Probably the brother of Edward Hailstone at Walton Hall]

Martin took up the temperance cause for 40 years, becoming Hon. Secretary of the Band of Hope Union 5 years later. This Union is regarded as one of the best in the UK and he became one of the Executives. He was also Chairman of the Yorkshire Band of Hope Union Executives. He was a Liberal, but did not take a prominent part in politics. Throughout his business life he maintained excellent relations with his employees. He handed over his business to his two sons, William & Edgar.

In1871:
At 23 Southfield Square, Manningham was Martin, a Letterpress Printer employing 9 hands with his wife Emma and their 5 children: William, Annie, Clara, all Scholars, plus Edgar and Ida. They had a 30-year-old female General Servant (not yet married).
Edwin Sharp & Millicent were living at 13 Brick Lane, Bradford, he a Billposter & Small Ware Dealer.
At Amberley Street, Bradford (St Peter’s Ecclesiastical District) was William Noble, a County Court Bailiff, with his wife Jane (no occupation given, so she had given up Power Loom Weaving), with their daughter Caroline, a Worsted Weaver, and sons Alfred, a Stuff Warehouseman, and William Henry, a Scholar, b. Apr-Jun 1862 in Bradford.
At 26 Seal Street, Manningham, was Caroline Kershaw as Head of the household, her daughters Eliza, a Dressmaker, and Bertha, a Scholar, now with son Isaac, b. 1866 in Bradford and daughter Minnie, b. on 10 December 1868 and bap. on 5 August 1877 at St Jude, Manningham. So where was her husband? Nowhere to be found in England, so assume he was abroad.
George Field, Printer, was visiting Horton Hall, Horton, Bradford, where 2 female servants, a Laundress and a Scullery Maid were employed. Where was his wife? She was a Housekeeper at Walton Hall, Walton, Wakefield, where Edward Hailstone, Attorney & Deputy Lieutenant, lived with his wife, daughter & son. She seems to have joined her youngest sister Elizabeth there who was a Nursemaid.

Martin was a member of the Executive Committee of the Yorkshire Band of Hope Union from 1878 to 1895 inclusive and was chairman for several years. In 1878 Martin represented the Yorkshire Band of Hope Union at the half-yearly meeting of the UK Band of Hope Union.
In 1879 the company was George H Field, Machine printer, of 51 Market Street, Bradford.
In September 1880 Martin attended the Conference in Nottingham of the UK Band of Hope Union to read a paper on “Extension of the Union’s work in the counties”.

In 1881:
Martin and his wife Emma with their children William, Annie, Clara, Edgar & Ida were living at 22 Blenheim Road, Manningham, Bradford. They had a female Servant.

Millicent Sharp née Field was a Widow living at 13 City Road, Bradford, and had taken over her husband’s Dealership in Small Ware. Her husband Edwin Sharp, a Billposter, had died on the 10 December 1878 at 13 City Road, Bradford. Probate was held on 18 March 1891 at Wakefield when Administration of his Personal Estate of £35 was granted to Millicent Sharp of 7 Tradesmen’s Houses, Lilycroft Road, Manningham, Bradford, widow, the Relict.

One corner of the four corners of the square of Tradesmen’s Houses

At 18 Gladstone Street, Bradford, was William Noble, still a local County Court Bailiff, with his wife Jane, and sons Alfred and William Henry, both Stuff Warehousemen. Their daughter Caroline had married John Edmondson in Jan-Mar 1872 in Bradford. In 1881 they were living at 41 Harewood Street, Bradford, he a Stuff Warehouseman, his wife Caroline, with 2 sons and 2 daughters: Albert & Arthur, both Scholars, b. Jan-Mar 1873 & Apr-Jun 1874 respectively, and Annie & Emily Jane b. Apr-Jun 1878 & Oct-Dec 1879, all in Bradford.
At 29 Carlisle Terrace, Manningham, was Emily Kershaw as Head of the household and unmarried, a Dressmaker, her father and mother Joseph & Caroline, both unemployed, with her sister Bertha, a Dressmaker, her brother Isaac, an Office Boy, and her sister Minnie, a Scholar. Boarding with them was Mary Jane Armitage, a Hosiers Assistant.
At 10 St Jude’s Place, Manningham, Bradford, George Field, a Stationer, was with his wife Mary Ann. Later, George also became a printer, a career he would follow until he retired.

In 1882 Martin was the Hon. Secretary of the Bradford Band of Hope Union.
From 1882 to 1888 Martin Field, printer of Spring Mount, Park Drive, Heaton, was a Liberal member of the Bradford School Board and was also a member of the Visiting Committee of the Bradford Infirmary; his devotion won him the esteem of the whole Board.
In October 1882 Martin Field of Bradford was a guest at the Irish Band of Hope Union in Dublin.
In 1884 Martin was instrumental in promoting the Band of Hope into schools, including Sunday Schools, e.g., visiting Cardiff.
On 31 October 1885 Martin presented a Paper on ‘The past struggles and present necessities of Bands of Hope’, followed by a discussion on the subject.
In October 1888 Martin was highly commending the Temperence Hotel in Southampton Row, Russell Square, London.
On 14 October 1888 Martin presided over a meeting of the Independent Order of Rechabites held in the Teetotal Hall in Bower Street, Bradford.

In 1891:
George and William are master printers and Edgar a Lithographic artist. As the firm grew, Martin was able to move his family to Spring Mount, Heaton, thus:
At Spring Mount, Heaton, Bradford was Martin, a Master Printer and Employer, his wife Emma, son William, also a Master Printer and Employer, daughter Annie, son Edgar, a Lithographic Artist and Employer. They now had two female servants: a Cook and a General Domestic Servant.
At 172 Lord Street, Southport, Lancashire, were a mother and daughter, both widows, and lodging with them sisters Clara Jane & Ida Elizabeth Field, living on their own means.
Millicent Sharp was a Widow, age 75, living on her own means at 7 Tradesmen’s Houses, Lilycroft Road, Manningham, Bradford.
At 6 West Bank, Heaton, Bradford, was George Field, a Retired Painter (or rather, Printer!) with his wife Mary Ann and a visitor, her sister, Elizabeth Watson, single, b. 1840 in Hyde, Cheshire, and living on her own means.

In 1892 Martin was President of the Yorkshire Band of Hope Union Committee.
In March 1892 there was a public meeting organised by the Salvation Army with a large audience in Bradford’s St George’s Hall to greet General Booth on his return from abroad. On the platform supporting the Chairman was Martin. Discussion started on the Bradford Shelter and Elevator opened in 1891, recording that 13,538 people had performed labour in lieu of payment for beds with 155,848 meals being supplied and 800 men found some employment. General Booth then explained his scheme to relieve distress and raise the fallen masses of the people. Martin seconded the resolution which carried.
Millicent Sharp died on 6 April 1892 at 7 Lilycroft, Bradford, a widow; Administration of her estate was granted on 5 May at Wakefield to George Field (her brother), Gentleman. Effects: £91 16s 9d.
On 1 June 1892, Annie Bertha Field, daughter of Martin Field of Heaton, married Percy Lund, son of the late Joseph Lund of Bradford and Ilkley, at the Heaton Baptist Chapel. Percy was born on 31 December 1863 in Bradford. They had no children. 
In September 1892 at the Temperence Hall, Sheffield, Martin as Chairman of the Executive Committee, presided over the Annual Conference of the Yorkshire Band of Hope Union, stating that 296 MPs had pledged their support.
In October 1892 Martin attended the Conference of 250 Delegates of the UK Band of Hope Union, one of six representing Yorkshire.
In March 1893 Martin at a meeting of the Yorkshire Band of Hope Union held at the Ossett Temperance Hall stated that Bradford had the honour of having formed the first Band of Hope Union in the county and the Band of Hope Union in England had a membership of nearly 2,750,000.
Martin’s son William Taylor Field, Printer, age 32, of Heaton, married Hannah Denby, age 23 of Windhill, on 1 June 1893 at Christ Church (the Parish Church), Windhill. She was born on the 6 December 1869 at Windhill and bap. on 7 January 1870 at Christ Church (the Parish Church), Windhill, Calverley, to Thomas, a Manufacturer, and Emily Denby of Windhill.
In 1894 Martin was made a Vice President of the United Kingdom Band of Hope Union. In April 1894 the half-yearly meeting of the Yorkshire Band of Hope Union held in the Wesleyan Assembly Hall was presided over by Mr William Wright of Keighley in the absence through illness of Martin Field.
In January 1895 Bradford Band of Hope Union acknowledged that there was no more familiar name in connection with Band of Hope work than that of Martin Field who for 31 years has acted as Hon. Secretary to the Bradford Band of Hope Union which embraces 164 Societies with a total membership of 30,000. Unfortunately, due to ill health, he retired from active participation and his friends will present him with an address in recognition of his services.
Martin was still ill in October 1895 after staying the summer at Southport to try to improve his health.
Joseph Kershaw (husband of Caroline Field) d. Jul-Sep 1896 age 70 in Bradford.
Martin Field did not live to see the start of the new century. He died on 28 February 1898, age 67, at Spring Mount, North Bierley, Bradford, brought about by a paralytic seizure. He was buried in Undercliffe Cemetery in plot D418 in the Unconsecrated section. Probate on 18 April 1898 was held at Wakefield. The main Executor/Administrator was Emma Jane Field, his wife; another Executor was Percy Lund Printers. Martin was best known as a Temperance worker and was also a member of the Baptist denomination. For over 20 years a Trustee for the Bradford District of the Rechabite Society. He left a widow and 5 children.

Emma Jane Field, the widow of the late Martin Field, of Springfield Mount, Heaton, died in April 1899 at The Laurels, Park Grove, Frizinghall, Bradford. On 27 April 1899 at the house, the Rev. of Westgate Baptist Chapel led the service and at the gravesite at Undercliffe Cemetery where many friends of the Chapel and other institutions gathered, an indication of the affection and esteem held for her. Six carriages took the relatives and friends with another carriage for the floral tributes.
Clara Jane Field, Martin & Emma’s daughter, did not marry and died on 17 May 1899 now back in Bradford from Southport.

In 1901:
At 45 Athol Road, Bradford, was William Taylor Field, a letter Press printer with his wife Hannah and only son Harold William, b. 1895 in Bradford, who was Killed in Action during WW1 on 27 May 1918 and is buried in Picardie. He enlisted into the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment as a Private, Regimental Number 1804, promoted to Lance Corporal, Reg. No. 240309 and then to 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Cyclists Corps. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Next door at 43 Athol Road, Bradford, was Percy Lund, a Printer Publisher & Editor, with his wife Annie. Percy Lund became a well-known printer in his own right. He owned several sites across the city. He entered into partnership with Edward Walter Humphries and they led the way in quality printing. They specialized in the standard of printing required when printing fine art and advancing the standards for photographic printing.
At 6 West Bank, Heaton, Bradford was George Field, living on his own means (so retired now?) with his wife Mary Ann.

On 18 April 1906: George H Field, aged 60, head of the firm Messrs. G H Field & Son, printers of Bradford, was taken suddenly ill in Morcombe. He returned home and had an operation but unfortunately died. He had been in the print business since 1870, a Freemason and in the liberal Party, and closely associated with the Westgate Baptist Chapel. He left a widow (Mary Ann Field), a son (Mr. Arthur W Field) and two daughters.
At Eastbrook Hall at the Methodist Conference attendees could see a relic of methodism, John Wesley’s Bible, a genuine Field Bible dated 1743, Field being the name of the printer.
In 1907 Percy Lund (presumably with his wife Annie) lived at 57 Southfield Square, Shipley, Bradford.

In 1911:
William Taylor Field, retired Master Printer, and his wife Hannah were living at Rock Mount, Bank Crest, Baildon.
Ida Elizabeth Field was living with her then unmarried brother, Edgar, a Director of Printing Works (employer), at 9 Wilmer Drive, Heaton. They had a general Domestic Servant. On Edgar’s marriage, Ida moved to be the housekeeper (although they had a maid and a cook) for her widowed brother-in-law, Percy Lund.
Still at 6 West Bank, Heaton, Bradford was Mary Ann Field, George Field’s widow, with a housekeeper.

The 1912 Post Office Bradford Directory gave an address for Percy Lund of P.L., Hopkins & Co. Ltd. as 57 Southfield Square. His company of printers and publishers address was listed at 71 to 75 Priestman Street.

Edgar Martin Field married Mary Agnes Young of Glasgow on 17 April 1913 in Bradford. He was MD of Southgate Printing Works and his employees presented them with a silver tea service. The couple do not appear to have had any children.

The Field Family (Fields Printing) began to specialise in packaging for food and cigarettes and it is said that they helped the war effort by printing maps on the inside of cigarette packaging or to put in the packets.
There were regular advertisements in the newspapers from the 1920’s to 1940’s for staff of Percy Lund, Humphries & Co. Ltd., e.g. Rotary offset Litho-machine minders, first class Monotype Keyboard operators and Stereotypers and women & girls – as long as they were careful and clean!

In 1921:
William Taylor Field, Letterpress & Lithographic Printer (retired Employer), and his wife Hannah on home duties, were living at 28 Bank Crest, Baildon. The couple moved to Wildfell, Seaward Avenue, West Southbourne, Bournemouth, where William Taylor Field died age 60 in July-Sep 1921 at Christchurch, Hampshire.
Still at 9 Wilmer Drive, Edgar Martin Field was a Printer (Employer) at Southgate Printing Works & Folding Box Makers, with his wife Mary on Home Duties and their 2 female servants (sisters), a cook and housemaid.
Now at 257 Beverley Road, Hull, Sculcoates, East Riding of Yorkshire, was Mary Ann Field age 92 and a widow as Head, with a paid companion and her visiting sister, plus 2 servants, a Cook & a Housemaid.

Mary Ann Field née Watson, widow of George Field, died Jan-Mar 1922 in Sculcoates, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Annie Bertha Lund of 57 Southfield Square, Bradford (wife of Percy Lund) died on the 25th of August 1933 at 11 Drummond Street, Inverness, N.B. Probate in London on 22nd of November was granted to Percy Lund, retired Printer. Effects: £4450 0s 11d.
On 5 March 1936 at the Ordinary General Meeting of Field, Sons & Co. Ltd., Colour Printers of Lidget Green, Bradford, Mr. Edgar M Field, Chairman & MD, announced that £2000 had been set aside as a fund for the benefit of employees for their long service to the company. The profit for the year was £44,034, over £12,000 on the previous year – a record! Also, further enlargement of the works was essential and building operations would start soon.
In 1937 Field, Sons & Co. Ltd. secured control of Williams, Jowett & Co., rigid box makers of Bradford.
Then this article was found in the Newspapers: Death in Bradford of Mr. Arthur William Field, printer who wrote Pantomimes. In his early years he was keenly interested in amateur acting and collaborated with Francis Laidler in writing pantomimes. He died on 7 December 1938 age 65 after being ill for several months. He was principal of the firm of George H Field & Son, printers and lithographers in Thornton Road founded by his father in 1872. An early stalwart of the Lifeboat Institution, a founder of the Bradford branch and its first Secretary. A prominent Baptist at Westgate Church and member of Eccleshill Lodge of Freemasons.
This was followed by a report of the funeral of A W Field: On 9 December 1938 the Service was held at Westgate Baptist Chapel. Attendees were from his Lodges, Walking Association, etc., and Mr. Edgar M Field (MD of Field, Sons & Co., Ltd.) and staff. [No mention of his two sisters was made]
In 1939:
At Ashwell Grange, Ashwell Road, Bradford, a very short distance from where they were in 1921, Edgar was a Company Director, and his wife Mary, a Housewife on Domestic Duties and their 2 female servants, a cook and housemaid.
Ida Elizabeth Field and Percy Lund are living at 57 Southfield Square, Bradford, where widowed Percy is described as a retired master printer. They too had 2 female servants, a cook and housemaid.

Ida Elizabeth Field of 57 Southfield Square, Bradford, youngest daughter of the late Martin Field, died on the 8th November 1940 at a Nursing Home.
On 14 February 1943 Percy Lund of 57 Southfield Square, Manningham, Bradford, died, found in his chair smoking a cigarette, aged 80. There was a big attendance at his funeral on 17 February at Westgate Baptist Church but Percy was not buried at Undercliffe.  He was the founder of the specialist Colour Printing firm of Percy Lund, Humphries & Co., Ltd. His intellectual curiosity was insatiable. He was much involved in researching Christian Mysticism and also an expert cragsman, spending much time in the Lake District and into Alpine climbing in Switzerland. He stepped down on 13 March 1903 from being President of the Yorkshire Photographic Union, but was elected a life vice-president of the Union as a mark of appreciation of his services and he continued as an official judge for them. Probate at Llandudno was held on 13 April 1943. Administration was granted to Thomas Stanley Rawlinson, Chartered Accountant, and Vincent Andrew Alexander Phillips, Wool Merchant’s Clerk. Effects: £35,540 3s 3d.
For further information on Percy’s activities, especially photography, click on this link: https://sites.google.com/site/leedsandbradfordstudios/home/percy-lund

Edgar M Field died on 12 July 1946 at Ashwell Grange, Ashwell Road, Heaton, a Master Colour Printer, the last member of Field, Sons & Co. Ltd., Colour Printers. He left Mary Agnes a widow. He was buried at Scholemoor Cemetery and left over £129,000.
8 August 1952: Field, Sons & Co. Ltd., the Bradford Colour Printers and box manufacturers paid a dividend of 6½% on ordinary shares. The company was registered in 1905 and made public in 1929. They were also carton makers.
In April 1954 as Field, Sons & Co., Ltd., at Hollingwood Lane, Colour printers and Carton & Rigid Box manufacturers whose MD was Richard Barnhour made a net profit of £267,191, paying a dividend of 18½%. They had also made an agreement with Messrs. Weeks, Ltd., in New Zealand.
In 1956 the company was still developing with the building of further works and offices, increasing the area at Lidget Green by 25%.

Post Script:
Percy Lund, Hopkins & Co. Ltd. secret work on the atomic bomb during WWII.
According to a Yorkshire Post & Leeds Mercury report of Wednesday 22 August 1945, the company’s involvement was a result of the patent of a copper printing surface deposited on stainless steel which had been held by a Danish printing firm. When the Germans entered Denmark, it was transferred to Mr. Eric Humphries (son of Edward Walter Humphries) for protection. ICI approached him to see if it could be adapted for their purposes to develop a special perforated membrane which could be used as a filter. Lund Humphries staff worked in close co-operation with ICI and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The project was given top priority and 80 of the 500 staff at the printing works were switched from normal production to this special task.

Research by:
Initially, Steve Lightfoot, then Deborah Stirling and David Broomfield did the final research and editing.