Lionel Hook & Sons

The Stroud area is well known for the many and varied industries that have been carried on there. The main industry over the years was, of course, the manufacture of fine woollen cloth, but engineering, chemicals and woodworking were also very important. Much has been written about the woollen cloth industry and detailed accounts of some of the major firms such as R. A. Lister and Co., Dursley, Erinoid of Stroud and Newman Hender of Woodchester have been published. However, for many of the smaller companies much less has been written and in some cases there are no published accounts for firms which may have been in existence for 70 years or more. The engineering firm that became Lionel Hook and Sons Ltd of Stroud is one such case. 

Advances in engineering in the late 19th century and early 20th century created a need for a skilled workforce, both for the manufacture of new machines and the maintenance of existing ones. Many small companies started and closed due to work variability or financial problems, while others, perhaps after a series of amalgamations, grew to be substantial and longer lasting businesses. The story of Lionel Hook is probably fairly typical. He set up on his own in about 1895 looking after estate gas engines and doing various engineering jobs, later he was joined by his two sons who were equally skilled and industrious. Some 60 years later one of the sons developed a product line away from their main line of work which resulted in a business that supplied a wide range of other industrial needs worldwide.

Wotton-under-Edge Civic Centre

2 Gloucester Street, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7DN

Friday 29th January 2016 at 7.30pm

Visitors welcome.

Non-members £5 on the door