Waring & Gillow
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Furniture manufacturing, antique dealing |
| Predecessor | Gillows of Lancaster and London, Waring of Liverpool |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Fate | Entered liquidation in 1932; reorganized as Waring & Gillow (1932) Ltd; acquired by Great Universal Stores in 1953; sold controlling interest to John Peters furniture chain in 1960 |
| Headquarters | London , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Europe, international clients |
Key people | Samuel James Waring, Baron Waring (Chairman until 1930, President thereafter) |
| Products | Furniture, interior furnishings, military supplies during wartime |
Number of employees | 8,000 (tent manufacturing operation during WWI) |
| Parent | Great Universal Stores (from 1953) |
Waring & Gillow (also noted as Waring and Gillow) was a leading British furniture manufacturer and antique dealer established in 1897 through the union of Gillows of Lancaster and London and Waring of Liverpool.
Gillow & Co.
Founded circa 1730 by Robert Gillow (1704–72), Gillows of Lancaster capitalized on the profitable West Indies trade by exporting mahogany furniture while importing commodities such as rum and sugar. Following Robert's passing, his sons Richard and Robert expanded the enterprise. In 1764, a London branch was opened at 176 Oxford Road (present-day Oxford Street), positioning Gillow as a purveyor of premium furniture to affluent customers. The company pioneered creations like the Davenport desk and a patented telescopic dining table, although its output was frequently characterized as "solid, well-made, but conservative" in style.
S. J. Waring & Sons
John Waring founded Waring's of Liverpool in 1835 as a wholesale cabinet-making firm. His son, Samuel James Waring, broadened the business during the 1880s by supplying furnishings to hotels and public institutions across Europe. In 1904, he established the Waring-White Building Company, which was responsible for constructing notable structures including the Liverpool Cotton Exchange Building, Selfridges department store, and the Ritz Hotel. Samuel James's son, also named Samuel James Waring (1860–1940), carried on the family enterprise and was ennobled as Baron Waring in 1922.
Waring & Gillow
Facing financial challenges in the late 19th century, Gillow & Co. entered into a preliminary financial partnership with Waring of Liverpool in 1897, which was formalized as Waring & Gillow in 1903. This consolidation incorporated acquisitions such as cabinetmakers Collinson and Lock and carpet merchants T.J Bonter and Company, consolidating with a capital base of £1 million.
On 10 July 1897, The Times announced that this alliance between two well-established firms was anticipated to substantially increase business activity and profitability. Despite the merger, each company maintained its individual branding on furniture: the Lancaster workshop continued using the traditional 'Gillows' mark, while certain items displayed 'S.J Waring & Sons' or 'Waring & Gillow' labels.
The true amalgamation was marked by the opening of a new Waring & Gillow building on Oxford Street in 1906. The inauguration featured musical performances and entertainment, underscoring the company's esteemed reputation. The facility covered 40,000 square feet and included an 85 by 54-foot Georgian Rotunda that served as headquarters for six and a half decades.
Waring & Gillow secured commissions to furnish luxury vessels such as HM Alberta (1901), the royal steam yacht Victoria and Albert III, SS Princesse Alice (1895), Lysistrata (1901), P&O liner Viceroy of India (1929), and RMS Queen Mary (1936).
The firm also provided interior furnishings for prominent London hotels including the Carlton Hotel, Waldorf Hilton, and Ritz. Moreover, it designed interiors for the Helsinki Bourse Club during the 1910s.
1900 Great Exhibition
At the 1900 Paris Exhibition, Waring & Gillow were responsible for decorating the British pavilion under the direction of architect Edwin Lutyens. This achievement enhanced their international client base and facilitated the establishment of additional workshops in Paris.
First World War
Throughout the First World War, the Lancaster facility transitioned to support wartime efforts by producing ammunition boxes for the Royal Navy and propellers for De Havilland DH9 aircraft. Additionally, they managed a substantial tent manufacturing operation employing 8,000 workers at the former exhibition grounds in White City, London.
Operating from their Cambridge Row location, the company manufactured a variety of military supplies including tents, gas masks for horses, aircraft wings, ammunition belts designed for machine guns, nosebags for horses, and protective garments to guard against gas attacks.
1920s
In the late 1920s, Waring & Gillow initiated a pioneering modern art division under the leadership of Russian designer Serge Chermayeff. He collaborated with French designer Paul Follot, who headed their Paris branch. Together, they introduced a forward-thinking Art Deco aesthetic to the firm. This culminated in the 1928 launch of Modern Art in Decoration and Furnishing, an extensive exhibition showcasing 68 fully furnished rooms on Oxford Street. The event ran from November 1928 through January 1929.
Decline and administration
Financial difficulties surfaced during the Great Depression, compounded by Lord Waring's extravagant expenditures throughout the 1920s. These challenges prompted his resignation as chairman in September 1930, although he retained the title of President. By 1932, the company entered liquidation and was subsequently reorganized as Waring & Gillow (1932) Ltd.
Second World War
During the Second World War, production at the Cambridge Grove factory focused on manufacturing glider components and parts for the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft. Concurrently, the upholstery division produced kit-bags, tents, and camouflage nets to support military needs. Lord Waring passed away in 1940 during the early years of the conflict.
Post-War
In 1953, retail giant Great Universal Stores acquired Waring & Gillow. A notable transaction occurred in 1960 when a controlling interest was sold to competitor John Peters furniture chain under Manny Cussins' leadership, resulting in a rebranding to Waring and Gillow (Holdings) Ltd. The post-war period saw a downturn that led to the closure of Lancaster workshops in 1962; this site later became the inaugural location for the University of Lancaster. In 1980, Waring & Gillow expanded by purchasing a 50.4% stake in Maple & Co., creating Maple, Waring and Gillow. By 1988, Allied Carpets had acquired 48 out of 87 Gillows stores, incorporating them into Allied Maples Group Ltd alongside Allied Carpets.
See also
External links
- 1897 establishments in England
- 1988 disestablishments in England
- Aircraft component manufacturers of the United Kingdom
- British companies established in 1897
- British companies disestablished in 1988
- Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster
- Companies based in Lancaster, Lancashire
- Defunct furniture manufacturers
- Furniture companies of England
- Furniture retailers of the United Kingdom
- Former defence companies of the United Kingdom
- Manufacturing companies established in 1897
- History of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
- Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
- Shops in London
- United Kingdom in World War I
- United Kingdom in World War II
- British furniture makers
- Defunct manufacturing companies of England