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1849 |
Founder of the Firm 'James Blackledge hailed from Ormskirk farming stock and decided to move to Everton and seek work in town. He started work as a mill hand in a flour mill. Many bakers' shops in those days were owned by millers who let them out on condition that they bought their flour.' |
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1849 |
James ran a bakery business in 26, Fox Street in Liverpool 3. By working hard and saving he was able to buy his shop and then continued to buy other "corner shops" for "the sale of bread." |
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1875 |
James had a mill of his own built in Derby Road, Bootle, equipped with the latest flour milling machinery. His sons, James and John, now joined the business which became known as "James Blackledge and Sons. Millers and Bakers." |
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1888 |
A disastrous fire in 1888 destroyed the mill and James decided to concentrate on the bakery side of the business. James the younger became Managing Director and had a bakery built on the Derby Road site to sell ready-made bread to all the shops - thereby becoming the first manufacturer of bread in England. |
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1896 |
James Blackledge died. By then the firm had 23 shops, over 10 branches, and 22 delivery horses. James Blackledge Jnr. took over and increased the number of shops to around 90. |
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1900 |
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1903 |
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1919 |
Another disastrous fire which put considerable strain on the capital, but the firm managed to survive. |
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1920 |
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1935 |
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1939 |
In January of that year, Sayers the confectioners bought Blackledges. |
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1944 |
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1945 |
Mr. Fred Sayer offered the business back to James G. Blackledge, who restarted it with the help of family, friends, and staff. Basil Blackledge also joined the firm before being made director in 1953. |
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1950 |
Ewan Blackledge, who was an architect, joined the Board and modernised the shops and also designed a new garage in Raleigh Street. |
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1952 |
James G. Blackledge bought Kelly's Bakery with their 19 branches. |
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1956 |
James G. Blackledge accepted an offer from Spillers the flour millers. Later Spillers closed their subsidiary United Bakeries and Blackledges was bought by Mr. Ossie Shaw, a successful business man. |
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1965
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James Gressier Blackledge made a Knight of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Paul VI for his public service in 1965. Also awarded the Order of the British Empire.
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1975 |
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