Prentice Brothers Limited
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Chemical manufacturing, Fertiliser production |
| Founded | 1856 in Stowmarket, Suffolk, England |
| Founder | Thomas Prentice |
| Fate | Merged with Packard and James Fison (Thetford) Limited in 1929 to form Fison, Packard & Prentice, Limited |
| Headquarters | Stowmarket , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Chemical manure products (fertilisers) using coprolites and rock phosphates |
Prentice Brothers Limited was a fertiliser manufacturing firm established in the mid-1850s in Stowmarket, Suffolk, England. The enterprise specialized in producing a range of chemical manure products, utilizing materials such as coprolites and rock phosphates among others.
History
The Prentice family, well-known in Stowmarket, managed several enterprises including a gasworks, corn and coal trading businesses, maltsters, and the Stowmarket Guncotton Company.
Thomas Prentice founded the fertiliser company, which by 1866 was overseen by his siblings Eustace and Edward. Following Edward’s death in the nearby Stowmarket Guncotton Explosion, Manning Prentice became involved in 1871. Manning contributed significantly by inventing patented processes related to acid treatments.
In 1922, a fire caused damage to part of the factory, necessitating reconstruction efforts. The fertiliser sector faced difficulties throughout the 1920s due to reduced market demand. In 1929, Prentice Brothers combined operations with Packard and James Fison (Thetford) Limited, resulting in the formation of Fison, Packard & Prentice, Limited. Notably, the Prentice and Fison families were linked through marriage. The company later adopted the name Fisons Ltd in 1942.
Several artifacts from the company, including a coprolite grinding stone used by Prentice Brothers, are preserved at The Food Museum.
Location
The Prentice Chemical Works was located on the east side of the railway line close to Stowmarket railway station, taking advantage of rail logistics for distribution. Today, this site is occupied by the Tomo Industrial Estate.