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Twentieth century history

1906 Mr W.G.Monnery rented premises at 10 Shoe Lane, London. The lease was a seven- year term.

1910 Mr A.G.Goddard took over at 10 Shoe Lane from Mr W.G.Monnery.

1915 Death of Mr W.G.Monnery on 26th February.

1919 Death of Mr A.G.Goddard on 19th July, after a short illness. He was described as a “blanket merchant” by his son, Mr C.E.Goddard.

1920 The company was incorporated on 20th July, as W.G.Monnery & Co. Ltd. The company number is 00169164

1931 Mr C.H.Barker appointed as Company Secretary.

1936 The company bought premises at 17 Thavies Inn, London. New staff joined: Mr Leonard A Crawley and Miss Theresa P A Wyatt. They married shortly afterwards.

Thavies Inn

Here is Thavies Inn decked out for a royal event. The company owned the freehold of all the part where the MONNERY sign appears; but also rented parts of two other buildings in the street.

1937

On 1st January 1937, Mr D.C.Goddard, just out of school, started as apprentice to his father.

Another company was incorporated, sharing premises and staff: C.E.Goddard & Sons Ltd. This company dealt with radio and electrical equipment more than with the printers' sundries aspects of the business, but both companies were closely inter-woven. The company number of the new company was 00332690, and its original directors were Mr C.E.Goddard, his wife, Mrs M.A.W.Goddard, and Mr C.H.Barker .

1940 Because of fuel rationing, staff who needed to travel were using motorcycles and pedal cycles.

1941 On 10th May, the Thavies Inn premises were badly damaged by German bombing action. The company had to look for a new home immediately. Temporarily, it was run from Warren House, Green St Green, Kent, which was a private house owned by the Osgood family.

On 20th September, Mr D.C.Goddard, the elder of the two sons of Mr C.E.Goddard & Sons Ltd. joined up (RAF). The younger son, P.G.Goddard, was still at school and not old enough to join up.

1944 The company was run from another private house: Oakwood, Elm Walk, Farnborough Park, near Bromley, Kent.

1945The company office was at Hatton Garden, and the works at Bellingham.

1947 The company moved to proper business premises again, but remained out of London. The new address was in South Croydon, at 90-92 Southbridge Road, and the Bellingham works closed.

1949 Hatton Garden office sold.

1952 Mr D.C.Goddard began operating as sole trader from 1266 London Road and so continued for some time: effectively, a third business.

1954 Mr D.C.Goddard working on commission for Monnerys.

How an enterprising commercial traveller saved on hotel bills!

The photograph shows a Standard 8 and a ten-foot long Zephyr caravan.

This combination had successfully ascended a very steep hill at Holne Chase, and the feat was considered worthy of record.

1966 The name of C.E.Goddard & Sons Ltd. was changed, to W.G.Monnery Products Ltd.

1973 Mr C.E.Goddard nominally retired, but remained in office as Chairman and consultant.

1976 Mr D.C.Goddard and his wife Mrs M.Goddard incorporated another company, Mormil Ltd, company number 01256795.

1977 At the age of 82, Mr C.E.Goddard retired as Chairman. Mrs J.M.Goddard (second wife of Mr C.E.Goddard) ceased as Company Secretary, with Mrs M.Goddard (wife of Mr D.C.Goddard) taking over.

1979 W.G.Monnery Products Ltd. became dormant, effectively merging with the main company.

1984 Retirement of one of the longest-serving members of staff, Mr Curtis.

Photo Lathe exhibited at the IPEX’84 exhibition in Birmingham.

1987 Staff redundancies.

Retirement of Mr P.G.Goddard.

1988 Death of Mr C.E.Goddard on 9th July.

1989 Death of Mr L.("Len") Crawley.

1990 Mormil Ltd was de-registered, on 11th September.

1991 W.G.Monnery Products Ltd was de-registered, on 22nd October.